Huanglong Cave Scenic Area is located in Jundiping Street, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. As an important part of Wulingyuan, a World Natural Heritage and World Geopark, it belongs to the typical karst landform and is one of the first national 5A-level tourist attractions in China. The scenic area consists of three parts: the "World Cave Wonder" Huanglong Cave, the most beautiful pastoral scenery Ecological Square, and the new national music show Misty Rain Zhangjiajie. The explored total area of Huanglong Cave's bottom reaches 100,000 square meters, with a total length of 7.5 kilometers and a vertical height of 140 meters. It is divided into four layers, containing 1 reservoir, 2 rivers, 3 pools, 4 waterfalls, 13 halls, 98 corridors, as well as thousands of white jade pools and tens of thousands of stalactite peaks. The Huanglong Cave Ecological Square covers an area of 119,200 square meters, including ten landscape areas such as Huanglong Concert Hall, Pastoral Idyll, and Cultural Corridor, which won the national "Environmental Art Award" in 2008.
History and Culture
Huanglong Cave, also known as Huanglong Spring, got its name from a legend: during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, a hundred-day drought occurred, and the famous master He Junru led his apprentices into the cave to pray for rain, but all died. Before his death, Master He left a sentence: "Let the front fields dry to death, but do not disturb Huanglong Spring," since then Huanglong Cave has become famous. In 1983, Huanglong Cave was discovered and explored by 8 local young militiamen, and officially opened to the public on October 1, 1984. After years of construction and development, it has become the first tourist attraction in Hunan Province with a "Chinese Well-known Trademark" and one of the most internationally renowned and highly praised tourist caves in China.
Main Attractions
Dragon Palace
The Dragon Palace is the largest and oldest hall in Huanglong Cave, formed more than 200,000 years ago, with an average height of 40 meters and a floor area of 14,000 square meters. It contains 1,705 stalagmites and stone pillars. The "Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea," "Dragon King's Throne," and "Ten-Thousand-Year Cedar" are known as the three wonders of the Dragon Palace. The "Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea," reaching 19.2 meters, is the tallest stalagmite in Huanglong Cave and the iconic attraction of the scenic area. It is thick at both ends and thin in the middle, growing on a slope. The "Dragon King's Throne," 12 meters high with a bottom diameter of 10 meters, has a huge hollow in the middle that can accommodate 15 adults. The "Ten-Thousand-Year Cedar," snow-white throughout, stands 17 meters tall, grows rapidly, and towers on the western slope of the Dragon Palace Hall.
Xiangshui River
Located on the second floor of Huanglong Cave, Xiangshui River is one of the three underground rivers in the cave, with a total length of 2,800 meters, an average water depth of 6 meters, and a maximum depth of 12 meters. Currently, an 800-meter section is available for boat tours, taking about 8 minutes. The average water temperature remains around 16°C throughout the year, rich in the national second-class protected animal giant salamander and the transparent "glass fish."
Tianxian Waterfall
Tianxian Waterfall is the largest-flow and highest-drop hanging waterfall in developed caves in China, with a drop of 27.3 meters. It pours down from the cave-top grotto, creating a magnificent scene of flying beads and splashing jade, flowing continuously throughout the year.
Qianqiu Fields
The scientific name of Qianqiu Fields is "flowstone dam," also known as "sour fields," formed by calcium carbonate deposits from horizontal water flow on the cave bottom. There are countless Qianqiu Fields in Huanglong Cave, crisscrossing like farmland.
Cuisine
Sanguo Guo (Three-Dish Hot Pot)
A characteristic food of Zhangjiajie, usually stewed or boiled with three main ingredients, often three selected from pig intestines, pig stomach, beef tripe, sheep tripe, pig's trotters, or pig head meat. It features a rich flavor, thick soup, and spicy taste.
Xiangxi Cured Meat
Cured using traditional Tujia techniques through multiple processes, it has a firm texture, mellow taste, and is not greasy, with a unique smoked aroma.
Artemisia Cake
Made from artemisia tender leaves and glutinous rice flour, with fillings like sesame and peanuts. It has a soft and glutinous texture, with the fragrance of artemisia, a local specialty snack.
Tickets
The ticket price is 118 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "张家界国家森林公园" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Peak season (April-October): 8:00-17:30; Off-season (November-March): 8:30-17:00.
Tour Routes
The regular route starts from the entrance, first visiting the Dragon Dance Hall, then taking a boat on Xiangshui River. After landing, visit Tianxian Waterfall and Tianzhu Street, and finally reach the Dragon Palace. If time and physical strength permit, the Labyrinth can be added to the regular route.
Transportation
- By bus: Take bus No. 3 from the main entrance of Wulingyuan Scenic Area or the bus station to the terminal "Huanglong Cave," then walk for 15 minutes to the cave entrance.
- By car: Navigate to "Huanglong Cave Scenic Area." Parking fees at the scenic area are about 10-20 yuan per day.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Dragon Palace Hall: The world's largest underground cave hall with 3,000 stalagmites, offering a stunning visual experience.
- Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea: 19.2 meters high, insured for 100 million yuan as the treasure of the cave, a symbolic attraction of Huanglong Cave.
- Tianxian Waterfall: The only flying waterfall in China's caves, with an 80% probability of rainbows, best viewed at 10 a.m.
- Labyrinth Gallery: A 500-meter crystal corridor where mobile phones can capture cyberpunk light effects.
- Xiangshui River Dark Cruise: Experience a 15-minute fantasy rafting to find inverted bat colonies.
Tour Tips
- Arrive early (before 9:00) to avoid peak tourist groups.
- The cave is slippery, and the temperature remains around 16°C year-round. Wear non-slip shoes and bring a light jacket.
- Follow signs and do not touch stalactites during the tour.
- Keep mobile phones and other items safe while boating.
Precautions
- Light is dim in the cave. Adjust camera ISO or use a tripod for photography; flash is prohibited to protect stalactites.
- There are many steps; caution is advised for those with mobility issues or elderly people. Children are not recommended to enter the Labyrinth area alone.
- Do not trust "free guides" or low-cost chartered cars; purchase tickets through official channels.