Anyue Grottoes Free Tickets Snapped Up—Unlock Millennium Stone Carvings! 4 Core Scenic Areas + In-Depth Guide,

Anyue Grottoes Free Tickets Snapped Up🔥Unlock Millennium Stone Carvings! 4 Core Scenic Areas + In-Depth Guide, Don’t Miss Out for Years!

🌟 Highlights of the Free Core Scenic Areas, Each Hiding Surprises!

1. Yuanjue Cave Scenic Area (AAAA level) — An Art Palace Just Minutes from the City

Only 1 km from Anyue County, perfect for the lazy traveler! No need to rush to unlock 103 caves and niches and 1,933 statues from the Tang to Song dynasties, offering great value. The 6-meter-high “One Buddha and Two Guanyins” statues on the North Cliff are magnificent, with flowing robes that seem ready to move at any moment; the rare “Sixteen Arhats” theme from the Five Dynasties period on the South Cliff and the “Western Three Saints” carved in separate niches are rarely seen in other grottoes. When tired, visit the Qin Jiushao Memorial Hall in the scenic area to feel the wisdom of the ancient mathematics master. The Taiji Bagua platform is also great for photos, perfectly blending culture and nature.

2. Reclining Buddha Courtyard Scenic Area (AAA level) — Stone Library + Unique Reclining Buddha

A tranquil secret 25 km north of the county, free admission until December 31, 2025, definitely worth a special trip! The highlight is the 1,300-year-old Tang dynasty “Left Reclining Buddha,” a 21.3-meter-long statue lying on its left side facing south, unique nationwide, with a solemn yet kind expression of resting with closed eyes. Even more impressive are the 15 caves of Buddhist scriptures carved on the cliff, preserving over 400,000 characters, known as the “Stone Library,” a precious artifact for studying Tang and Song Buddhism. The area is surrounded by mountains and water, dotted with lotus ponds; walking on the stone paths listening to the wind and leaves feels like traveling back a thousand years.

3. Pilu Cave — Encounter the “Eastern Venus” Purple Bamboo Guanyin

A hidden gem in Shiyang Town, 50 km from the county but breathtakingly beautiful! The Northern Song dynasty “Purple Bamboo Guanyin” is the soul of the site, sitting sideways with crossed feet, wearing a short-sleeved dress, standing on lotus leaves and flowers, breaking traditional religious statue stereotypes, lively as if a fairy stepped out of a painting, no wonder it’s called the “Eastern Venus.” Additionally, the composition of the Liu Ben Zun’s transformation painting is exquisite, and the Western Three Saints statues in the Thousand Buddha Cave fully display Northern Song esoteric Buddhist art features. Every detail is worth savoring, and photos naturally have an ancient style filter.

4. Huayan Cave — Millennium Codes in a Mysterious Grotto

Very close to Pilu Cave, easy to visit together! Inside the Northern Song carved Huayan Cave, the 5.2-meter-high “Huayan Three Saints” statues are arranged meticulously, with Vairocana Buddha, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas solemnly posed. The huge “Om” character relief on the cave ceiling is visually striking. The adjacent Southern Song Dabanruo Cave holds an unsolved mystery: the upside-down “person” shaped characters on the ceiling remain undeciphered. Standing inside the cave looking up, you can almost feel the mysterious signals left by ancient people, creating a deeply atmospheric experience.

📝 Two Classic Itinerary Plans to Suit Different Time Needs!

🌈 One-Day Highlights Tour (Quick View from Chengdu/Chongqing)

Perfect for a weekend short trip, efficiently hitting core highlights:

1. 9:00-11:30 AM: Head straight to Yuanjue Cave, using its proximity to the city to quickly unlock “One Buddha and Two Guanyins” and the Western Three Saints, saving travel time and avoiding crowds for better photos.
2. 12:00-1:30 PM: Have local specialty food in the old town of the county, recommended dishes include Zhou Li’s Spicy Cold Noodles and Anyue Rice Rolls, cheap and authentic.
3. 2:00-4:00 PM: Drive to Pilu Cave (about 1.5 hours), focus on admiring the Purple Bamboo Guanyin, take your time photographing and exploring, feeling the liveliness of Northern Song statues.
4. 4:30-5:30 PM: Visit nearby Huayan Cave, enjoy the grandeur of the Huayan Three Saints at dusk, then return, perfectly ending the day.

🌿 Two-Day Deep Tour (Full Unlock of Free Scenic Areas)

Want to immerse yourself in the charm of stone carvings? Don’t miss this itinerary:

- Day 1: Around the County + North Line
1. 9:00-11:30 AM: Explore Yuanjue Cave in detail, not only viewing statues but also visiting the Qin Jiushao Memorial Hall to feel the cultural depth.
2. 12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch in the county and rest briefly, preparing for the north line.
3. 2:00-5:00 PM: Drive 40 minutes to Reclining Buddha Courtyard, slowly appreciate the Left Reclining Buddha and stone scriptures, avoid peak crowds, and deeply experience the “Stone Library.”
4. Night: Stay in Anyue County, recommended near West Street or Tiexi Street in the old town, where dining is concentrated and lively, with comfortable hotels available.

- Day 2: South Line Core + Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots
1. 8:30-11:30 AM: Early start to Pilu Cave, avoid tour groups, calmly photograph details of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin, every shot is stunning.
2. 12:00-1:00 PM: Eat local farmhouse dishes in Shiyang Town, fresh and affordable.
3. 1:30-3:30 PM: Visit Huayan Cave, compare Northern Song and Southern Song grotto art differences, explore the mystery of the upside-down “person” characters.
4. 4:00-5:00 PM: On the way, visit the free Qianfozhai, one of the filming locations for “Black Myth: Wukong,” with uniquely entwined tree roots and rocks, a niche spot without crowds.
5. After 5:30 PM: Return, ending a fulfilling deep journey.

🚗 Practical Transportation + Accommodation Guide to Solve the Scattered Scenic Spots Problem!

👉 External Transportation (Super Convenient from Chengdu/Chongqing)

- High-speed Rail: From Chengdu, it takes only 18 minutes to Ziyang North Station; from Chongqing about 27 minutes, then transfer by car for 1 hour directly to Anyue County, saving time and effort.
- Self-driving: About 2.5-3 hours from Chengdu/Chongqing to Anyue County, more flexible for traveling between spots, especially for cross-area tours of south and north lines, with beautiful scenery along the way.

👉 Internal Transportation (Scattered Spots? Here’s How to Avoid Detours)

- Charter Car: The best choice! One-day charter from the county to the south line (Pilu Cave + Huayan Cave) or north line (Reclining Buddha Courtyard) allows flexible timing without rushing for buses.
- Combined Travel: Taxi to Yuanjue Cave is easy; take township buses to Reclining Buddha Courtyard; for remote spots, carpool or short-distance charter is more cost-effective.

👉 Accommodation Recommendations (Great Value + Convenience)

- Preferably stay around Yueyang Town or the old town of Anyue County, with many comfortable hotels and unique homestays, ensuring a pleasant stay with convenient dining and shopping.
- Note: There are fewer accommodations near south line spots (Pilu Cave, Huayan Cave), so it’s recommended to return to the county for lodging to avoid tiring back-and-forth trips.

📸 Photo + Outfit Tips to Easily Capture Ancient Style Masterpieces!

- Best shooting times: 9-11 AM and 3-5 PM, with soft, non-glaring light that better captures statue details and texture, avoiding overexposure from direct strong light.
- Photo tips: Use grotto door frames and arches for framing composition to highlight the statues; for Purple Bamboo Guanyin, shoot from below to emphasize its lively posture; inside caves where light is dim, bring a fill light, and mobile users can use night mode + tripod.
- Outfit guide: Prefer Hanfu, cotton-linen long skirts, plain trench coats in soft colors like off-white, dark green, navy blue, matching the ancient stone carving texture perfectly; avoid bright colors to maintain atmosphere and get better photos.
- Props add points: Bring an oil-paper umbrella, a round fan, or a book to take photos on the stone paths of Yuanjue Cave or in front of Huayan Cave grottoes, instantly enhancing the ancient vibe.

⚠️ Key Reminders for Free Ticket Period, Avoid Pitfalls!

1. Free ticket period: Yuanjue Cave, Pilu Cave, and Huayan Cave are free until March 31, 2025; Reclining Buddha Courtyard free admission extended to December 31, 2025; discounts also apply at the Digital Exhibition Center, with “Chuan Chao” game viewers enjoying 40% off.
2. Opening details: All scenic areas open 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, last entry at 4:30 PM; some spots may temporarily close for maintenance, so check in advance before departure.
3. Pitfall tips: Mingshan Temple may have roadwork soon; Tapo and Peacock Caves are temporarily closed; adjust itinerary flexibly based on road conditions; Pilu Cave parking lot is muddy, low-clearance vehicles should drive carefully.
4. Civilized visiting: Stone carvings are millennium cultural relics, please do not touch or carve, follow scenic area rules; flash photography inside caves is prohibited to avoid damaging statue colors.
5. Other discounts: The Anyue Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center (Shiqiao Street, Huimin Road) offers immersive digital grotto cinema, a stunning blend of technology and relics, with great value during the discount period.

🌿 Final Words

The beauty of Anyue Grottoes lies in every chisel and axe of Tang and Song craftsmen, in the lively eyes of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin, and in the millennium scriptures of the “Stone Library.” This cross-millennium art feast now finally offers a no-barrier chance to meet, unlocking the shock of over 100,000 statues—truly irresistible!