You're wandering through the jagged stone spires of Jueyun Karst, your stamina bar is flashing red, and suddenly you see it. That faint, ghostly blue glow of a Liyue Shrine of Depths tucked away in a crevice. It’s a moment of pure relief. Honestly, these shrines are the closest thing Genshin Impact has to a "payday" for exploration. You see the barrier, you know there’s a Luxurious Chest inside, and you know you’re about to get 40 Primogems and a bunch of Sigils.
But then comes the actual problem.
Finding one is easy. Finding all ten? That’s where the headache starts. I’ve spent way too many hours backtracking across the Guyun Stone Forest because I couldn’t remember if I’d opened a specific shrine or if I just dreamed I did. Most players end up stuck at 9/10, staring at an interactive map and feeling deeply annoyed.
Where the Liyue Shrine of Depths Keys Actually Come From
You can’t just "find" a key in a random wooden chest. The game is pretty stingy with them. Basically, you have to earn them through specific milestones, and if you've missed one, it's probably because you skipped a side quest or haven't finished the right Domain.
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First off, the Domains are the big ones. You get four keys from the one-time completion rewards of the "Domain of Forsaken Ruins," the "Domain of the Wayward Path," and the "Hidden Palace of Guizang Formula." If you haven't done those yet, that’s your first stop.
Then there are the world quests. "The Chi of Yore" (formerly "The Chi of Guyun") gives you one. It's a long, annoying quest involving a lot of ruin hunters and a cave, but it's mandatory if you want that 100% completion. You also get keys from "The Tree who Stands Alone" and "Treasure Lost, Treasure Found."
Finally, don’t forget the Ascension Quests. When you level up your World Level, the game throws a couple of keys your way as part of the reward package. If you’re sitting on a pile of keys and no shrines, or vice versa, you’ve likely missed a specific quest marker in Liyue Harbor or Wangshu Inn.
Breaking Down the Locations (The Ones People Always Miss)
Let’s talk about the actual spots. There isn't a "perfect" order to do these, but some are way more hidden than others.
There’s one sitting right on the border of Dragonspine and Liyue, near the Stone Gate. It’s tucked into a cliffside. If you're just following the main road to Liyue Harbor, you'll walk right past it. You have to actually look up and climb. Most people miss this because they're too focused on getting to the next teleport waypoint.
Then you have the Guyun Stone Forest. This one is arguably the most annoying because it’s out on the islands. You have to navigate the cluster of islands to the southernmost point. It’s just sitting there on a small patch of land, surrounded by water. If you don't have a Kaeya or Ayaka to bridge across, or enough stamina to swim, it’s a trek.
The Western Peaks and Karst Locations
The western side of Liyue is a vertical nightmare. There are shrines hidden in the heights of Mt. Aocang and Qingyun Peak. Specifically, one sits in a cave-like indentation on the mountain south of Mt. Aocang.
Another one is tucked away near the Wuwang Hill area. It's not out in the open. It’s nestled into the landscape in a way that makes it invisible if you’re gliding from the top of the hill. You actually have to drop down into the lower ridges to spot the blue roof.
Why Do These Even Matter Anymore?
You might think, "It’s just 40 Primogems."
Sure. But it’s also the Liyue Sigils. Those sigils are the only way to clear out the souvenir shop in Liyue Harbor, which gives you the high-level weapon blueprints and Mora. If you’re a mid-game player, that injection of resources is huge. For end-game players, it’s about that "100% Exploration" stat on the map. Seeing 98% because you missed one shrine is enough to drive anyone crazy.
The Misconception About Respawning
I see this question a lot on forums: Do the Shrines of Depths respawn?
No. Absolutely not.
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Once you use a key and open that Luxurious Chest, the barrier is gone forever. The shrine just becomes a weird, empty stone gazebo. It would be cool if they reset every few patches, but HoYoverse hasn't gone that route. You get ten, and that’s it. It’s a finite resource, sort of like the Oculi.
A Fast Strategy for Finding the Last One
If you are stuck at 9/10, don't just wander around aimlessly.
- Check your quest log. Did you finish "The Chi of Yore"? If not, you're missing a key, not a shrine.
- Go to the Mingyun Village area. There’s one hidden in the hills there that is notoriously easy to overlook because the terrain is so messy and brown.
- Look behind the mountains. Several shrines are placed on the "back" side of cliffs, facing the ocean or the edge of the map, rather than facing the roads.
- Use the official interactive map. Seriously. Log in, mark the ones you are positive you have, and then visit the remaining ones. It takes twenty minutes.
The rewards inside are standardized. You’re getting 40 Primogems, 60 Adventure Rank XP, 10 Liyue Sigils, and a random assortment of artifacts and weapons. It’s the easiest way to get a 4-star artifact early on if you’re a newer player.
Taking Action: Your Liyue Checklist
Stop guessing and just do the legwork.
First, look at your inventory. If you have zero keys and the map shows you’re missing a shrine, you need to go back to the Domains. Check the "Hidden Palace of Guizang Formula" at Luhua Pool. You have to solve a quick fire-totem puzzle to even get in there, and the two separate levels within that domain give separate keys.
Next, head to the Southern Lisha area. There’s a shrine hidden way down south, near the winding path that leads toward the Chasm. It’s in a spot where the geography is a bit confusing, and it's easy to mistake it for just another ruin.
Once you’ve unlocked all ten, you’ll also net the "Sanctuary Pilgrim: Liyue" achievement. That’s an extra few Primogems for your trouble. It’s not just about the loot; it’s about clearing the map so you can finally move on to Inazuma or Sumeru without that nagging feeling that you left something behind. Go to your map, set your markers, and clear those shrines today. There's no reason to leave those Primogems sitting in a stone box.