Dawang Cave

Dawang Cave

Dawang Cave is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Anhui Jiuhua Qiupu Scenic Area (Dawang Cave) is located on the beautiful southern bank of the Yangtze River — in Pailou Town, Guichi District, Chizhou City, Anhui Province. At the entrance to the mountainous regions of southern Anhui, it is a standout destination within the "Two Mountains and One Lake" (Huangshan, Jiuhua Mountain, and Taihu Lake) tourism circle and a key stop for travelers. The predecessor of the Jiuhua Qiupu Scenic Area (Dawang Cave) was the original Dawang Cave Scenic Area. In 1985, Guichi County established the Dawang Cave Development Team, investing 3.5 million yuan to carry out the first phase of development. The project was completed and opened to the public on May 1, 1987. On August 20, 1987, it was listed by the Anhui Provincial People's Government as one of the "First Batch of Provincial-Level Scenic Areas."

The Qiupu Scenic Area (Dawang Cave) consists of four major attractions: the "Sky Bridge Wonder," the "Fairy River Valley," the "Dawang Cave Palace," and "Dawang Lake." The "Sky Bridge" is a natural stone arch bridge that is 52 meters high, 64 meters wide, and 73 meters deep. Majestic and grand, it serves as the natural gateway to the Qiupu Scenic Area (Dawang Cave).

According to experts, such a sky bridge is rare even on a global scale. The "Fairy River Valley" captures the essence of pristine forests, with ancient trees towering overhead and cliffs adorned with cascading waterfalls. The "Dawang Cave Palace" is a massive artistic masterpiece integrating mountains, water, karst caves, and cultural landscapes. The cave stretches 3,500 meters in total length, with the main route extending 2,200 meters. It is divided into five major sections: the Phoenix Hall, Dragon Palace, Fairy Garden, Jade Pool, and Milky Way. The Dawang Cave Palace features caves within caves, rivers within caves, winding paths, and ever-changing scenery. Vast in scale and naturally spectacular, it enjoys fresh air year-round and a spring-like climate in all seasons. The cave is renowned for its "length, size, and water," and is hailed as the "King of Caves" due to its mysterious and magnificent karst wonders. "Dawang Lake" boasts crystal-clear blue waters, gently swaying willows, and a serene atmosphere perfect for fishing — a truly refreshing experience. Together, the cave and its surroundings form a series of fairy-tale landscapes that captivate visitors and leave them lingering in awe.

Dawang Cave, anciently known as the "Mountain-Piercing Cave," gained everlasting fame because of the poetry exchanged here by the Song Dynasty poet Teng Zongliang (courtesy name Zijing) and Mei Yaochen (courtesy name Shengyu). On August 20, 2007, the Dawang Cave Scenic Area was officially rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Attractions Quality Rating Committee.

"The cave door remains unopened for a thousand years, while white clouds drift aimlessly. Only after the jade-planter left did it shut its spring breeze, waiting for me to return." Dawang Cave, anciently called the "Mountain-Piercing Cave," has been celebrated through the ages due to the poetry shared here by Northern Song poet Teng Zongliang (courtesy name Zijing) and Mei Yaochen (courtesy name Shengyu).

Dawang Cave is located in Dashan and Chuanshan, within Pailou Town southwest of the old prefectural city. The entire cave system is a massive karst formation consisting of three caves — the Great Tianliao, Small Tianliao, and Dawang Cave — arranged in a "T" shape. The main tunnel extends 2,200 meters, covering a total area of over 100,000 square meters. Vast in scale and naturally wondrous, it is rightfully called the "King of Caves." It is among the first batch of provincial-level scenic areas in Anhui and a unique gem of the Qiupu fairyland. The Dawang Cave Scenic Area includes four major sections: the "Sky Bridge Wonder," the "Fairy River Valley," the "Dawang Cave Palace" (encompassing the Phoenix Hall, Dragon Hall, Milky Way, Fairy Garden [Small Tianliao], and Jade Pool [Ancient Chuanshan Cave]), and Dawang Lake. It is an immense artistic masterpiece combining mountains, water, and caves. The first phase of the Dawang Cave project — the Sky Bridge Wonder, Fairy River Valley, and sections of the cave palace such as the Phoenix Hall and Dragon Hall — was completed and opened on May 1, 1987. In 2001, the Guichi District Government initiated the second phase of development, and by May 1, 2002, the entire cave system was connected. The whole scenic area, with its grandeur, ruggedness, serenity, and mystique, leaves visitors in awe and wonder.