Entrance to the Tapadong Waterfall Cave

Entrance to the Tapadong Waterfall Cave

Entrance to the Tapadong Waterfall Cave

There are two legends about the origin of the name "Tapadong." The first says that the sound of flowing water hitting the rocks here produced a "da ba, da ba" noise, and based on this onomatopoeia, the cave was named "Tapadong." The second legend says that the Monkey King Zhu Bajie once swam here with a spider demon and hooked his nine-toothed rake onto the cliff, causing the water to split into several streams as it flowed through the prongs of the rake. That’s how the cave got its name. This legend also includes many mythical details, which we can hear more about later from the village elders.

There is also a true story that took place inside the cave. In July 1995, a major flood struck Tongren. A large yellow ox crossing the river was swept into the cave by a sudden flash flood. Its owner searched the riverbanks for days but found no trace of the animal. Seven days later, children bathing near the cave faintly heard the sound of an ox mooing from inside. The owner then gathered neighbors, lit torches, and entered the cave to search. Eventually, they found the missing yellow ox. It was said that the ox had even gouged deep grooves into a rock in front of it. People believed the cave spirit had protected the ox, and the owner was deeply grateful to the cave deity. To this day, villagers often come here to worship and offer sacrifices.

Location of the Attraction

Tapadong Village, Tongren City, Guizhou Province