Silver Cave Yangshuo: Tickets, Hours & How to Visit 2026

Quick answer

Bottom line: Silver Cave (Yinzi Yan) is the largest show cave near Yangshuo: a 2 km lit walkway through big karst chambers, about 60-90 minutes inside and roughly 65-80 RMB to enter. It sits about 40 km from Yangshuo, so budget a half day including transport.

The cave is named for the way its wet limestone formations glitter under light, which locals compared to silver ingots. It is a fully developed attraction - paved walkways, handrails, coloured lighting, and an included guide - which makes it one of the easiest bad-weather options in the region. When rain ruins a cycling day or summer heat becomes oppressive, the constant interior temperature makes this a comfortable alternative.

🧭 Navigate here

🗺 Open in Amap 🗺️ Open in Google Maps

What you see inside

Music Stone Screen: a wall of thin stalactites that ring faintly when tapped - the cave's signature formation.
Snow Mountain Waterfall: a broad white flowstone sheet that reads exactly like a frozen cascade.
Moon Palace Deep Chamber: the largest single space, where the scale finally reads properly in photographs.
Single Pillar Holding the Sky: a tall column formed where a stalactite and stalagmite met after millennia.
Buddha Discussing the Sutras: a cluster of formations that locals read as seated figures.

The route is one-way, so you walk through and exit near a different point, with shuttle options back to the entrance. Guides move groups along at a steady pace; if you want photographs without crowds, let a group pass and walk at the back.

Tickets, hours, and what is included

Item	Price	Notes
Standard admission	65-80 RMB	Covers the cave walkway and guide
Transport from Yangshuo	60-150 RMB	Depends on private car, shared shuttle, or bus
Guided commentary	Usually included	Chinese-language; English limited
Estimated total per person	150-250 RMB	Including return transport

Opening hours are generally daytime, roughly 8 am to 5 pm, with last entry in the mid-afternoon. Timings shift slightly by season and are extended during national holidays, when the cave also gets significantly busier. Buying at the gate is normal; advance booking is only worth it during Golden Week and Spring Festival.

Getting there from Yangshuo and Guilin

Mode	Time from Yangshuo	Notes
Private car or hired driver	40-50 min	Most flexible; about 40 km
Shared tourist shuttle	60-90 min	Cheaper, fixed timetable, hotel pick-up
Public bus toward Lipu	70-100 min	Cheapest but needs a local connection
Self-drive	40-50 min	G65 expressway, then signed local road

From Guilin city the drive is longer, around 85 km, so most visitors see it as a Yangshuo-side attraction rather than a Guilin day trip. If you are driving yourself, parking at the cave is plentiful and straightforward, unlike many Yangshuo riverside spots. Our Yangshuo self-drive guide covers the road conditions and fuel stops on this route.

Silver Cave vs Reed Flute Cave

	Silver Cave	Reed Flute Cave
Location	Near Lipu, about 40 km from Yangshuo	Inside Guilin city
Size	Larger, taller chambers	Smaller, more compact
Ticket	65-80 RMB	Comparable
Access	Needs a half day with transport	Easy to add to a city day
Best for	Scale and drama	Convenience

If your itinerary already includes time in Yangshuo, Silver Cave is the more impressive cave and pairs naturally with a countryside day. If you only have one day in Guilin city and no transport, Reed Flute Cave wins on convenience alone. Doing both in one trip is rarely worth it unless caves are specifically your interest.

When to visit

Rainy days and peak summer afternoons are the smartest times to go, because the cave is weatherproof and cool while everything outdoors is either wet or baking. Weekends and national holidays bring tour groups; arriving shortly after opening gives you the quietest walk. Since the interior stays around 20 degrees Celsius, it is also a comfortable choice on a cold winter morning when the karst hills are grey.

Practical tips

Wear shoes with real grip - the walkway is damp and has stairs throughout.
Bring a light layer in winter; the cave is warmer than outside in January but cooler than a July afternoon.
Photography works, but low light means slow shutter speeds - steady the camera on a rail rather than carrying a tripod through crowds.
Allow a half day rather than an hour; the transport is a bigger time cost than the walk.
Combine it with a countryside drive or e-bike day rather than treating it as a standalone trip.

Source & verification: Ticket and transport figures are August 2026 typical ranges and rise during national holidays; opening hours vary seasonally.

What's your next step?

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Standard admission is roughly 65-80 RMB per adult, which generally covers the cave walkway and a guide. Some packages bundle transport from Yangshuo; check what is included before you buy, since add-on shuttles can double the cost.

The cave walk itself takes about 60-90 minutes along a roughly 2 km lit walkway. With transport from Yangshuo and back, budget a half day - around 4 hours door to door.

It sits about 40 km south-west of Yangshuo near Lipu. Options are a private car or hired driver (40-50 minutes), a shared tourist shuttle, or a bus toward Lipu from Yangshuo bus station. Self-drivers use the G65 expressway.

Silver Cave is larger and more dramatic, with bigger chambers and more elaborate formations. Reed Flute Cave is smaller but sits inside Guilin city, so it is far easier to fit into a city day. If you have time for one and are based in Yangshuo, choose Silver Cave.

Roughly 20 degrees Celsius year round. That makes it pleasantly cool in summer and mildly warm in winter - bring a light layer in the cool months and expect relief from the heat in July and August.

It is walkable but not flat: expect stairs, ramps, and slippery surfaces from the constant moisture. Sturdy non-slip shoes matter. Travellers with limited mobility should ask about the route before committing, as there is no step-free option through the whole cave.