Longyou Grottoes
龙游石窟
A vast underground complex of man-made caves discovered in 1992 when villagers drained a pond. Who carved them, and why, remains unknown, making them a “timeless mystery.”
The Longyou Grottoes are located in Shiyanbei Village, Xiaonanhai Town, Longyou County. They were discovered in 1992 when local villagers pumped water out of a pond. All 24 known caves were hand-carved into red sandstone. Individual caves can cover more than 1,000 square meters and reach about 30 meters in height. The walls are covered in neat, parallel chisel marks, and huge stone pillars stand inside, giving the whole structure an impressive, precise design. Scholars mostly date their construction to around the Qin and Han dynasties, but opinions on their purpose vary widely, from quarries and tombs to military storage. No historical records explain them. Several caves are open to visitors and are lit by lamps. The caves are cool and damp inside, so summer is an especially good time to visit to escape the heat. Tickets cost about 85 yuan (subject to the official price), and you can also take a boat trip along the Xiaonanhai stretch of the Qu River. Getting there: about 15 minutes by taxi from Longyou Station, or about 40 minutes by car from downtown Quzhou. The cave floors are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a light jacket.
Opening hours
08:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Longyou Residential Garden
- Huzhen Sarira Pagoda
- Dongping Village (Xiachuan)
- Xikou Old Street (Longyou)
- Lanke Mountain
- Quzhou Museum
- Southern Kong Family Temple
- Quzhou Bell Tower