Top 10 Beautiful Caves in China

China is a major tourist destination for world travelers. It ranks the third among the most visited countries in the world, according to Wikipedia. Besides numerous tourist spots on the ground, China owns many beautiful underground attractions which attract loads of domestic and foreign visitors. Now we create a list to show you the 10 fantastic caves in China and I am sure you will marvel at these mystical natural caves (this list does not include artificial caves).

1. Zhijin Cave (织金洞)

Zhijin Cave is a karst cave located in Minzhai Village, Zhijin County, southwest China’s Guizhou province. It ranks top in the list and is widely considered the most beautiful cave in China. The cave stretches about 13.5 kilometers and covers a total area up to 7 km² and is thought to possess the largest unsupported roof span of any cave worldwide. Over 120 various crystalline formations are discovered in the cave including a 17 meters high flower-like crystal.

Location: Zhijin County, Guizhou province
Entrance fee: RMB120
Open hours: 8:30-17:30
Best visiting time: All year round

2. Yellow Dragon Cave (黄龙洞)

Yellow Dragon Cave (or known as Huanglong Cave) is a grand karst cave in Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Hunan province. The total area of the cave is 100,000 square meters. The cave covers a total area of 100,000 square meters with a a total length of 7.5 kilometers and the vertical height of 140 meters. The cave has four floors and you can see underground rivers, stalagmites, stone columns, stalactites and various dazzling cave wonders there. You can travel to the cave together with the spectacular Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Location: Zhangjiajie, Hunan province
Entrance fee: RMB80
Open hours: 8：00-16：00
Best visiting time: March to November

3. Tenglong Cave (腾龙洞)

Tenglong Cave is located 6 km from Lichuan City, Hubei province. With a total length of 59.8 km, Tenglong Cave is the longest karst cave in Asia. In the cave there is an underground river which extends 16.8 kilometers and a 23 meters high waterfall. The cave entrance is 74 meters high and 64 meters wide, the highest point in the cave is 235.

Location: Lichuan City, Hubei province
Entrance fee: RMB180
Open hours: 8:30—17:30
Best visiting time: April and May

4. Xueyu Cave (雪玉洞)

Located about 12km from Fengdu, Chongqing, Xueyu Cave (or Snow and Jade Cave) is among “One of Top Six Most Beautiful Snow Caves in China” ranked by China National Geography Magazine. More than 80% of the stalactites in the cave are “as white and snow and as pure as jade”, hence get the name Xueyu (Xue means Snow and Yu means Jade in Chinese). Xueyu Cave is 1,644 meters long with three floors and six tourist areas.

Location: Fengdu city, Chongqing
Entrance fee: RMB110
Open hours: 08:30-17:30
Best visiting time: All year round

5. Benxi Water Cave(本溪水洞)

Located 35 km east to Benxi City, Liaoning province, Benxi Water Cave is a huge underground karst cave which was shaped 5 millions of years ago. The river is 3.2 km long with 2.8km available on boat, making it the world’s longest underground river that can be visited by boat.

Location: Benxi City, Liaoning province
Entrance fee: RMB135
Open hours: 08:30~16:00
Best visiting time: May to October

6. Furong Cave (芙蓉洞)

Furong Cave is situated in Wulong county, central China’s Chongqing city. The cave is 2.7km in length. Furong Cave is the only cave in China that was included in “World Natural Heritage List” in 2007. Furong Cave, along with Mammoth Cave in the US, and Clamouse Cave in France, was called one of “The Three Greatest Caves in the World”.

Location: Wulong County, Chongqing city
Entrance fee: RMB120
Open hours: 8:30-16:30
Best visiting time: September to November

7. Kongshan Baiyun Cave (崆山白云洞)

The Kongshan Baiyun Cave is about 56 km away from Xingtai City, Hebei province. The cave has 4,000 meters available for tourism and five interconnected halls and more than two hundred scenes inside. Many strange formations can hardly be found elsewhere in China.

Location: Xingtai City, Hebei province
Entrance fee: RMB120
Open hours: 08:00~17:00
Best visiting time: Summer

8. Shihua Cave (石花洞)

Shihua Cave is situated in Fangshan District, about 50 km west of Beijing. The cave displays classic landscape of karst caves in North China. The cave has 7 floors in total. Different shapes of stalagmites, stalactites, stone waterfalls, stone curtains, stone towers, stone pearls and crystal flowers make people feel like they are in an underground palace.

Location: Fangshan, Beijing
Entrance fee: RMB70
Open hours: 08:00~17:00
Best visiting time: May to August

9. Meishan Longgong Karst Cave (梅山龙宫)

Situated in Xinhua County, Hunan province, the Meishan Longgong (Dragon Palace) Karst Cave consists of a cluster of queer underground karst carves. The cave is 2,876 meters long. It is known as the “most beautiful geological museum in Asia” for five marvels:”Clouds and Sky in the Cave”, “Birth of Ne Zha”, “Rimes in the Heavenly Palace”, “Golden Mountain in Water” and “Treasure Contained in Treasure”.

Location: Xinhua County, Hunan province
Entrance fee: RMB80
Open hours: 9:00-17:00
Best visiting time: All year round

10. Yuhua Cave (玉华洞)

Yuhua Cave is 7 kilometers southeast of Jiangle County, Fujian province. It is the biggest limestone cave in Fujian Province and one of the top four karst caves in China. The cave extends about 6 kilometers. Since its finding in Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), it has been a popular tour spot in China.

Location: Jiangle County, Fujian province
Entrance fee: RMB105
Open hours: 8:00-18:00
Best visiting time: All year round