Home/China Attractions/Gansu/Bingling Temple World Heritage Tourism Area

5A Tourism Area

Designated 2020

Bingling Temple World Heritage Tourism Area

临夏州炳灵寺世界文化遗产旅游区

Gansu, Tianshui★ 3.3Designated 2020·36.2713°N, 103.8945°E

Ticket Price

CNY 50 (inc. boat ticket CNY 140)

Duration

2 to 3 hours

Rating

3.3 / 5.0

Designated

2020

About Bingling Temple World Heritage Tourism Area

Ancient Buddhist grottoes carved into a dramatic cliff above the Yellow River, part of the UNESCO Silk Roads World Heritage listing. Their painted statues and murals, begun more than a millennium ago, make this one of China's great cave-temple treasures.

Highlights

Bingling Temple Grottoes (UNESCO Silk Road site) with 1,600-year-old caves and the earliest dated inscription; Bingling Stone Forest near-water danxia; Bingling Lake.

Suggested Route

Take a boat from Liujiaxia Dam to the grottoes, explore the caves, then the Stone Forest; allow half a day (boat dependent).

Food & Lodging

Try Linxia halal food and hand-pulled noodles; stay in Yongjing county or Linxia city.

Facilities

Boat transport

Travel Tips

Check official website for current information. Respect local customs and regulations. Best visited during mild weather seasons.

📅 Best Time & Crowds

Best season: Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November)

🏮Golden Week alert: May 1-5 and Oct 1-7 are China's biggest travel peaks — top attractions sell out days ahead. Book tickets the moment they open.

⏰Many museums and palaces close on Mondays (e.g. Forbidden City, National Museum). Plan around it.

Location

View on interactive map →

View Trip →

💱

Book Tickets & Tours

Trip.com

Hotels, tickets & tours

Klook

Tickets & experiences

Buying tickets as a foreign visitor

• Most 5A/4A sites require real-name registration — bring your passport.

• Tickets often must be booked in advance online — peak season & holidays sell out quickly.

• Some remote or border-area sites have entry restrictions for foreign visitors — check before you travel.

External booking links. Prices may vary.

Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to platforms travelers actually use.

Opening Hours

Generally open 8:00-17:00 daily. Some temples open earlier for morning worship.

Getting There

In Yongjing County, Linxia; access via boat from Liujiaxia Reservoir (Yongjing) ~1 h; ~150 km from Lanzhou; nearest airport Lanzhou Zhongchuan (~120 km).

Reservation

Advance online reservation recommended via official platform; real-name entry; boat ticket required.

Ticket Price

CNY 50 (≈ $7.0) (inc. boat ticket CNY 140 (≈ $19))

Address

Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, Hongliu Village, Liujiaxia Town

📍 中文地址 / Chinese Address

临夏州炳灵寺世界文化遗产旅游区

甘肃省临夏州永靖县刘家峡镇红柳村

Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, Hongliu Village, Liujiaxia Town

36.2713, 103.8945

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