Shunhuangyan

Shunhuangyan

The Shunhuangyan Scenic Area is located in Damiaokou Town, the site of Shunhuangshan National Forest Park, 29 kilometers from Dong’an County. It is named after Emperor Shun, who stopped to hunt during his southern tour at Shunhuang Mountain. The scenery of the Jiangnan region is beautiful, and Shunhuangyan boasts many picturesque views. Legend has it that Shunhuangyan was an underground palace of Emperor Shun, known as a mysterious realm. It is located within a standalone large rocky hill in Baqitian Cave at the eastern foothills of Shunhuang Mountain in Dong’an County. Legend says that in his later years, Emperor Shun toured southward to Dong’an and was captivated by the overlapping mountains, lush greenery, clear streams, and idyllic farmland. He ventured into the mountains for inspection and hunting, eventually settling on the highest peak of the area—hence the mountain was named Shunhuang Mountain.

The “Records of the Grand Historian: Basic Annals of the Five Emperors” states: “In the Jiangnan region there are ten peaks, but Shun Peak is the tallest.” The “Comprehensive Gazetteer of Hunan Province,” under Yongzhou Prefecture’s “Literary Records,” records: “Yong’s Dong’an has Shun Peak and Yupiyuan, both dedicated to Emperor Shun. Dong’an is near Jiuyi Mountain, as it lies along the route Emperor Shun took during his southern tour.” During his stay on Shunhuang Mountain, Emperor Shun often descended to inspect the people’s conditions. For convenience, he specially constructed this underground palace.

Shunhuangyan is a typical karst limestone landform. According to archaeologists, the cave has a history of over 100 million years and was gradually developed into its current scale after being discovered in 1982. The cave stretches 760 meters in length, with a total area of about 18,000 square meters. It is divided into the Front Palace, Middle Palace, Rear Palace, and Side Palace from the outside in, forming a structure where caves contain palaces, and palaces contain halls—each step brings a new scene. Formed from stalactites, the cave features stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, stone waterfalls, fairy bridges, fairy fields, and lotus towers, creating exquisite natural sculptures that resemble a dazzling underground labyrinth. The cave maintains spring-like temperatures year-round, free from summer heat or winter chill, making it a “subterranean paradise where warmth lingers in winter and coolness prevails in summer,” and is honored as the “Underground Palace of Emperor Shun.” The cave’s attractions encompass nearly all elements described in speleology, making it a unique gem among China’s limestone caves.

Address: Damiaokou Town, Dong’an County, Yongzhou City

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:30

Ticket:

Ticket: 37 RMB