Firefly Water Cave & Underground Grand Canyon Tourist Area is located in Yishui County, Linyi City, Shandong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, consisting of two core scenic spots: Firefly Water Cave and Underground Grand Canyon, with a total area of about 20 square kilometers. The scenic area is mainly characterized by its unique karst landforms, underground rivers, and firefly wonders, integrating natural landscapes and adventure experiences. Among them, the area of Firefly Water Cave is about 12,000 square meters, and the Underground Grand Canyon is 6,100 meters long, with a developed tourist length of 3,100 meters. It is a rare large-scale karst cave landscape group in northern China, known as "the first cave for underground river rafting in China" and "the mysterious home of fireflies". The scenic area is equipped with facilities such as a tourist service center, parking lot, and catering area. The tourist service center has a construction area of about 3,000 square meters, providing comprehensive services for tourists.
Historical Culture
Yishui County, where Firefly Water Cave is located, has a long history and is one of the important birthplaces of ancient Langya culture. As early as the Neolithic Age, humans lived and multiplied here. The Yimeng Mountain area around the scenic spot is a famous old revolutionary base area. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Liberation War, the local people actively supported the front line, leaving many moving revolutionary stories and having a profound red cultural heritage.
The formation of Firefly Water Cave and Underground Grand Canyon can be traced back to millions of years ago, belonging to a typical karst cave landform. The stalactites, stone pillars and other landscapes in the cave were gradually formed through long-term geological processes, and each landscape records the evolution of the earth. There have been long-standing folk legends about caves and fireflies in the local area. These legends are integrated into the folk culture of the Yimeng area, adding a mysterious color to the scenic spot.
Main Attractions
Firefly Water Cave
Firefly Water Cave is one of the core attractions of the scenic area, with an area of about 12,000 square meters and a constant temperature of about 18℃ all year round. The cave is dark and quiet, inhabited by a large number of terrestrial fireflies. When night falls (the cave simulates a night environment), the little fluorescent lights emitted by fireflies twinkle like stars, forming a unique "starry sky" wonder, making people feel as if they are in the Milky Way. Tourists need to take a cruise ship to enter the core viewing area in the cave. The cruise route is about 500 meters long, and the sailing time is about 15 minutes. They can enjoy the beauty of fireflies in a quiet environment and feel the magic of nature.
Underground Grand Canyon
The Underground Grand Canyon is 6,100 meters long, with a developed tourist length of 3,100 meters. The widest part of the cave is 30 meters, and the highest part is 30 meters. It is a rare large-scale karst cave in northern China. The canyon is distributed with many landscapes such as "one river, nine springs, nine palaces, and twelve waterfalls". Stalactites, stone pillars, and stone curtains have different shapes. Attractions such as "Nine Dragons Palace", "Mengshan Yishui", and "Underwater Stone Flowers" have their own characteristics. Among them, underground river rafting is a characteristic project of the Grand Canyon. The rafting river is 1,000 meters long with a drop of more than 30 meters. Tourists take rubber boats to drift down the river, pass through the deep cave, and experience an exciting adventure.
Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley is adjacent to Firefly Water Cave, covering an area of about 15,000 square meters. It is a park integrating butterfly breeding, viewing, and popular science education. A large number of flowers and plants that butterflies like to eat are planted in the valley, which perennially inhabits hundreds of species and tens of thousands of butterflies, including rare species such as blue morpho butterflies, golden swallowtail butterflies, and玉带 swallowtail butterflies. Tourists can walk on the butterfly viewing trail in the valley, watch the butterflies dancing at close range, and participate in interactive projects such as butterfly specimen making, which is suitable for parent-child travel.
Geological Museum
The Geological Museum has a construction area of about 1,500 square meters, located near the entrance of the scenic area. It is a popular science venue displaying cave geological landforms and ecological knowledge. Through physical specimens, models, multimedia and other methods, the museum introduces in detail the formation principle of karst landforms, the ecological habits of fireflies, and the geological evolution process of the Underground Grand Canyon. The museum also has an interactive experience area where tourists can feel the formation process of the cave through simulation equipment, enhancing their understanding of geological knowledge.
Zip Line
The zip line project is located near the exit of the Underground Grand Canyon, spanning both sides of the canyon, with a total length of about 500 meters and a drop of about 80 meters. When tourists take the zip line, they can overlook the magnificent scenery of the canyon and feel the excitement and pleasure of high-altitude sliding. The zip line project uses advanced safety equipment and can carry about 100 tourists per hour, which is an unmissable experience project for adventure-loving tourists.
Food
Yishui Feng Cake
Yishui Feng Cake is a traditional characteristic pastry in Yishui County, which has a long history and is common in restaurants and snack bars around the scenic area. It is made of glutinous rice, white sugar, sesame, etc., through multiple processes such as soaking, grinding, fermentation, and steaming. Feng Cake has a soft and sweet taste, implying "annual harvest". It is a must-have food for local people on festivals and celebrations. Tourists can taste this characteristic food and feel the folk flavor of Yishui.
Yimeng光棍鸡 (Yimeng Bachelor Chicken)
Yimeng Bachelor Chicken is a famous dish in the Yimeng Mountain area, which is highly praised in farm restaurants around the scenic area. It uses locally raised roosters as raw materials, with green peppers, potatoes, star anise and other seasonings, and is stewed in a wood-fired stove. The chicken is firm in texture, mellow in taste, and rich in soup. It is named "Bachelor Chicken" because it was originally created by several bachelors. This dish fully reflects the boldness and freshness of Yimeng cuisine, and is an excellent choice for tourists to experience local flavors.
Yishui Ta Pancake
Yishui Ta Pancake is a local traditional snack, which is simple to make but has a unique flavor. It uses millet flour or corn flour as raw materials to make pancakes, then spreads eggs, leeks, tofu and other fillings on the pancakes, folds them into squares, and bakes them on an iron griddle until both sides are golden. Ta Pancake is crispy outside and tender inside, with fresh and fragrant fillings, and is affordable. It is a favorite breakfast food of local people and can be tasted at snack stalls around the scenic area.
Junan Donkey Meat
Junan Donkey Meat is a characteristic food of Junan County, Linyi City, and is also common around the Firefly Water Cave Tourist Area. It uses high-quality donkey meat as raw material and is braised with traditional craftsmanship. The meat is tender, mellow in taste, and rich in nutrition. The production of Junan Donkey Meat pays attention to the heat and seasoning matching. The braised donkey meat can be eaten directly in slices or wrapped in pancakes, which has a unique flavor and is a good gift for tourists to give to relatives and friends.
Tickets
The ticket for Firefly Water Cave is 120 yuan per person, the ticket for Underground Grand Canyon is 98 yuan per person, and the combined ticket is 198 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "萤火虫水同地下大峡谷" on WeChat to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from 8:00 to 17:30 every day (April 1 - October 31); from November 1 to March 31 of the next year, the opening hours are 8:30 to 17:00. The last departure time of the cruise ship project in Firefly Water Cave is 1 hour before closing, and the last departure time of underground river rafting is 1.5 hours before closing. Please arrange your visiting time reasonably.
Tour Route
Tourists can enter from the entrance of the scenic area, first visit the Geological Museum to learn about cave geological knowledge and firefly ecological habits, then go to Butterfly Valley to watch the butterflies flying. Then go to Firefly Water Cave, take a cruise ship to enjoy the wonder of fireflies in the cave, and experience the "starry sky" journey. Next, go to the Underground Grand Canyon, walk to visit the cave landscape, feel the magic of karst landforms, and then choose to experience the underground river rafting project. Finally, if time permits, you can experience the zip line project and overlook the scenic spot from a high altitude. This route is about 6 kilometers long, and the visiting time is about 5-6 hours, which can fully appreciate the natural and cultural characteristics of the scenic area.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Linyi, drive along Qingyin Expressway and Changshen Expressway to Yishui Exit, then drive north along Provincial Highway 229 for about 15 kilometers to reach the scenic area. The whole journey is about 100 kilometers, and the driving time is about 1.5 hours; starting from downtown Jinan, drive along Qingyin Expressway, Jiguang Expressway, and Changshen Expressway to Yishui Exit, then drive north along Provincial Highway 229. The whole journey is about 280 kilometers, and the driving time is about 3.5 hours.
- Bus: Take the bus to Yaodianzi Town at Yishui County Bus Station, get off at Firefly Water Cave Tourist Area Station. There is a bus every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 18:00 every day, with a driving time of about 40 minutes and a fare of about 8 yuan per person.
- Tourist line: There is a direct tourist line from downtown Linyi to the scenic area, departing from Linyi Bus Terminal at 8:00 every day and returning from the scenic area at 16:30. The fare is 50 yuan per person (excluding tickets). Tourists can buy tickets at the bus station ticket window one day in advance.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Firefly Water Cave: With an area of 12,000 square meters in the cave, take a cruise ship to watch the "starry sky" wonder of fireflies, feel the mystery and romance of nature, and it is the landmark attraction of the scenic area.
- Underground Grand Canyon: 6,100 meters long (3,100 meters developed), with rich cave landscapes. The underground river rafting is 1,000 meters long, thrilling and exciting, with a unique experience.
- Butterfly Valley: Covering an area of 15,000 square meters, inhabited by tens of thousands of butterflies, it is a good place for viewing and popular science education, suitable for parent-child travel.
- Underground River Rafting: It is a characteristic project of the Underground Grand Canyon, 1,000 meters long with a drop of more than 30 meters, allowing you to feel the fun of cave exploration.
Travel Suggestions
- There are many caves in the scenic area, which are relatively humid, and the ground may be slippery. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes to avoid slipping.
- The light in Firefly Water Cave is dim, and it is necessary to keep quiet. Tourists should not take photos with flash when entering the cave to avoid disturbing the fireflies.
- Underground river rafting is more exciting. It is recommended to keep valuables properly in advance to avoid getting wet; you can bring a set of clean clothes when visiting in summer.
- The scenic area is large and the visiting time is long. It is recommended to bring an appropriate amount of water and snacks. There are also catering areas in the scenic area providing various foods, with an average consumption of about 30-50 yuan per person.
- The best visiting seasons are spring and autumn. At this time, the climate is pleasant, there are more butterflies in Butterfly Valley, and fireflies are more active; the cave is cool in summer, which is a good place to avoid the heat.
Notes
- After entering Firefly Water Cave, you must abide by the regulations of the scenic area. It is strictly forbidden to make loud noises, chase and fight, and not to catch fireflies to protect the ecological environment.
- Some sections of the Underground Grand Canyon are narrow and steep. When visiting, pay attention to safety, follow the guidance of tour guides or scenic staff, and do not deviate from the visiting route without permission.
- When taking underground river rafting, wear life jackets as required, hold the handrails on the rubber boat, and do not stand or lean out of the boat.
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and flammable and explosive items are strictly prohibited from entering the cave to ensure the safety of the visit.
- There are many tourists in the scenic area during holidays. It is recommended to arrive at the scenic area in advance or visit during off-peak hours to avoid affecting the visiting experience due to queuing.