Bǐnglíng Sì Getting there & around

Getting there & away

You can visit Bǐnglíng Sì as a day trip from Lánzhōu or en route to Línxià.

Frequent buses from Lánzhōu’s west bus station (Y12, two hours) run past the Liujiaxia Reservoir, and will drop you 500m from the boat ticket office. Ironically this bus is the only route left in Gānsù where you might be pestered for local insurance.

Going rates for a covered speedboat (seating up to eight people) are Y400 for the one-hour trip. The boat ticket office is good at hooking up independent travellers with small groups, which will make the price around Y65 to Y80 per person. For this you’ll get about 1½ hours at the site, which is really a minimum. Private operators near the dam will pester you with similar rates, and perhaps cheaper speedboats (Y200). For those with time, the ferry (May to October) is just Y30 return, but it’s a pretty dreary seven-hours return trip! Bring snacks, sunscreen and cold drinks.

If you’re heading to Línxià after the caves, you can arrange for a speedboat to drop you off at Liánhuātái () on the way back. From there, minibuses will taxi you on to Línxià (Y10, one hour).