Tenglong Cave
腾龙洞
One of China's largest karst caves, formed where the Qing River flows underground near Lichuan. The cave mouth is 74 m high, large enough for a helicopter to fly in. It features the 'Wolong Swallowing the River' waterfall and a laser show inside, and pairs well with a summer escape to Lichuan.
Tenglong Cave lies on the bank of the Qing River, about 6 km outside Lichuan city. It is a huge cave system formed by the underground course of the Qing River. More than 59 km have been explored so far, making it one of China's largest caves, a special-grade cave by world standards, and a national 5A-level scenic area. The cave mouth is 74 m high and 64 m wide, and its scale is magnificent; helicopters can fly directly into it. In front of the cave mouth, the Qing River plunges underground to form the 'Wolong Swallowing the River' waterfall. The water falls from about 30 m up with a thunderous roar, loudest in the wet season, and this is the first highlight of the visit. About 5 km of the dry cave section has been developed into walkways. Inside, huge chambers (the largest can hold tens of thousands of people), stalactites and stalactite curtains give the cave a grand, imposing character, even though colourful lighting is limited. The laser show 'Yi Shui Li Chuan' and Tujia song and dance performances run at fixed times each day, included in the ticket, and tell Tujia legends. Entry costs about CNY 150–180, including the show. Electric carts inside cost about CNY 20 and shorten the walk. A visit takes about 2.5–3 hours. Lichuan city centre sits at about 1,100 m above sea level, with a summer average of about 22°C, and is a summer retreat for residents of Wuhan and other cities. Sumadang and other summer resort towns are within Lichuan. Tenglong Cave is often combined with Yumu Village, the Dashuijing ancient architectural complex or the Qiyue Mountain grasslands. Getting there: the high-speed train from Enshi to Lichuan takes about 20 minutes, and from Lichuan station a taxi takes about 15 minutes to the site. Self-driving from Enshi city takes about 1 hour. Notes: the cave stays at a constant 16°C, so bring a light jacket in summer. The walkways have steps and slippery sections, so wear non-slip shoes. Show times are as announced by the scenic area, so plan your entry time accordingly. The waterfall area is very misty, so keep cameras waterproofed.
Opening hours
08:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Qingjiang Ancient Riverbed
- Longchuan Water Town
- Enshi Grand Canyon
- Dashuijing Ancient Building Complex
- Luyuanping Village
- Longlin Palace Cave
- Fengxiangpo Dong Village
- Enshi Tusi City