Dushan Karst Cave Cluster

Dushan Karst Cave Cluster

Located in Anyun Village, Lishu Township, 35 kilometers from Anlong County’s county seat beside the Anlong–Bacao Highway, these caves are spread across a funnel-shaped area of about 0.5 square kilometers. Over 30 karst caves of varying sizes are scattered like hidden treasures deep in the mountains—like orchids in a secluded valley or celestial pavilions on mystical peaks—remaining largely unknown. From 1986 to 1988, experts and scholars from the UK, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand conducted multiple field studies here. Their conclusion: this cave system combines grandeur, peril, and wonder, with some features ranking among China’s finest and others being globally rare.

Surrounding the caves, a dense array of diverse and intricate karst landforms thrives above ground: undulating, steep, and towering peak clusters and forests; orderly yet staggered, graceful yet rugged karst hills and isolated peaks; deep, serene karst valleys and depressions sealed like hidden realms; precipitous cliffs as sharp as blades and summits nearly impossible to tread; natural stone bridges arching like rainbows with gate-like curves; sparse yet jagged stone forests partially hidden underground; and an interconnected cave system with long passages, vast chambers, and hidden networks. Underground, there are perennially flowing subterranean rivers with cascading drops, deep vertical shafts where passages abruptly plunge, and a stunning variety of karst wonders such as colorful stalactites and stalagmites.

This karst cave cluster is characterized by its immense scale, mystical allure, and treacherous terrain. For these reasons, it has captivated foreign speleologists and explorers, who regard it as a "major discovery" and marvel at the "magical Anlong Dushan Subterranean River Cave Cluster."

Domestic experts have noted: "The Dushan Karst Cave Cluster stands out nationally for its exceptional abundance, diversity of types, extensive passages, colossal chambers, profound shafts, numerous entrances, great depth, and excellent chimney effect—truly a rare karst wonder in China."

Xiniu Cave (Rhinoceros Cave) Comprising over 10 chambers, Xiniu Cave stretches 17.6 kilometers in length. The entrance is framed by lush bamboo and shrubs, casting dappled shadows in a tranquil setting. Upon entering, a vast hall opens up, half sandy and half waterlogged, littered with sediment formations resembling several stone oxen drifting and playfully tumbling in the sandy river. A few dozen meters ahead, a massive natural stone screen spans the chamber, splitting the entrance into left and right passages. The first chamber begins beyond, where a 5-meter-tall stalagmite column with a 2.8-meter circumference rests atop a tilted rectangular stone pedestal, welcoming visitors. Ten meters further, another 1.4-meter-tall, 1.5-meter-circumference stalagmite stands like a guide, pointing the way forward. To the left, a 10-meter-long drapery-like stalactite hangs from the ceiling like a soaring dragon gazing down. On the right, clusters of pendant stalactites resemble an ornate chandelier. About 150 meters into the left side of the chamber, a calcium-carbonate slope features crisscrossing 0.5-meter-high, 100-meter-long rimstone dams, forming dish-like basins that resemble terraced fields, with winding banks like serpentine trails. Around 200 meters to the right, a 3,000-square-meter cave depression holds a lake, its walls adorned with a 20-meter-high, 100-meter-long calcium-carbonate fan. Translucent stalactites of varying heights drip crystalline water droplets from above. A short distance ahead, a broken-handle broadsword is embedded in the calcium-carbonate mound, leading to a narrow passage—the only way through. Crawling through this bottleneck brings you to the second chamber.

In the second chamber, a group of stalagmites of varying heights and thicknesses gathers as if admiring a spectacular stone waterfall and splashing floral formations. At the chamber’s center, three upright stalagmites stand in a straight line—2.4 meters, 3 meters, and 1.6 meters tall, with circumferences of 1.6 meters, 2.4 meters, and 3.6 meters. Climbing the left slope of the Trinity Pillars Chamber, a giant stone frog crouches mid-leap, mouth agape in a startled cry, seemingly fleeing a looming stone cat to its right. Behind the cat, a playful child-like stalagmite peers up at the cat-and-frog scene. On the opposite side, a 7-meter-tall, 15-meter-circumference stalagmite hill is crowned with coral-like stone flowers. Beneath it, 20 meters from the chamber’s edge, a 20-meter-tall, 25-meter-circumference stalagmite hangs like a massive bell from the ceiling. At the chamber’s northwest corner, a row of 10-meter-tall, penholder-like stalagmites points skyward, their needle-like tips adorned with vividly shaped jade rabbits frolicking lifelike. Along a winding path, a row of 1.5–2-meter-tall upright stalagmites resembles a fence, adding whimsy. The second and third chambers are separated by a narrow passage—5 meters long, 0.8 meters wide, and 1.5 meters high—encased in dangling stalactites and standing stalagmites of varying shapes, resembling beaded curtains or draperies. The passage seems like a dead end, but a distant howling wind hints at an opening ahead. This is the Cooling Breeze Platform bottleneck, the sole passage forward. Beyond it lies the third chamber—a vast space with a 100-meter diameter and over 50-meter height.

The third chamber is expansive, with branching side passages that easily disorient visitors, especially along its southwestern side, where numerous long tunnels lead only to dead ends. The chamber floor is uneven, with mounds and muddy pits requiring careful navigation. To the right, a side passage—2 meters high, 3 meters wide—is adorned with delicate stalactites and dense stalagmites, resembling a pearl palace. Further ahead, a calcium-carbonate hill resembles a silent mountain, accessible only via a winding, narrow path. About 50 meters in, a 20-meter-wide, 30-meter-high calcium-carbonate curtain glows like a silver waterfall. Toward the chamber’s rear, a calcium-carbonate rimstone dam spans acres, its intricate network twisting like hundreds of serpents playing, creating rippling water patterns. At the chamber’s end, the passage suddenly drops into a 70-meter-wide, 60-meter-high vertical cliff. Below, a vast hall shrouded in mist resembles a perilous abyss. Three 1.5-meter-tall stalagmites near the cliff’s edge warn visitors of danger. Beyond the drop lies a massive vertical shaft—50 meters in diameter and over 60 meters deep—its walls lined with sheer cliffs, marking the cave’s most treacherous section. Below the shaft lies the boundless fourth chamber.

Covering approximately 80,000 square meters, the fourth chamber is the largest in Xiniu Cave and one of the world’s biggest underground cave halls. Looking up feels like gazing at the sky; looking down reveals boundless space, and shouts echo like surging tides. The hall is veiled in swirling mist, adding to its mysterious aura. The right half of the hall is walled by thick calcium-carbonate layers, resembling a cascading waterfall, atop which stands a 15-meter-tall, 10-meter-circumference stalagmite like an ancient pagoda, majestic and grand. On the left, beneath the giant shaft, a pile of white stalagmites resembles a pair of baby lions nestled atop their mother’s back, their affectionate pose strikingly lifelike. A 500-meter-long waterway extends downward, its calm waters navigable by boat. This underground river connects all the way to Ban Cave, where the sound of flowing water can still be heard.

Ban Cave Entrance The entrance is a massive oval vertical shaft, 50 meters by 100 meters wide and 250 meters deep. Its southeastern wall accumulates thick silt, supporting lush banana groves that form a natural garden. The other three sides are sheer cliffs, with only a perilous, winding path on the northwest leading to a cave halfway up the western cliff. From there, a detour descends to the shaft’s bottom. The cave’s western wall hosts numerous small and large chambers. The lowest level connects Xiniu Cave to the west and Yan Yan Cave to the east. Ban Cave serves as a remarkable "sky well" in the Dushan Karst system. To the right of Ban Cave’s eastern entrance, a 10-meter-tall residual hill formed from collapsed limestone is draped in vines and shaded by green leaves, swaying delicately in the breeze. It complements the lush banana grove to the south, where thousands of broad, vibrant leaves thrive. At the central entrance of the main passage, a 15-meter-tall, calcium-carbonate mound rises—15 meters in circumference at its base, 30 meters in the middle, and 50 meters at the bottom. Viewed head-on, it resembles a giant suspended golden bell; from the side, it looks like a three-tiered pagoda, standing firmly to divide the hall. Below the "bell tower," a stone curtain of draperies flutters like silk ribbons, while moss and vines cling to the walls like embroidered flowers. About 10 meters behind the tower, a massive calcium-carbonate lion lies within the hall—its 4-meter-high head, 2.5-meter-low tail, and 5-meter body shimmer with golden fur. A silver plate atop its head holds celestial nectar as it gazes westward, awaiting thirsty visitors—this is the fifth chamber.

The sixth chamber is located on the second level of Ban Cave, suspended halfway up the cave wall about 30 meters below the upper level and 50 meters from the bottom. The chamber spans approximately 2,500 square meters, sloping 30 degrees westward to connect with lower passages. Scattered throughout are dozens of stalagmite formations—some resembling turtles, rats, roosters, or slender mythical beasts—all strikingly realistic. A 200-meter climb up the western slope leads to the upper level: the seventh chamber. Here, stalactites and stalagmites form bizarre shapes, including one resembling a peacock with its tail spread. Further along the winding passage lies the Flowing Sand River (eighth chamber).

The eighth chamber features a 100-meter-long, 30-degree slope covered in fine white sand, as soft as a desert where footsteps slide. At its end, a 5-meter-high drop leads to a 30-meter-wide fan-shaped calcium-carbonate beach, strewn with 1–2-meter-diameter, 0.3–0.5-meter-deep stone balls like silver pastries gifted to travelers who cross the "sand river." Thirty meters ahead, a 30-meter-wide shallow pool lies in a depression. Its calcium-carbonate dams and basins cradle 1–3-centimeter pebble balls like pearls. Further west lies the ninth chamber.

A nearly 100-meter-long gentle stretch hosts crisscrossing rimstone basins of varying sizes—the largest spanning 45 square meters. Their 0.3–0.5-meter-high rims and 10–30-centimeter widths hold shimmering pools. To the right, stalactites cascade like waterfalls, their glow resembling starlight. At the ceiling, a pair of giant pendant stalactites hang like bronze bells, adorned with yellow-and-white "embroidered" tassels. Ahead lies the tenth chamber.

Within the tenth chamber, an acre-sized area features a massive rimstone basin—individual basins span around 200 square meters, 0.5–1.0 meter deep, with knife-edge ridges twisting like dragons. Under light, they shimmer gold and silver, creating a breathtaking spectacle. A 8-meter-tall, 3-meter-diameter golden stalagmite stands like a giant banana leaf, behind which a 15-meter-tall, 15-meter-diameter calcium-carbonate mound resembles an old-fashioned "coolie hat." The right wall features 80-meter-long, 10-meter-high hanging stalactites like a yellow crystal curtain. Nearby, a cluster of 1–2-meter-tall, irregularly spaced stalagmites sprouts like bamboo after rain. In front of them, a 35-meter-long stone curtain hangs from the wall. Below it, a 3-meter-tall, 2-meter-diameter stalagmite stands like a maiden waiting for her lover behind the curtain. After twists and turns through the "Hanging Platform" and "Pillow Pass," the journey through Xiniu Cave concludes, emerging into the light.