The mysterious underground dragon palace of "Huanglong Cave" — its adventure level almost rivals that in "Ghost Blows Out the Light"!

▲ The breathtaking underground cave “Huanglong Cave”Reporters who visited were truly “amazed.”.(Photo / Reporter Yang Huiling)

By Reporter Yang Huiling / Reported from Zhangjiajie, Hunan

Nestled within the Wulingyuan World Heritage Site, Zhangjiajie’s Huanglong Cave boasts natural karst landforms and was selected as"China’s Most Beautiful Tourist Cave"in 2005. Though it has been open to visitors for quite some time, nearly three-fifths of the area remains unexplored — its adventure level is almost akin to the mystical underground palaces from the famous online novel "Ghost Blows Out the Light"!

The currently explored total area of the cave floor is approximately 106,000 square meters, with a total length of 7.5 kilometers and a vertical height of about 140 meters. It's divided into four levels, featuring a mix of dry and water caves, and is classified as a limestone underground river erosion-type cave.

▲ Limestone illuminated with colorful lights creates a dazzling spectacle. (Photo / Provided by the Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Association)

Huanglong Cave is one of China’s largest and oldest caves, stretching around 30 kilometers in total length, with an average height of 50 meters and width of 80 meters. It includes 58 chambers, 28 stone corridors, 15 pearl-like waterfalls, as well as 3 underground streams and 2 lakes. The cave is filled with stalagmites, stalactites, draperies, and flowstones. Its unique routes that combine both land and water experiences are especially distinctive. With over 2 million visitors annually, to manage the crowds, guests must enter in batches.

The temperature inside the cave remains constant year-round at 14–18°C. Local guides suggest that if you visit during winter, you might want to take off your coat before entering, or you could end up sweating from the heat. A full tour of the scenic area takes at least three hours, mostly on foot, so it’s recommended to wear light clothing.

If you wish to shorten your visiting time, you can also discuss with your guide to arrange a more accessible route.Currently open highlights include the "Cave of Ten Thousand Stones," "Sounding Water River," "Rocket Flying to the Sky," "Golden Spears and Silver Guns," "Dragon King’s Throne," "Pillar of Heaven," and "Fairy Waterfall" — all must-see spots!

▲ Use your imagination — does it look like a golden rooster heralding the dawn? (Photo / Reporter Yang Huiling, same below)

▲ Taking a boat ride lets you enjoy the riverside scenery in great comfort.

Upon entering the cave, visitors first take a boat on the Sounding Water River to view spots inaccessible by foot, such as the "Dragon King’s Golden Helmet" and "Conch Blowing to the Sky." The boat ride lasts around 8 to 10 minutes.The Sounding Water River stretches 2,800 meters in length, with an average depth of 6 meters and a maximum depth of 12 meters. The water temperature remains around 15°C year-round, and the river is home to the Chinese giant salamander, a second-class nationally protected animal in China!

Located in the Dragon Palace Hall on the fourth level, the "Pillar of Heaven" is Huanglong Cave’s treasured highlight. Standing approximately 19.2 meters tall and just 10 centimeters in diameter at its thinnest point, it is the tallest stalagmite in the cave, reaching just 6 meters short of the ceiling. It is said to have been growing for over 200,000 years and continues to grow — in another 60,000 years, it might even touch the ceiling.

To better preserve it, the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area specially purchased insurance worth 100 million RMB (about 500 million TWD) for the pillar in 1998, marking the first time any country insured a tourist attraction asset. This has attracted numerous domestic and international tourists eager to see this priceless treasure.

Tigerair Taiwan officially launched its first flight to Zhangjiajie on the 12th of this month. Flight details are as follows:
Taiwan Taoyuan – Zhangjiajie, Hunan Route
Outbound Flight IT109: Departs every Wednesday and Saturday at 6:35 AM
Return Flight IT110: Departs every Wednesday at 11:35 AM; every Saturday at 10:10 AM

Zhangjiajie Huanglong Cave Information:
Address: Hekou Village, Suoxi Valley Town, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
Admission: 100 RMB (approx. 500 TWD)