Ningqiang Da’an Karst Cave Cluster

　　Da’an Town is located 38 kilometers from the county seat. Established during the Tang Dynasty, it boasts a long history. The town covers an area of 30.01 square kilometers and has a population of about 11,000. As an important town in Ningqiang County, it enjoys flourishing commerce. The main agricultural products include wheat, corn, and rice, while local specialties consist of wood ear fungus, shiitake mushrooms, gastrodia elata, and eucommia bark. The local industries mainly involve the mining and processing of gold and asbestos. The town features numerous streams, green trees, verdant mountains, flowing water, and an ancient charm reminiscent of the Jiangnan water towns. It borders Lueyang to the north, connects to Bashu to the south, links to Jiuzhaigou to the west, and neighbors Nanzheng and Mian County to the east. The road conditions within the town are relatively good, with National Highway 108 serving as the main thoroughfare, making transportation extremely convenient. Trains can also take you to various destinations across the country, and the airport is approximately a two-hour drive away. There are many cultural relics and historic sites, including one of the largest natural karst caves in China, and the Han River—the longest tributary of the Yangtze River—originates here.

　　The Da’an Karst Cave Cluster is located to the north of Da’an Town. Within a 4-square-kilometer area, there are 18 natural karst caves, collectively known as the “Cave Heaven World.” The Xianglong Cave, Dayu Cave, and Baiyan Cave are the three most famous ones. The caves are interconnected, with layers of passages and winding paths. Inside, there are underground rivers, and the distant sound of flowing water resembles the roar of waves crashing ashore or the growling of tigers and dragons. The caves feature vividly shaped stalactites and formations such as twin dragons, jade foxes, stone trees, and fairy maidens, all leaving visitors in awe of nature’s extraordinary craftsmanship.

　　Traveling northward, you’ll encounter striking mountain scenery, babbling streams, waterfalls, peculiar rocks, and entwined vines. Entering this natural canyon is like stepping into a “paradise on earth.” After around 6 kilometers, you will arrive at the Dayu and Zangxian Caves. Ascending along the mountain, natural stone steps create a unique charm. Inside the caves, there are stone gates, pillars, stalagmites, stone trees, and stone forests, each offering its own distinct appeal. The stalactites come in various shapes—some resemble eagles with wings spread as if ready to fly, others look like bounding rabbits, and some resemble playful monkeys. Some formations even resemble enlightened immortals in meditation or graceful maidens standing elegantly. Smaller formations resemble undersea coral reefs rooted in the ground, while larger ones rise majestically, layer upon layer, resembling lighthouses or towering trees with a grand and imposing presence. Beyond their physical resemblance, each stalactite carries a beautiful story behind it, providing endless food for thought.

　　About 1 kilometer into the cave, two stone dragons are coiled and lying in the water. When ripples disturb the surface, light filters through, making it seem as though the dragons sway and tumble with the waves, like four yellow dragons playing in shallow water—an absolutely breathtaking sight. Most peculiar of all is the stone forest inside the cave (of which only one tree remains today). Not only do these formations have growth rings, roots, and joints, but they also feature bark that looks indistinguishable from real tree bark. The rings, roots, bark, and branches are all clearly visible. Inside the cave, there are “stone pianos” and “stone drums,” which produce harmonious tones with lingering echoes when struck. The highest point of the cave reaches over 80 meters, and the widest part spans about 120 meters, while the narrowest section is so tight that only one person can pass through. There is also a “bottomless pit” in the cave, its depths unseen, and if you drop a stone, no sound is heard. Nearby, there is an underground river. By climbing down, you can explore up to 5 kilometers, with the path ahead remaining unknown. The banks of the riverbed feature even more bizarre stalactites, each grain of sand shimmering with a silvery glow, creating a scene akin to a mythical fairyland or a mirage.

　　The cave maintains a cool temperature in summer and warmth in winter, offering breathtaking scenery truly described as “a spectacular underground heaven.” Even more magnificent is the interconnected cave cluster, where caves are nested within one another, with inner and outer chambers, waterfalls cascading from the cave floors, crystal-clear underground rivers, peculiar rocks sparking your imagination, and sparkling silver sands resembling jade, transporting you into a fantastical otherworld.

　　Transportation Guide

　　Scenic Area Address: Near Dayu Cave Village, Da’an Town, Ningqiang County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province

　　By Public Transport: Take a bus from Hanzhong City to Ningqiang County, get off at Da’an Town en route, and then transfer to a minibus to Dayu Cave Village.

　　By Car: Accessible via the Xi’an–Hanzhong Expressway to Ningqiang County or by driving along National Highway 108 from Hanzhong. It is 80 kilometers from Hanzhong and 40 kilometers from Ningqiang County.