Nature's Creation – An Eternal Dialogue Between Water and Stone
The core wonder of the Lianzhou Underground River is entirely sculpted by the forces of nature, and every step is breathtaking.
The River of Spirits: A Mysterious Underground River
This is one of the longest underground rivers in China, with a 450-meter section open to tourists. The river water maintains a constant temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius year-round and is crystal clear. Board a small boat and, propelled by the boatman, slowly drift into its depths. The uniquely shaped rocks on both banks and the dome of the river are reflected in the water under the illumination of lights, creating a constantly changing landscape, as if traveling through a dazzling "time tunnel." The river's width varies, from the widest point resembling a tranquil lake to the narrowest requiring one to duck to pass, offering a thrilling adventure.
Rugged Rocks: Magnificent Land-based Caves
After disembarking, you'll find an even more spectacular land-based cavern. This area is divided into several sections based on its scenic features:
Waterfall Area: The huge "Flying Waterfall Rock" cascades down from the cave ceiling, which is tens of meters high. It is a magnificent stone curtain and can be called the treasure of the cave.
Rural Scenic Area: Stone pillars and stalagmites stand tall, forming ingenious landscapes such as "Ten Thousand Lights" and "Fairy Fields," with terraced fields layered upon each other, lifelike and exquisite.
The stalactite area is densely populated with figurative stones such as "Longevity God", "Magpie Bridge" and "Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn". With the guide's explanation, the imagination is infinitely stimulated.
Cave within a cave and bridges: There are several natural bridges connecting the two sides inside the cave. Looking down at the underground river from the bridges, the cave feels even more profound and mysterious, fully demonstrating the three-dimensional layout of "a bridge in the cave and a river under the bridge".
Humanistic touches—the resonance of light and imagination
With absolute respect for nature, well-placed humanistic design plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall effect.
Clever landscape lighting: The cave uses an energy-saving and environmentally friendly LED lighting system, mainly in cool tones, to highlight the shape and texture of the stalactites themselves, avoiding gaudy and colorful effects, and creating a secluded, dreamy, and mysterious atmosphere, allowing the landscape to "speak" for itself.
Poetic naming culture: Every important landscape has its own fitting and imaginative name. These names may originate from myths and legends, come from folk life, or be derived from the shape and charm of the stone, giving the cold stone warmth and stories, greatly enriching the fun and cultural connotation of the visit.
A scientific guided tour system: Professional guides provide explanations throughout the tour. They not only explain the figurative metaphors of the landscapes, but also popularize the formation principles of karst landforms and the knowledge of stalactite growth, allowing tourists to gain a wealth of geological knowledge while marveling at the scenery.
Photography and sightseeing tips:
Best viewpoints: When shooting the river and its reflections from the boat, be careful to keep the boat stable; the viewing platform on land is an excellent location for shooting large scenes (such as waterfalls and strange rocks); use the cave lights to take close-up shots of stalactites, which will have amazing texture.
Equipment Recommendations: The cave is dimly lit and damp; a tripod and a high ISO sensitivity are essential. For mobile phone photography, night mode is recommended. A wide-aperture, wide-angle lens is recommended to capture expansive scenes.
Important rule: Do not touch any stalactites. The oils from your skin will hinder their continued growth and damage these precious formations that take thousands of years to create. Please stay on the designated trails and be careful.
