Qingtian River: tickets, hours and how to visit
A quieter valley of pools and boardwalks, good with children.
Qingtian River at a glance
A quieter valley of pools and boardwalks, good with children. Plan on 3 hours here, plus half an hour either side for entry, security and parking.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tickets | CNY 60 separate from the Yuntai ticket. Boat on the river CNY 40. |
| Opening hours | 08:00–17:30. |
| Time needed | 3 hours; 4 with the boat. |
| City | Jiaozuo, China |
What to see
Three things carry this sight. If you are short on time, do them in this order.
- The river gorgecalm water between cliffs, best from the boat
- The boardwalk along the west bankflat, shaded, 3 km
- The dam at the north end1960s engineering, and the start of the boat trip
Tickets and booking
How the ticket works, and what foreigners usually get wrong.
Before you buy
- Price. CNY 60 separate from the Yuntai ticket. Boat on the river CNY 40.
- Booking. This is the quiet alternative to Yuntai and it is not on the same ticket — people arrive expecting it to be included and turn around. It is worth the extra CNY 60 if you want a valley without crowds.
- Payment. Most Chinese sights take WeChat Pay or Alipay only. Cash works at staffed windows but not at self-service machines; a licensed guide can pay on your behalf and settle with you at the end of the day.
Getting there and when to go
40 minutes north-west of Jiaozuo city, separate gate from Yuntai. A car is needed; there is no shuttle connecting the two areas.
08:00–17:30.. The first hour after opening is the quietest — tour groups arrive around 09:30. Late afternoon gives better light but the main viewpoints start clearing people out, so shoot early if that is your priority.
Public transport reaches Qingtian River, but connections and waiting times add up. With luggage, older travellers, or two sights in one day, a car and driver removes the guesswork.
The one thing that goes wrong
Jiaozuo local note
- This is the quiet alternative to Yuntai and it is not on the same ticket — people arrive expecting it to be included and turn around. It is worth the extra CNY 60 if you want a valley without crowds.
Pairing Qingtian River with
These are usually on the same day or the same trip.
Qingtian River: questions travellers ask
Is it part of Yuntai?
Good with children?
How booking works — three steps, itinerary before price
No deposit to get a plan, and nothing is locked in before you agree.
Send the brief
Dates, party size, how you arrive and what you want to see around Qingtian River.
Get a route and a price
We order the stops by location and traffic, then quote per car per day with fuel, tolls and the driver included.
Confirm and travel
Only after you accept the route and the price do we assign the car and guide.

