Kongshan Cave Scenic Area

　　   Kongshan Cave is located 9 kilometers south of Jing Shan City. It is a semi-circular karst cave, with its entrance and exit connected by a road. This cave has a long history, with records dating back to the eighth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty.<京山县志>   It was developed in 1984 and opened to the public in 1986.

　　   Kongshan Cave

　　   The entire cave stretches 1,584 meters in length, with the highest point reaching 48 meters and the widest point spanning 26 meters. Nestled among the picturesque lakes and mountains on the southern side of Jing Shan County, the main cave is 910 meters long and extends deep underground. Inside, the stone formations feature seven openings, the springs produce eight kinds of sounds, stalagmites stand tall and slender, and stalactite flowers bloom in vibrant colors. With 400 naturally-formed scenes and 8,000 wonders crafted as if by supernatural forces, it is described as "mountains shining where stones hold jade, rivers charming where waters hold pearls." It is honored as the premier karst cave in Central China. Notably, attractions such as the Golden Turtle Courting the Toad, Three Gorges’ One-Line Sky, Cunning Rabbit’s Three Burrows, Rainbow Bridge Picking Bananas, Golden Rooster Standing Alone, Undersea Divine Palace, Waterfall Terraced Fields, and Tiger’s Mouth Battling Elephant Stone Cave Room are strikingly lifelike, bizarrely colorful, exquisitely shaped, and compete in splendor, creating a diverse array of natural wonders. The most magical feature is a group of stalactites in the cave that can be struck to produce musical tones in perfect pitch. Recognized by both geological and music experts as a one-of-a-kind marvel in the world—the natural “Stone Xylophone.”

　　   One-Line Sky: A glimpse of the sky through a narrow slit, a canyon reaching the heavens. You can look up to observe celestial phenomena and feel connected to the vast universe.

　　   Natural Stone Xylophone: It is said that these naturally-formed “xylophones” made of stalactites have developed a sort of spirituality and can resonate with musical tones. They can emit the basic notes commonly used in traditional human-made xylophone performances and can even be arranged into melodies. Experts and professors from music and art institutions in Hubei Province and Wuhan City conducted on-site investigations and research. Master wind instrument performers from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music carried out rigorous and scientific tests on this cluster of stalactites. The results showed that the stones naturally produce sounds that align with the standard pentatonic scale of traditional Chinese music, capable of effortlessly playing major-key songs and melodies.

　　   Currently, several dozen melodies have been composed and performed using this stone xylophone, including "The Sun Rises, How Joyful," "0 Kiss," "Night at the Naval Port," "The East Is Red," "Honghu Lake Waves," and "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon." The tones are simple yet rich, and these pieces have been recorded onto DVD discs, which are available for purchase at the scenic area.

　　   Rainbow Bridge Picking Bananas: Rainbow Bridge Picking Bananas is an artistic gem among the natural treasures of Kongshan Cave. Viewed from above, several layers of stalactites hang down like lovely bunches of bananas, while a stone arch bridge below completes the composition—strikingly beautiful and incredibly lifelike.

　　   Undersea Dragon Palace: These ingeniously crafted landscapes, dreamlike and surreal, resemble scenes from an undersea dragon palace—magnificent and resplendent, as if in a dream. The water shimmers with seven colors, offering breathtaking beauty.

　　   Peach Banquet: Juicy peaches glistening with freshness and a colorful realm—doesn’t it make you feel as if you’ve stepped into the Queen Mother’s feast, stirring your appetite?

　　   Stone Cave Room: The Stone Cave Room is a unique attraction of Kongshan Cave. This area is spacious, decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments, radiating a strong folk charm and warmth. Doesn’t it look like a naturally-formed stone cave dwelling?

　　   Golden Turtle Courting the Toad: This is a signature attraction of Kongshan Cave. A hanging stalactite forms the shape of a turtle, while a stalagmite rising from the ground resembles a toad. They gaze at each other across the space, attracting one another.

　　   Legend has it that the turtle and the toad in Kongshan Cave, after long periods of companionship, developed a deep spiritual connection. However, as all things must follow their destined paths, and according to the laws of the divine, different species cannot unite. Thus, the turtle and toad were transformed into two deposits of calcium carbonate, their images forever preserved in the cold cave.

　　   Hidden Gold Cave: Hidden Gold Cave is said to be the treasure hiding spot of the Green Forest Army in ancient times. Rarely visited and shrouded in mystery, it attracts countless visitors who come here to search for hidden treasures.

　　   Admonition Stone Inscription: This is an ancient Chinese admonitory maxim for officials, originally titled “Admonition Verses,” consisting of 24 quatrains. It was composed by Meng Chang, the ruler of the Later Shu during the Five Dynasties period. "Your salary and stipend are the fat and blood of the people; the common folk may be easily oppressed, but Heaven cannot be deceived." It served not only as a guiding principle for feudal emperors to govern the nation, but now also stands as a site for integrity education in the new era.

　　   Beautiful Ladies Lake: The Beautiful Ladies Lake scenic area is located about 2 kilometers south of Kongshan Cave. With its distinctive landscape of shimmering waters and mountain vistas, it boasts vast expanses of azure blue and waves as white as snow. It is a radiant jewel embedded within the Kongshan Cave Scenic Area, surrounded by green mountains wreathed in mist, emanating auspicious hues and radiant splendor.