Lianzhou Underground River

Lianzhou Underground River

Lianzhou Underground River is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Lianzhou Underground River is located 26 kilometers northeast of Lianzhou City, a historic and cultural ancient town, nestled within the towering mountains at the junction of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces. It is a massive natural limestone karst cave, a typical example of subtropical karst landforms. Renowned both in China and abroad for its mysterious and magnificent stalactites and underground river, it is hailed as the "Number One Underground River in Guangdong."

According to geological analysis, approximately 200 million years ago, the area where Lianzhou Underground River is now located was once a vast ocean. Later, due to tectonic movements, the seabed rose to become land. During a subsequent stable tectonic period, large-scale collapses occurred here, forming the cave system seen today.

The attractions of Lianzhou Underground River are divided into land and water sections — the land part being the karst cave and the water part being the underground river. The combination of both land and water tours makes Lianzhou Underground River a unique marvel of Lingnan, celebrated for its grandeur, spectacular scenery, and distinctive layout.

The renowned writer Mr. Qin Mu described it as a "mysterious and splendid underground river." During his visit, he was so impressed that he wrote: "Lianzhou’s caves are wondrous, their scenic beauty abundant; a joy beyond compare, to cruise the underground river." Yang Yingbin, former Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, also composed a poem in praise: "The spirit of Tao Yuanming and the charm of Wang Wei are all captured in Lianzhou’s cave heaven. Such majestic landscapes are akin to paradise — why seek Peach Blossom Spring beyond the world?"

Lianzhou Underground River is a massive natural limestone karst cave, a typical example of subtropical karst landforms. The explorable area spans 60,000 square meters, with the highest point reaching 47.8 meters and the widest stretch measuring 53.6 meters. The cave maintains a year-round temperature of around 18°C, offering fresh air and a comfortable climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer, making it an ideal destination for tourism and summer retreats. Walking along the winding stone paths on the land level, visitors can admire a variety of uniquely shaped stalactite formations, such as the "Maitreya Buddha," "Guan Yu," and "Lady Meng Jiang."

One particularly distinctive feature is the "Immortal’s Divine Fields," where layers of stalactites are distributed like terraced fields along both banks of the "Immortal’s River." The twisting, graceful scenery bears some resemblance to Huanglong in Sichuan Province. Further down to the lower level, an underground river extends deep into the mountain cave, seemingly without end.

By taking a small boat and cruising along the underground river, visitors will navigate through a winding waterway that alternates between wide open stretches and narrow passages, with the tightest section being only 1.6 meters wide — close enough to touch the stalactites above. Along the journey, travelers will pass through three gorges: Banana Gorge, Lotus Gorge, and Dragon Gate Gorge. The stalactite formations on both sides are incredibly diverse — some resemble cascading waterfalls, others dense forests, and still others birds or animals in motion. The entire boat ride covers 1,500 meters, passing through four peaks.

Inside Lianzhou Underground River, there are countless stunningly colorful and uniquely shaped stalactites. The tour area is divided into three levels: the upper and middle levels are land sections, featuring grand, spacious chambers with solid rock walls and majestic views. Here you’ll find scenes like “Waterfalls,” “Mountain Forests,” “Secluded Valleys,” “Farmlands,” and “Yao Villages,” where flowers bloom and birds fly amid drifting clouds. The lower level is an underground river that winds 1,500 meters from north to south, passing through three beautiful gorges and beneath the bases of four mountain peaks. The river is 1.6 to 10 meters wide and 1 to 7 meters deep, with marvelous, intricately formed sights densely lining both banks — a breathtaking sight that is truly delightful and unforgettable.

Among the highlights are the cave’s treasures, such as "Golden Rooster Announcing Dawn" and "Flying Elephant Crossing the River." There is also the towering and multi-viewed "God of Longevity," the largest and highest formation in the underground river that presents two different scenes from different angles. Additionally, there are nearly 100 naturally formed wonders including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone stalagmites, stone lotuses, and stone flowers — such as "Flying Waterfall and Marvelous Rocks" and "Flower and Bird Divine Pavilion." Each natural spectacle is awe-inspiring, leaving visitors mesmerized and reluctant to leave.

"Karst phenomena" have created countless wonders in many parts of the world. Although people have long known that limestone caves are like natural magicians capable of conjuring magical realms, the otherworldly landscape here still transports visitors into a dreamlike state — as if wandering through a fairyland or a scene from a fairy tale. The cave features caves within caves, rivers within caves, bridges within caves, and waterfalls within caves, which are unique characteristics of Lianzhou Underground River.

In September 2011, Lianzhou Underground River was officially designated as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. The renowned Chinese writer Qin Mu once praised it in writing, calling it a "mysterious and splendid underground river." The modern writer Yang Yu described it as an "artwork that can never be fully satisfied with," while the modern poet Yang Yingbin referred to it as "better than a paradise beyond the world." The beautiful Lianzhou Underground River looks forward to your visit.

Address: Dadong Village, Dongbei Town, Lianzhou City, Qingyuan City

Type: Cave Geological Landform

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 3–4 hours

Phone: 0756-6269189

Official Website: http://www.lzdxh.com/

Opening Hours: 8:30–17:00 (During holidays: ticket sales start at 8:00, closing time subject to daily conditions at the attraction)

Ticket Information: Includes boat ride and guided tour — 120 RMB

Dongbei Town: Located in the northwest of Lianzhou City in northern Guangdong, Dongbei Town is one of the province’s 168 central towns, covering an area of 109 square kilometers with a total population of 33,000. Provincial Highway 114 runs north-south through the town, connecting to Lianzhou 26 kilometers to the south and to Hunan 20 kilometers to the north. The town boasts lush mountains and forests, a mild climate, fresh air, and pleasant scenery. The mysterious and splendid Lianzhou Underground River, a famous tourist attraction, lies just two kilometers from the town and receives one million visitors annually. A two-star hotel stands prominently in the town center, and Dongbei-style cured meats are famed far and wide. The area also produces abundant rice, water chestnuts, peanuts, soybeans, oranges, lotus roots... More details about Dongbei Town ++