[2025 Handan Hotels] Travel Guide for Xiangtang Shanju Hotel (Updated Jul)

You must visit Xiangtang at least once! - Opening Hours: Peak season (May-Oct) 07:00-22:00 (Grottoes area 07:00-21:00, last entry at 20:30); Off-season (Nov-Apr) 08:00-17:30. - Ticket Info: North Xiangtang Grottoes ¥80/person; South Xiangtang Grottoes ¥15/person; Sightseeing shuttle ¥15/person per single trip (mountain base/loop route). - Essentials: Wear comfortable sneakers. Bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen) in summer. The caves are cool - pack a jacket. Transport Guide - Public Transit: Direct shuttle from Handan High-Speed Rail Station at 8:30 via Handan Grand Theatre/Xinshiji stops. Return at 14:00 via South Xiangtang Grottoes. - Self-drive: From Handan Station via Lianfang East Road → Qinglan Expressway → Hecun Exit → Xingfeng Highway → Tourist Route 5 → Xiangtang Mountain Scenic Area (~1h10m). Attractions - North Xiangtang Grottoes: Features Great Buddha Cave (3.5m seated Sakyamuni statue - Northern Qi royal grotto masterpiece), Scripture Cave (50k+ cliff carvings), and Sakyamuni Cave showcasing sinicized Buddhist architecture. - South Xiangtang Grottoes: Huayan Cave displays Avatamsaka Sutra carvings with dynamic ceiling apsaras; Thousand Buddha Cave houses 1,028 orderly miniature Buddha statues beneath exquisite lotus caisson ceilings. Itineraries - North Xiangtang Day Tour: Golden Drum Plaza → Digital Exhibition Center → Changle Temple Ruins → Great Buddha Cave → Scripture Cave → Sakyamuni Cave → Performance Area (~4hrs). - Combined Tour: Morning at North Xiangtang, afternoon at South Xiangtang (15km apart - recommended to drive/hire car). Dining & Lodging - Food: Xiangtang Mountain Residence Hotel serves local dishes like fried liver/donkey burgers. Nearby Xiangtang Water Town has snack streets. - Hotels: Xiangtang Mountain Residence (5min walk to grottoes) or book Zaoshuhuang B&B for ancient village experience.

As a native of Handan, every time I take friends to explore Xiangtangshan, their exclamations of "This is absolutely breathtaking!" fill me with pride. Nestled at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains, this imperial grotto complex was carved during the Northern Qi Dynasty and stands as one of China's "Three Great Imperial Grottoes," captivating history buffs and photography enthusiasts alike with its countless treasures. Today, I’m sharing my insider tips with you! 🌟 Must-Visit Highlights 1. Northern Xiangtangshan Grottoes: Imperial Grandeur ​ - Great Buddha Cave: The 5-meter-tall seated statue of Sakyamuni exudes solemnity, with seven fiery dragons intricately woven into the flame and honeysuckle motifs of the Buddha’s halo. Visit after 1:30 PM when sunlight streams into the cave, gilding the statue in gold—utterly mesmerizing! ​ - Scripture Carving Cave: Over 50,000 characters from the *Vimalakirti Sutra* and the *Tang Yong Scripture Stele* adorn the walls, their bold strokes earning the title "China’s Finest Engraved Scriptures." A must-see for calligraphy lovers! ​ - Sakyamuni Cave: A classic pagoda-style cave featuring the iconic "One Buddha with Two Disciples" motif and exquisitely carved ceiling caissons—perfect for photos with a historical vibe. ​ 2. Southern Xiangtangshan Grottoes: Hidden Gem ​ - Smaller but quieter than its northern counterpart, the Thousand Buddha Cave boasts a wooden-style façade and celestial musician reliefs (with clear depictions of harps and lutes) beneath lotus-patterned caissons—details that will enthrall perfectionists. ​ - Don’t miss the Song Dynasty octagonal pagoda on the grounds, where dappled mountain light creates timeless photo ops. ​ 3. Hidden Experiences ​ - Changle Temple Ruins: Once hailed as the "First Ancient Temple of Heshuo," its headless Buddha statues amid crumbling walls make for hauntingly beautiful shots. ​ - Digital Exhibition Center: 3D reconstructions of lost overseas statues and virtual tours of the scripture hall blend technology and history for a jaw-dropping experience. 🚗 Getting There - Direct Shuttle: From Handan High-Speed Rail Station, ¥39.9 gets you to the scenic area (includes Northern Xiangtangshan ticket + free Southern Xiangtangshan entry!). ​ - Drive: Navigate to "Xiangtangshan Grottoes Scenic Area" (¥10/day parking). The winding mountain road offers scenic therapy. ​ - Bus: From Handan Bus Station, take Line 805 to Fengfeng, transfer to Fengfeng Line 2 to Donghe Village (then a 3-5¥/person tricycle ride to the site). ⏰ Tips - Hours: 8:00 AM–5:30 PM (last entry 5:00 PM), extended to 10:00 PM on holidays like Labor Day—night visits add extra ambiance! ​ - Tickets: Northern Xiangtangshan ¥60/person (hiking) or ¥100/person (with shuttle); Southern Xiangtangshan ¥15/person. Student/senior discounts available. ​ - Stay: Book Xiangtangshan Residence Hotel or a folk village homestay for free entry + farmhouse meals. 🍜 Foodie Picks - Folk Village "Three-Pot Stew": Served with rolled pancakes—so delicious you’ll lick the bowl! ​ - Doumo (bean paste) + Fried Matang: A Handan breakfast classic—creamy beans meet crispy dough for soul-warming bites. ​ - Snacks to Go: Ermao Roast Chicken, Guoba Baked Flatbread—perfect travel companions. ❗ Pro Tips 1. No touching statues or using harsh lights in the caves—respect the heritage! ​ 2. Wear comfy shoes: The 1.5 km hike from the gate to the grottoes (700+ steps) is manageable, but shuttles are available for the weary. ​ 3. Watch CCTV’s documentary *Exploring Xiangtangshan Grottoes* beforehand for deeper immersion! At sunset, stand by the "Waiting for You on Xiangtangshan" sign as golden light bathes the caves, and you’ll feel it—the whisper of a millennium, carried on the mountain breeze. When in Handan, dedicate a day to Xiangtangshan. It’ll teach you the true weight of "national treasure."

【Hotel】Handan Xiangtang Mountain Retreat (Xiangtang Mountain Scenic Area Branch) 【Address】Xiangtang Mountain Scenic Area, Hecun Town, Fengfeng Mining District, Handan Choosing this hotel for my Xiangtang Mountain trip was the best bandwagon decision ever—totally locking it in! *The main reason? Ultimate convenience. A dream for independent travelers, this hotel is super close to the scenic area's side gate ticket office. Just enter through the iron gate below the hotel, and you're right in the scenic zone—plus, it's a shuttle bus stop, making exploration effortless. The hotel even includes free scenic area tickets; you only need to buy a shuttle bus pass. *The sightseeing shuttle (¥40/person) drops you directly at the main gate's uphill stop. For the return trip, just tell the driver "Xiangtang Mountain Retreat," and they'll take you back to the South Gate pickup point. *Drivers needn’t worry about parking—the hotel has its own lot. *Staff are super friendly and quick to resolve any room issues. *Facilities are a bit dated but fully functional. Bedside lighting controls are super handy. *While the area lacks commercial spots, the hotel restaurant serves delicious meals.

Xiangtangshan Scenic Area is definitely an unexpected bonus for the 2024 Spring Festival trip! The fifth largest grotto in China, a national scenic spot, a holy place for Buddhist worship...Xiangtang Mountain has countless labels. However, what I never expected was that the new landmark of Liuwa, the art, culture and education base, can definitely be called her new symbol. The stunning digital display center allows people to see the once glorious cave art more intuitively. With the help of replica statues and 3D restoration technology, people can have awe in Buddhist culture. It is regrettable that such exquisite cultural relics have been lost overseas. The non-powered children's playground is simply a happy world for children. The place is open and you can see the whole view of Xiangtang Mountain from a distance. There are many activities, and you can easily spend two hours. The colorful slide and the roller coaster are the favorites of children. They have played them for no less than 10 times. The old mother's legs must be thin from pedaling the bike. 🗓Itinerary: No more nonsense, let’s get started Get a strategy map at the entrance! ! ! Get a strategy map at the entrance! ! ! Get a strategy map at the entrance! ! ! 💰Per capita consumption: Two adults and one child, the child's height should not exceed 1.2 meters Adult Tickets ¥60 Children under 1.2 meters are free of charge The mountain is not very high and is a bit steep in some places, but it does not have much of an impact and children can definitely climb up. Our child is less than 5 years old and we walked up and down the mountain the entire way. When we got tired, we would take a break and eat something to replenish our energy. If you are not physically fit, or if you feel it is inconvenient to bring the elderly and children, there are sightseeing buses and you can buy tickets in advance. Adult Ticket + Sightseeing Bus Ticket ¥ One-way sightseeing ticket down the mountain ¥10 Buy a sightseeing bus ticket once and ride it unlimited times Non-powered children's playground Adults ¥15 Children ¥30 Children under 1.2 meters are free of charge Important Tips Be sure to keep your ticket! ! ! Be sure to keep your ticket! ! ! Be sure to keep your ticket! ! ! After reaching the top of the mountain, before entering the grotto, your ticket will be checked twice! ! ! The Xiangtangshan Grottoes Digital Display Center is free of charge, but a second ticket check is required! ! ! If you purchase an e-ticket online, keep the order information and present the e-ticket when you check the ticket for the second time. The Changle Temple ruins, Song Pagoda, Grottoes, and Digital Display Center are all worth seeing. From the text introduction, you can learn a lot about the history of Xiangtangshan, and also learn why most of the grottoes in Xiangtangshan have become fragments (the theft and sale of cultural relics is too rampant) Xiangtangshan Scenic Area is a relatively mature scenic area with basically complete facilities and strong playability, some of which are still being improved. There are Xiangtangshanju Hotel and Zaoshuhuang B&B nearby. There are also many things to do in Zaoshuhuang Ancient Village, but it was dark when we came out of the children's playground, so we didn't go. We will go there next time if we have the chance. In the scenic area, potatoes are 5 yuan a bag, Nongfu Spring is 3 yuan a bottle, and Chocolatier is 6 yuan a stick. The prices are reasonable. There are places to eat snacks on the mountain, but there are not many choices. I recommend choosing cold noodles, which can be fried hot and are fast. The wontons are also good, but you have to wait. There are several temples on the mountain where people worship gods. You can place offerings and burn incense, but burning paper is not allowed. As soon as I entered the door, I saw bags of paper ingots, paper money, etc. that had been stopped and placed at the foot of the mountain. After all, "a towering tree has been there for decades, but a wisp of smoke goes to heaven"