Quzhou Travel Guide: Jianglang Mountain, Longyou Grottoes and the Southern Confucius Temple
Quzhou, in western Zhejiang, packs three very different sights into a small area. In the city is the Southern Confucius Family Temple, founded after part of the Kong clan followed the Song court south. In Jiangshan, Jianglang Mountain's three giant stone pillars are part of the "China Danxia" World Heritage listing. East of town, the Longyou Grottoes are huge man-made caverns whose purpose nobody can explain. High-speed trains reach Quzhou from Hangzhou in around an hour. Give it two days, three with the old town of Nianbadu.
Three sights, three directions
Each of the main sights is in a different direction, so plan a day per pair rather than trying to do all three at once:
- Southern Confucius Temple (Kongshi Nanzong Jiamiao): in the city centre. Free, but booking is required; book a few days ahead in busy periods.
- Jianglang Mountain: about 25 km from Jiangshan city, in the south of the prefecture. Bus 202 runs from Jiangshan Station.
- Longyou Grottoes: in Longyou County to the east. Bus Longyou 8 runs to the grotto gate. Local tourism information gives opening hours of about 8:00 to 16:30.
Places worth visiting
The Southern Confucius Family Temple
When the Jin invaded northern China in the 1120s, Kong Duanyou, a 48th-generation descendant of Confucius, followed the Song emperor south and the family settled in Quzhou. The temple they built is one of only two Kong family temples in China, the other being in Qufu. It is smaller and quieter than Qufu, and that is its charm. The Southern Confucius Family Temple sight guide covers the clan's history, the three axes of halls and the September ceremony closure. Allow an hour or two, then walk to the restored Shuitingmen historic street nearby for food. Bring ID for the booking check at the gate.
Jianglang Mountain
Three enormous red sandstone pillars, side by side, are the defining sight; there is a narrow slot between two of them that you can walk through. Jianglang was inscribed in 2010 as one of the six sites of China Danxia. Trails climb past temples and viewpoints; the summit routes are steep and exposed in places. Half a day is enough for most visitors. Clear weather makes all the difference, as low cloud can hide the pillars. Routes, the Lang Peak cut-off and seasonal prices are in the Jianglang Mountain sight guide.
Longyou Grottoes
In 1992 villagers pumping water out of ponds near the Qu River found vast caverns carved by hand into the sandstone, with high ceilings, supporting pillars and walls covered in regular chisel marks. Who made them, when, and why remain open questions, which is part of the fascination. The interiors are cool, making this a good choice on a hot afternoon. Plan one to two hours. The Longyou Grottoes sight guide explains the theories, the official ticket and the winter free scheme.
Nianbadu old town
At the southern tip of Jiangshan, close to the borders with Fujian and Jiangxi, Nianbadu is a mountain town of old houses that grew on a trade route through the hills. It is a long trip from Quzhou city and makes the most sense combined with Jianglang on a car-based day, or with a night in Jiangshan.
When to come to Quzhou
March to May and September to November are best for Jianglang and walking the old streets. Summers are hot and humid, which favours early starts at the mountain and the cool grottoes in the afternoon. Winters are damp and chilly but fine for the city and grottoes. Chinese holidays bring crowds to Jianglang, so go on weekdays if you can.
Getting in and where to stay
- High-speed rail: Quzhou Station is on the Shanghai–Kunming line, about an hour from Hangzhou East. Jiangshan Station, one stop further, is the one to use for Jianglang.
- Local buses: bus 202 from Jiangshan Station for Jianglang; bus 8 in Longyou for the grottoes.
- Where to stay: central Quzhou near the temple and Shuitingmen for evening walks. A night in Jiangshan suits an early start at Jianglang or a Nianbadu trip.
Jinhua is the next big stop toward Hangzhou; Lishui lies to the south with its own mountains; Shangrao and Sanqingshan are just over the border in Jiangxi. Hangzhou is the hub.
Eating in Quzhou
Quzhou is famous within Zhejiang for liking chilli far more than its neighbours. The signature is "three heads and one palm": spicy braised rabbit head, duck head and fish head, plus duck feet. Quzhou baked cakes (kaobing), pressed onto the walls of a charcoal oven, are the snack to eat on the street. Shuitingmen has many places to try both.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: morning train, Southern Confucius Temple, Shuitingmen lunch, Longyou Grottoes in the afternoon.
Day 2: train to Jiangshan, bus 202 to Jianglang Mountain, back to Quzhou or onward by evening.
Day 3 (optional): Nianbadu by car from Jiangshan.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, do the temple and the grottoes, which are both reachable from the city. Jianglang needs its own morning. Nianbadu is the first thing to drop.
Things to confirm before you go
- Booking for the Southern Confucius Temple.
- Opening hours and tickets at Jianglang and Longyou; seasonal free-entry schemes sometimes apply with online booking.
- Weather for the Jianglang pillars.
- Bus 202 and Longyou bus times for your return.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Jianglang Mountain?
Take a high-speed train to Jiangshan Station, then bus 202 to the scenic area, about 25 km away.
Do I need to book the Southern Confucius Temple?
Yes. Entry is free, but visitors book in advance, and a few days ahead is wise in busy periods.
What are the Longyou Grottoes?
Large man-made caverns carved into sandstone and rediscovered in 1992. Their age and purpose are still unknown.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 27, 2026, and rechecked on October 20, 2026.
- Quzhou https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quzhou
- China Danxia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Danxia
- Longyou Caves https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longyou_Caves
- Quzhou scenic area travel guide (Zhejiang TV news) https://wap.cztv.com/news/2575689.html
- Quzhou travel guide, Southern Confucius sites (Tide News) https://tidenews.com.cn/tmh_news.html?id=69ee1e0c0b162a000111b5dc
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts, so check the official notice for your date.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.
- quzhou-jianglang.jpg from File:江郎山 - panoramio.jpg, by 江上清风1961, CC BY 3.0
- quzhou-nanzong.jpg from File:Nanzong Confucius Temple, Quzhou.jpg, by Megan Eaves, CC BY-SA 2.0
- quzhou-longyou.jpg from File:Longyou Xiaonanhai Shishi 2016.12.11 16-07-21.jpg, by Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0