Huzhou Shenlong Cave Heaven

Huzhou Shenlong Cave Heaven

: Discovered in 1966 at the foot of Huanglong Mountain, 10 kilometers north of Huzhou City, this is a large karst cave in Taihu Danxia rock. The main chamber of the cave is 45 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 20 meters high. The cave is filled with stalactites of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the massive to the tiny. The largest one bears a striking resemblance to a white jade Guanyin on the front and to weeping willows in the wind on the back. A stalactite on the cave ceiling stretches over 30 meters, resembling a coiling dragon, with its head, tail, scales, and claws faintly visible—hence the name of the cave. On the western side, there are many interconnected smaller caves. At the junction where these caves meet, stalactites “cascade” down from the cave ceiling dozens of meters above, resembling a waterfall. Opposite the stone waterfall, there are nearly a hundred ox-horn-shaped large stalactites that produce pleasant sounds when struck, with tones that vary from deep and resonant to clear and bright. Arranged by pitch, they can be played like stone chimes to produce music. There is also a natural spectacle of a giant “dragon egg” on the cave ceiling. About 100 meters northwest of the cave, at the base of a cliff, lies the Huanglong Cave. Viewed from above, it resembles a giant well, dark and deep. Looking north, you can see Lake Taihu blending seamlessly with the sky. In front of the cave stand numerous massive rocks, along with cliff inscriptions from various dynasties.

Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province