Photo adjustments
Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Explore the region
About Guanyan Cave
Stalactites and stalagmites provide the close-view geological features, while the underground water and larger chambers reveal the scale of the cave system. Visitor transport has been incorporated into the attraction, so the exact route depends on the admission and services operating that day. Confirm the included cave sections before beginning the tour.
The cave takes its name from the shape of the hill, said to resemble an emperor's purple-gold crown (紫金冠); it is also called Ganyan (甘岩) for the sweetness of its water. In 1637 the traveller Xu Xiake (徐霞客) visited and became the first noted explorer of the cave, recording it in detail in his travel diary, Xu Xiake's Travels (徐霞客游记), from which the name Guanyan derives. On 12 November 1985 a joint Chinese-British diving expedition explored the cave and confirmed that its water flows in from the confluence point of the Nanxu River in Lingchuan County.
Guanyan lies in Caoping Hui ethnic township, on the east bank of the Li River, and is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction (国家AAAA级旅游景区). The underground river and cave system extends 12 kilometres in total, divided into a dry underground river section and a dry cave section; the cave mouth forms the underground river's outlet, and the cave is divided into four openings.
What to look for
- Stalactites and stalagmites create varied mineral formations inside the cave.
- Larger chambers and underground water reveal the karst system’s scale.
Location & getting there
Getting to Guanyan Cave
Travel to the Guanyan scenic area in Caoping Hui township, Yanshan district, south of Guilin. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism route identifies the Qianjing village–Guanyan area as the local road destination; continue through the official visitor entrance.
Combine your visit
Suggested order for the visit:
-
Guanyan visitor entrance
Confirm the operating cave route and transport.
-
Mineral-formation chambers
Observe stalactites and stalagmites.
-
Underground-water section
Continue where included in the managed route.
This is an editorial sequence of named spaces or places. It does not imply a verified walking connection or promise opening, ticket availability or a journey time.
Find Guanyan Cave
冠岩 · 雁山区
The pin marks the area, not the entrance.
More places nearby
Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.
Gudong Waterfalls 古东瀑布
6 km awayGudong’s forest route follows a succession of cascades and pools in the limestone country near Daxu. Water passes over mineral-coated rock surfaces, while dense vegetation, vines and maple woodland create a different atmosphere…
View guide →Guilin Garden Expo Park 桂林园博园
14 km awayGuilin Garden Expo Park presents landscaped interpretations of Guangxi’s cities rather than a single traditional garden. Guilin Garden uses hills and water as its central language, while other city gardens introduce different…
View guide →Xianggong Mountain 相公山
14 km awayXianggong Mountain is a hilltop viewpoint over a bend of the Li River. From above, the water forms a strong line between densely grouped limestone peaks, making the structure of the landscape easier to read than from river…
View guide →Sources & visit information
The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.
- Wikivoyage: Guilin ↗
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Li River countryside route ↗
- Chinese Wikipedia: 冠岩 (revision 92401870, 2026-04-24) ↗
Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikivoyage contributors, Guilin · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 5340127.
Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "冠岩", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 92401870.