The Ten Thousand Year Ice Cave was formed during the Quaternary Glacial Period of the Cenozoic Era. It is the largest ice cave discovered in China to date, and also a rare large ice cave found outside of permanently frozen soil regions anywhere in the world. Inside, there are all kinds of ice formations—ice pillars, ice curtains, ice waterfalls, ice flowers, ice Buddha statues, ice beds, ice bells, ice figures, and ice bodhisattvas—that are wildly diverse and fascinating. The various features inside the cave vary from exquisitely transparent and dazzlingly crystalline to gracefully elegant and majestically grand, all of which are truly breathtaking. Even more astonishing is that less than 200 meters away from the ice cave lies a thousand-year-old underground fire known locally as the Millennium Volcano. Fire and ice, which are naturally incompatible, coexist miraculously on the same mountain—an incredible natural phenomenon and a unique wonder of China.
Recommended Photography Spots: The walking path from the parking lot to the cave entrance, towering ice pillars, clusters of hanging icicles, frozen rhythms, and dreamlike lighting
Photo Spot 2: A Flowering Meadow Suspended in the Air
Malan Grassland, situated at an altitude of 2,721 meters and covering an area of over 6,000 acres, faces Luya Mountain from the south and is one of the largest subalpine meadows in North China. With fertile pastures, it has historically served as a base for emperors to graze warhorses. Malan Grassland blends meadows, forests, high mountains, valleys, unique pines, peculiar rocks, sections of the Great Wall, ancient military platforms, and pagodas. In late spring and early summer, scattered wildflowers cover the grassland, turning it into a floral carpet suspended in the sky.
Recommended Photography Spots: The sensual curves of the walking path, vast fields of wildflowers, unobstructed views of the meadow, bees and butterflies, blue skies with white clouds, and the distant Luya Mountain
Photo Spot 3: The Timeless Mystery of the Ancient Plank Road
The Cliffside Plank Road was built during the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty. A series of ancient cliff temples connected by plank roads link scenic sites such as the Arhat Hall, Vairocana Hall, the ruins of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Xiaozu Pagoda, creating a visual and spiritual journey through this beautiful landscape.
Recommended Photography Spots: The caves and perilous cliffs of the plank road, the hanging architectural complex, and the Small Hanging Temple