Longkong Cave is located in Longkang Village, Yanshi Town, Xinluo District, Longyan City, Fujian Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a provincial scenic area of Fujian Province, known as "No.1 Cave in East China" and "Guilin in Caves". Centered on karst cave landscapes formed 300 million years ago in the Paleozoic Era, it ranks among the largest and best-preserved caves in Fujian. The total scenic area covers about 54,000 square meters, including 29,000 square meters of inner cave space. Stretching around 3.3 kilometers deep, it is divided into upper, middle and lower layers with three entrances and an underground river. The highest point inside reaches 36 meters and the widest part exceeds 50 meters. The cave maintains a constant temperature of about 18℃ all year round, suitable for visits in all seasons. Featuring diverse karst landforms such as stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars and stone curtains, it boasts magnificent, peculiar, serene and elegant scenery, serving as an integrated tourist resort for sightseeing, popular science research and leisure vacation.
History and Culture
Longkong Cave has a long history of exploration. It was discovered by local residents in the Tang Dynasty and became a well-known natural scenic spot in western Fujian in the Song Dynasty. Many scholars and poets visited here and left literary works, making it an important carrier of local karst culture. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was a popular place for local people to pray and travel, with stone inscriptions preserved inside recording historical changes and folk legends.
The cave is rich in folk culture of western Fujian. Legend has it that a dragon prince once lived and practiced here, hence the name Longkong Cave. The story has been passed down locally and become a unique cultural symbol. In modern times, it officially opened to tourists in 1988. It was awarded the title of Provincial Scenic Area in 2003 and National 4A-level Tourist Attraction in 2010. Now it has become a famous cultural tourism card of Longyan and a renowned cave tourist destination at the junction of Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces.
Main Scenic Spots
Welcome Gate
As the entrance of Longkong Cave, Welcome Gate is a naturally formed cave gate about 10 meters high and 8 meters wide. It is the first scenic view for visitors. Its natural karst textures look like an elegant screen, symbolizing welcoming tourists from all directions, and it is a popular spot for taking photos.
Stone Snake
Situated inside Welcome Gate, Stone Snake is a vivid karst stone scene with a total length of about 6 meters. Its head and body shapes are highly lifelike, formed by calcium carbonate deposition over tens of thousands of years. It is one of the most representative pictographic stone landscapes in the cave.
Umbrella Cave
Umbrella Cave gets its name from the giant umbrella-shaped karst formation on the cave top. The hanging stone curtain has a diameter of about 3 meters with layered delicate textures. It is a distinctive small cave hall inside the scenic area.
River Snail Cave
The core landscape of River Snail Cave is a huge stalagmite around 4 meters high, which looks exactly like a river snail with smooth white surface formed by dripping water deposition. It is a classic karst landscape of Longkong Cave.
Crouching Dragon Cave
As the core middle hall of Longkong Cave, Crouching Dragon Cave is about 80 meters long and 30 meters wide. The karst shapes on the ceiling resemble a lying giant dragon. With spacious space and dense stone pillars, it is one of the largest scenic zones in the cave.
Underground River
Running through the bottom layer of the cave, the underground river stretches 1200 meters in total with clear constant-temperature water. Tourists can take boats for sightseeing along the winding waterway, enjoying beautiful reflections of karst scenery. It is the only water sightseeing route in the cave.
Dragon Egg Stones
Located along the underground river, Dragon Egg Stones are round calcium carbonate rocks in different sizes just like dinosaur eggs, with the largest one reaching 1.5 meters in diameter. As rare spherical karst landscapes, they possess high ornamental and scientific research value.
Sky-reaching Pillar
Sky-reaching Pillar is the tallest stone pillar in Longkong Cave, standing 36 meters high with a diameter of about 2 meters. Connecting the cave top and ground, it was formed after hundreds of millions of years of water dripping deposition. It is the landmark and most shocking karst landscape of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Scenic Area Entrance→Welcome Gate→Stone Snake→Umbrella Cave→River Snail Cave→Crouching Dragon Cave→Underground River→Dragon Egg Stones→Sky-reaching Pillar→Scenic Area Exit
Travel Tips
- The whole tour takes 2 to 3 hours, and the boat trip on the underground river lasts about 15 minutes
- The cave roads are gentle yet slippery in some sections, please wear non-slip flat shoes
- The cave keeps 18℃ constant temperature, bring a thin coat in summer to avoid catching cold
- The underground river boat ride is a must-try experience to admire close-range karst views
- Rest areas are available inside for visitors to replenish water and food
- Parents should take good care of children and keep them away from rock walls and river edges
Precautions
- Climbing rock walls and striking stalactites are strictly forbidden and will be punished
- No smoking or open fire inside the cave to follow fire prevention regulations
- Do not leave designated tour routes or enter undeveloped areas
- Avoid staring at landscape highlight lamps for a long time
- Sit firmly on the sightseeing boat, no standing or touching river water
- Pets are not allowed to enter the cave sightseeing area
- Please keep the scenic area clean and put rubbish in designated bins
Transportation
- Self-driving: Drive along Provincial Highway 203 from downtown Longyan, 48 kilometers away with a 1-hour drive, free parking lots are provided
- Public Transport: Take passenger buses from Longyan Bus Station to Longkang Village, 6 shifts daily, about 70 minutes ride, then walk 500 meters to the entrance
- Tourist Shuttle: Direct tourist buses run from downtown Longyan to the cave during holidays
Opening Hours
Longkong Cave opens all year round. Regular opening time is from 8:00 to 17:30, and ticket checking stops at 16:30. During legal holidays and summer vacation, it opens from 7:30 to 18:00 with last admission at 17:00. There is no regular closed maintenance day for daily visits.
Ticket Information
The admission ticket costs 50 RMB per person. You can search the official WeChat service account "龙硿洞风景名胜区" for the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.