Ice caves, cliff-climbing, jungle adventures – what can't this scenic area do!

I used to dream of traveling far, the farther the better. Given the times, my travels this year have centered around Shanghai. After many trips to Zhejiang, I can't help but deeply feel that Zhejiang is truly a treasure trove, bursting with unexpectedly fun and distinctive attractions. The Jiangnan Great Ice Cave Scenic Area I visited last weekend is one of them. Can you imagine escaping into an ice cave at minus eight degrees Celsius on a scorching summer day for a Frozen-style adventure? Can you picture dining in a huge karst cave kept at a constant 17 degrees, feeling like you're on the set of Journey to the West? Can you envision genuinely scaling walls and swinging through the jungle like Tarzan? There's also a cliff swing that transports you to Bali, a Sky Mirror that’s a jungle version of Chaka Salt Lake, and much more. It brings together every trendy element of food, fun, and leisure, yet remains uniquely its own—perfect for family outings, corporate team-building, or trips with friends.

01 A Frozen Adventure at Minus Eight All Year Round

Living in the Jiangnan area of the Yangtze River Delta, ice and snow are a luxury to us. The myriad ice landscapes and ice caves are usually found only at the poles, a faraway dream out of reach for ordinary people. But at Jiangnan Great Ice Cave, you can feast your eyes on a spectacular frozen wonderland. The moment Yuanbao and Hanhan learned we’d see ice and snow, they were rubbing their hands in anticipation, unable to wait.

Jiangnan Great Ice Cave is China’s first large-scale natural-style ice cave scenic area. Unlike Harbin Ice and Snow World, which has natural cold but artificial ice sculptures, here the temperature is kept artificially low to preserve natural ice formations. Taking full advantage of the unique local karst caves, they cool a sprawling 3,000+ square meters to create an array of ice landscapes—ice waterfalls, ice cliffs, ice pillars, ice flowers, ice curtains, and more. Lit up with colored lights, they dazzle like a real-life scene from Frozen.

Yuanbao and Hanhan put on the thick jackets rented from the scenic area and said it felt like stepping into a giant refrigerator. Not minding the cold at all, they excitedly embarked on an icy adventure inside the cave. When they came across the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs fairy-tale display set up there, they simply couldn't tear themselves away—absolutely smitten. In that moment, they truly stepped into a storybook world.

The scenic area also offers an ice bubble activity. Blow a bubble at -8°C inside the cave, and it instantly freezes solid—so much fun and an eye-opener for the kids.

PS: The scenic area provides safety helmets for free. You can bring your own padded coat, or rent one for 20 yuan per piece.

02 A Cave Restaurant Like Meeting Journey to the West

The constant 17°C cave restaurant is another highlight, the first of its kind in the Yangtze River Delta. Built within the karst landscape, diners enjoy meals while marveling at nature's craftsmanship, as if on the set of Journey to the West, half expecting the Gold Horn King and Silver Horn King to pop out any moment.

The menu focuses on local specialties, and the serving ware is wonderfully quirky—a vintage Liberation-brand military truck model and a dish shaped like Zhu Bajie carrying his wife that makes you chuckle.

03 Jungle Adventure in a Fairy-Tale World

Just outside the Great Ice Cave lies the Fairy-Tale Forest Tree Scenic Area, featuring Sky Mirror, a tree-top ball court, an aerial walkway, a marmot home, swings, hammocks, and other leisure activities.

Sky Mirror lets you capture breathtaking photos, like a jungle version of Chaka Salt Lake. Since its launch, wave after wave of visitors have flocked to shoot here, especially fashion-loving girls in beautiful dresses, dancing gracefully on the mirrored surface and looking stunning.

Yuanbao and Hanhan treated Sky Mirror as a playground, rolling around barefoot and cheering with delight.

The tree-top ball court and aerial walkway are perfect for adventure-loving kids—seemingly tailor-made for Yuanbao. He especially loved the aerial walkway. Strapped into the safety gear, he walked step by step with his dad, crossing a suspension bridge at times and feeling like he was strolling through the jungle. Though it was his first time trying jungle exploration, he quickly got the hang of it. After completing this nature quest, Yuanbao was overjoyed. I think that sense of achievement gave him a whole new kind of confidence.

The swings and hammocks are ideal for family fun, fitting up to four people swinging at once. As we swayed back and forth, our laughter echoed through the woods. In that moment, we had undoubtedly embraced a real fairy-tale world.

04 Dancing on the Cliff: Via Ferrata Climbing

Lion Rock Scenic Area is another facet of the Jiangnan Great Ice Cave complex. Besides the natural karst landscapes of stone forests and caves, it also features unique attractions developed from its ecological setting, like a glass walkway and high-altitude plank paths. Strolling through, you’ll find red spider lilies, daisies, and other wildflowers blooming along the trails. After the rain, the air is fresh, and hiking the mountain paths is a balm for the soul.

At the summit, there's a glass observation deck about 100 meters high, jutting out 5 meters. Stepping onto it sends a thrill through you. From the deck, you gaze out at rolling peaks, while below, the rice paddies wear a patchwork of yellow and green—hinting that a golden harvest season is just around the corner.

The cliff swing at the top is another internet sensation. Even on my second ride, it was heart-stopping. The moment you swing out from that height, it’s thrilling and satisfying, a little stress-relieving and totally exhilarating.

The via ferrata climbing at Lion Rock is a major draw—the first international-standard via ferrata in the Yangtze River Delta. It offers one children's route and two adult routes (beginner and challenge), letting ordinary people experience the sensation of scaling walls and teetering on edges. Yuanbao initially cried his eyes out when told climbing was for adults only. But once he learned there was a children’s version, he was instantly raring to go. After changing into the gear and putting on a helmet, he instantly felt like a little warrior.

I worried he might be scared, but I needn’t have. Yuanbao quickly mastered the techniques and scrambled up rapidly, nearly summiting in no time, leaving me, the photographer, speechless. For a first-time climber, Yuanbao truly had boundless potential. His dad, after coming down, still wanted more and went for the more challenging adult route.

A few true warriors scaled the cliff with bare hands, galloping across the rock face and forming a flowing rainbow trail on the wall. After conquering it, everyone was bursting with a sense of achievement. Standing from a different angle, they got to take in a wholly different sheer cliff panorama.

Ice caves, cliff-climbing, jungle adventures, Sky Mirror... Jiangnan Great Ice Cave is, in a sense, one of the most wonderfully unconventional scenic spots around. More than its beautiful natural scenery, what impressed us most were the unique experiences. These feelings, as if etched into our bodies, are the most special—they keep awakening your memories, making you yearn to return without even realizing it.

Some tips:

Getting there: Located in Shiping Village, Hangtou Town, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province. Driving from Shanghai takes over 4 hours; from Hangzhou about 2 hours. The scenic area has its own large outdoor parking lot.

Opening hours: November to March 8:30–17:00; April to October 8:00–16:00.

Ticket price: 160 yuan (package ticket, including Jiangnan Great Ice Cave - Lion Rock Scenic Area admission, via ferrata climbing, cliff swing, and tree-top adventure).