Kaiyuan Nan Dong

Kaiyuan Nan Dong

Kaiyuan Nan Dong is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Nan Dong Scenic Area is located 10 kilometers south of the city and is the foremost of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Kaiyuan. It is known as the “Dragon Roaming in Nan Dong” and was first discovered during the Ming Dynasty. The *Chronicles of A’Mi Prefecture · Travel Notes on Nan Dong* record: “Vines at the cave entrance sprawl like giant pythons, stretching across the mouth of the cave”; “The crimson cliffs and emerald valleys are delightful in every way, with birdsong and fish swimming, washing away all worldly worries.” Yang Shen, a native of Sichuan who became the top imperial scholar during the Ming Dynasty, once visited this place, was captivated by the scenery, and personally inscribed the two characters “Nan Dong” (South Cave). In 1574, Zou Yinglong, the governor of Yunnan, visited afterward and renamed it “Tong Ling” (Spiritual Passage), leaving behind poems and writings such as *Slogan of Nan Dong* and *Record of Tong Ling*. The Nan Dong area features typical karst landforms and consists of eight caves of varying sizes, four of which are interconnected. Among them, “Taoyuan Cave” and “Tong Ling Cave” are the most renowned. By 2008, only Taoyuan Cave was open to visitors.

Nan Dong combines mountains, water, rocks, caves, and forests, featuring 59 scenic spots where natural landscapes and cultural sights complement each other, characterized by grandeur, danger, wonder, elegance, and beauty. It’s an ideal destination for summer vacations and leisure. The tour route in Taoyuan Cave spans over 1,000 meters and is divided into three sections: “Dragon Palace,” “Heavenly Bathing Voyage,” and “Peach Blossom Spring.” The cave is home to well-developed stalactites and dense clusters of stalagmites. Drifting along the underground river, the crystal-clear water is cool and refreshing, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The slopes of Guwang Temple, San Niang Mu, Yingpan, and Shangzhai form a danxia landform landscape. The terrain of the scenic area is uneven, creating vertical scenery — the upper section features steep rocks while the lower section is lush and green with ancient towering trees. Vegetation is distributed vertically in three types: at the foot of the mountain are moisture-loving and flood-tolerant species such as Ficus variegata and Ficus virens; in the middle are leguminous plants with root nodules like Dalbergia hancei and Albizia kalkora; and at the upper level are drought-resistant, sun-loving succulent plants such as cacti. A 2,000-meter mountain-loop trail has been built around Tong Ling Cave, featuring resting spots and viewpoints such as the Orioles’ Pavilion, Guwang Pavilion, Bird’s Eye View Pavilion, and Octagonal Pavilion. At the foot of the mountain by the river, you can also find attractions like “Rhino Gazing at the Moon” and “Lovers’ Tree.”

In October 1983, the municipal government designated Nan Dong as a nature reserve. It officially opened to the public in 1986 and was rated as a national AA-level scenic spot in October 2005. On November 18, 2007, the Nan Dong Scenic Area was opened to citizens free of charge. In 2008, City Bus Line 2 provided direct access to the scenic area. In December 2012, it was rated as a national AAA-level scenic area.

Ticket

Ticket: 21 RMB

Location

Southernmost part of Gebazi, Kaiyuan City, Yunnan Province

Source: China Honghe Tourism Network