# Cangyuan Rock Paintings, China: what it is and when to go

> Cangyuan Rock Paintings is an archaeological site (沧源崖画) in China. Interests: History and Museums and art. The best time to visit is March to May and September to October. In June there are 13 h 25 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 35. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/cangyuan-cliff-paintings/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Archaeological site · History, Museums and art
- **Local name:** 沧源崖画
- **Where:** China
- **Best time:** March to May and September to October.
- **Nearest airport:** CTU Chengdu (Shuangliu), 932 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 23.27164, 99.31519

## What it is and where

Cangyuan Rock Paintings is an archaeological site (沧源崖画) in China. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 23.27164, 99.31519; the nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU, Chengdu (Shuangliu)), 932 km as the crow flies. How to get around China (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=23.271642%2C99.315189)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=23.271642%2C99.315189)

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/historia/) and [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/museos/) places in China. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Cangyuan Rock Paintings is **March to May and September to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 10 h 43 |
| February | Possible | 11 h 13 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 50 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 33 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 07 |
| June | Possible | 13 h 25 |
| July | Possible | 13 h 18 |
| August | Possible | 12 h 48 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 08 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 27 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 51 |
| December | Possible | 10 h 35 |

In June there are 13 h 25 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 35. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | March to May and September to October | November to February and June to August |
| Museums and art | March to May and September to October | November to February and June to August |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Cangyuan Rock Paintings has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to China in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to China

To enter China there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the China checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Yuan or renminbi (CNY); plugs: Type A, C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Mong Ling Shan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/mount-mong-ling/): Mountain in Myanmar · 45 km
- [Daxue Shan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/daxue-shan/): Mountain range · 99 km
- [Nuofu Church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/nuofu-church/): Church building in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, China · 123 km
- [Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/old-tea-forests-of-the-jingmai-mountain/): Nature · History · 140 km
- [Menghuan Pagoda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/menghuan-pagoda/): Temples · 148 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/).

## More in China: History

- [Forbidden City](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/ciudad-prohibida/): Chinese imperial palace in Beijing
- [Terracotta Army](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/guerreros-de-terracota/): collection of ancient Chinese military statues
- [Potala Palace](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/potala-palace/): 7th-century Tibetan fortress and palace in Lhasa, rebuilt in the 17th century as the winter seat of the Dalai Lamas
- [Tiananmen Square](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/plaza-de-tiananmen/): public square in Beijing, China
- [Temple of Heaven](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/templo-del-cielo/): imperial complex of religious buildings in Beijing, China
- [Mogao Caves](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/mogao-caves/): caves in Dunhuang City, Gansu, China

Every China place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Cangyuan Rock Paintings?

It is an archaeological site (沧源崖画 in the local language) in China. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Cangyuan Rock Paintings?

March to May and September to October. In June there are 13 h 25 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 35.

### How do you get to Cangyuan Rock Paintings?

The nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), 932 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=23.271642%2C99.315189) opens the route on the map, and how to get around China is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the China map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Mong Ling Shan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/mount-mong-ling/), [Daxue Shan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/daxue-shan/), [Nuofu Church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/nuofu-church/). The rest is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/760775321), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48913444), CC0. More about Cangyuan Rock Paintings on [Wikipedia](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B2%A7%E6%BA%90%E5%B4%96%E7%94%BB). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).