Baiyu Cave

　　Baiyu Cave is located on the southern bank of the Beipan River in Liupanshui, about 5 kilometers to the right of Wuyi Bridge on the Shuipan East Line, and is part of the Wumeng Mountain National Geopark. It is a rare vertical shaft in the world, reaching a depth of 560 meters, ranking as the second deepest in the world.

　　 A shaft, as the name suggests, is a deep, well-like pit. In caving terminology, a shaft is a pit that can be descended directly to the bottom using a single rope, with turns allowed during the descent. However, a vertical shaft requires that the sky remains visible throughout the descent — which means, as you can imagine, no turns are possible.

　　 Baiyu Cave is not only the deepest vertical shaft in China but also ranks as the second deepest in the world. From the mouth of the shaft to a depth of 428 meters, the shaft remains perfectly vertical, allowing a single rope to reach that depth directly. It is the deepest shaft in the world where one can truly "look up at the sky from the bottom of a well."

　　 Standing beside the shaft and peering into its seemingly "bottomless" depths is an awe-inspiring and thrilling experience. Baiyu Shaft is a uniquely formed vertical cave. The area features gently sloping strata, where surface water penetrates non-carbonate rock layers above and forms unsaturated calcium carbonate solutions. These solutions then dissolve the carbonate rock layers along fractures, gradually carving out this distinctive vertical cave over time.

　　Travel Tips

　　 Transportation:

　　 Visitors can take a bus to Pan County in the southwestern part of Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province. Baoji Township is located in the northeastern part of Pan County, about 82 kilometers from the county seat Hongguo. The most convenient transportation option is to take a train from Guiyang Railway Station to Hongguo, which takes approximately six and a half hours.

　　 Local Specialties:

　　 Wild Rosa roxburghii (also known as wild chestnut pear) is arguably the most distinctive local product of Pan County. This fruit is extremely high in both nutritional and medicinal value. Its flesh contains the highest level of vitamin C among all fruits, with 2054–2725 milligrams per 100 grams — 500 times more than apples or pears, 100 times more than citrus fruits, and 9 times more than kiwifruit. Rosa roxburghii is also hailed as a green superfruit for "longevity and cancer prevention," containing anti-cancer compounds and SOD anti-aging agents, as well as having lead-detoxifying properties.

　　 Accommodation:

　　 Within the scenic area, visitors can choose to stay at local farmhouse guesthouses, which are affordable but have limited facilities. Returning to the county town for hotel accommodation offers a wider range of options and generally better conditions, with prices typically ranging from 100 to 300 yuan per room.