How about a venture on a mysterious route during the National Day holiday? Underneath four mountains in the northern part of Guangdong, there is a 1,500 meters long underground river called Lianzhou Underground River.
The scenic spot is located in Dongbei Town (东陂镇), about 26 kilometers north of Lianzhou, Qingyuan, Guangdong Province. It is a 5A-level scenic spot in China, and is hidden in a majestic karst cave. The cave is divided into three layers, with an overall area of 60,000 square meters. The natural entrance of the cave is spacious. And the temperature in the cave is about 18℃ all year round.
After entering from the cave, visitors will first pass through a winding and steep mountain road. On both sides of the road are stalactites of different shapes, which are very dreamy under the colorful lights. The locals imaginatively named these stalactites according to their shapes, such as the Waiting-for-Wife Stone (望妻石), Monkey Stone (猴子台), Han Xin and his Soldiers (韩信点兵), and Two Dragons Frolicking with a Pearl (双龙戏珠).
After visiting the upper and middle layers of the cave, and then going downward for a few dozen meters, visitors will arrive at the pier of underground river. The underground river is located at the bottom of the cave. The river is one of the sources of the Pearl River, and it is also the dividing point between the Xiangjiang River system and the Pearl River system. Visitors can put on life jackets, take several boats, and enter a water fantasy world.
The underground river is about 5 to 12 meters wide, with a calm and moderate water flow. There are "Dragon Gate Gorge (龙门峡)", "Lotus Gorge (莲花峡)" and "Banana Gorge (香蕉峡)" along the riverbank. On the cliff of Lotus Gorge, there is a huge waterfall pouring down from a height of more than ten meters. This kind of waterfall in the karst cave is rare in the world.
After disembarking from the yachts, visitors will enter in a new cave where fine wine is stored. The slopes at the edge of the cave are covered with wine vats of different sizes. This is a creative design by the scenic developer. Waiters will greet visitors to the counter for a small glass of wine, and alcohol-lovers can even purchase one.
The whole trip will take about an hour and a half.
Ticket price: 120 yuan (including boat ticket)
Add.: Lianzhou Underground River, Qingyuan, Guangdong province (广东省清远市连州地下河)
Transportation:
Self-driving—search for "连州地下河 (Chinese Pinyin: lian zhou di xia he)" by navigation;
Or take the scenic bus (bus ticket: 5 yuan) after arriving at Lianzhou Bus Terminal (连州汽车客运站).
Photo: Official website of the Lianzhou Underground River scenic spot
Author: Ariel, Tonny (intern)
Editor: Wing, Steven, Monica, Will, Jerry
