Chapter 183 Caves in the Primeval Forest
The underground caves in the primeval forest are located in a karst landscape, also known as limestone formation. Limestone strata are widely distributed, and over many years, erosion by rainwater and rivers, as well as dissolution by groundwater containing carbon dioxide, have created a myriad of unique rock formations. Above ground are stone forests and peaks; underground are the caves. These caves, with their beautiful and magical scenery, attracted tourists from home and abroad before the apocalypse, but since then, few have ventured there.
The beauty of caves lies in their diverse stalactites and stalagmites.
If compared to animals, it resembles a crouching lion or a tiger, or a soaring eagle or a phoenix; if compared to plants, it resembles graceful willow branches or grapevines; it can also be compared to people, as if the sculptures and murals of the Dunhuang Grottoes were moved into the cave.
The wonder of the cave lies in the resounding rocks that produce various sounds, such as those of a zither, a hanging bell, a resounding drum, or a wooden clapper, with an ancient and melodious tone.
The cave also holds many mysteries, having yielded numerous relics of ancient humans, such as polished stone tools, embers of fire, bone necklaces, and even ancient human skulls. It paints a picture of the lives of our ancestors millions of years ago.
Karst caves are a unique scenic resource. From the Changbai Mountains to the Zuojiang and Youjiang Rivers, magnificent karst caves dot the landscape, creating breathtaking scenery. The area around Taihu Lake is dotted with famous caves, the most renowned being the Shanjuan Cave in Yixing. The cave is divided into three levels, with the lower level being a water cave over a hundred meters deep. The stalactites on the cave ceiling are scattered at varying heights, reflected in the water. Boating through it truly feels like "a boat sailing through the mountains, oars propelling it from the sky." Nearby, Zhanggong Cave is a long, hall-like cave; entering it in summer brings instant relief from the heat. At the southern end of Taihu Lake, a quarry recently discovered a cave called Huanglong Cave, containing countless resonant stones that produce beautiful sounds, earning it the nickname "concert hall within the cave."
Shuanglong Cave, Binghu Cave, and Chaozhen Cave are collectively known as the "Three Caves of Wuzhou," enjoying a renowned reputation since ancient times. Binghu Cave boasts a rare cave waterfall, with water cascading down thirty meters, creating a spectacular display of spray and cascading water. Yaolin Cave in Tonglu, also known as "Yaolin Wonderland," is another ancient cave, featuring cliffs and pools, colorful walls, and springs that produce eight distinct sounds, making it magnificent and resplendent. Near Hangzhou are also Shuile Cave, Yuru Cave, and Yanxia Cave, which, combined with the scenery of West Lake, make it even more captivating.
The Stone Bell Cave at Hukou was formed by the river crashing against the rocky shore. The waves striking the cave produce a sound like a bell, hence the name Stone Bell. On a moonlit night, watching the water and rocks collide and hearing the roar of the waves offers a unique experience. Seven Star Crags in Zhaoqing are named for their seven limestone mountains. Surrounded by a lake, these seven mountains can be explored by boat to a depth of over 270 meters, making it a famous scenic spot in South China.
Seven Star Crags and Reed Flute Cave are famous both at home and abroad. Seven Star Crags is a cave system comprising three mountains and fifteen caves. The main cave is open to the public and features lifelike formations such as "Dragons Playing in the Water" and "Roaring Lion." Longyan Cave in Luchuan County boasts rocky peaks similar to those in Guilin. It features caves within the caves, lakes surrounded by mountains, and an ancient fortified village connecting to the surrounding area. Entering the fortified village feels like entering a paradise. This scenic area, integrating mountains, water, caves, and a fortified village, is rarely seen elsewhere.
The karst cave in the South Suburb Park stretches over 500 meters, resembling an art gallery with numerous scenic spots. At the "Listening to the Waves" spot, one can hear the rushing and surging sound of the underground river. In Jianshui, Yunnan, the Swallow Cave connects to the underground stream of the Hujiang River. Every spring, large numbers of swallows build nests in the stone niches, circling and fluttering, creating a vibrant scene.
Caves are relatively rare in the north. The largest cave in Benxi is tens of kilometers long and has a river inside. It takes more than two hours to row a boat to the bottom of the cave.
Looking out, you see winding stone steps leading straight down into the ground. They are a bit rugged, and the temperature gets lower as you go down. You realize that you are almost at the bottom of the cave. There are some slightly protruding stalactites on the surrounding cave walls, like bamboo shoots emerging after the rain.
As they continued walking, they came to a bridge with a classical architectural style. Beneath the bridge flowed an underground river, its waters gurgling gently, neither too fast nor too slow. Without the illumination of lights, it was difficult to discern the direction of the river's flow. Standing on the bridge and looking down, one felt a sense of reminiscent of the poem "Sighing over the West Chamber" on a bridge over West Lake.
As I strolled forward, the truly exquisite beauty of the cave unfolded before me. This vast array of stalactites, shimmering under the colorful lights, seemed to come alive within each individual formation. For example, there were the playful poses of two dragons playing with a pearl, the vivid scene of lotus flowers on the sea… and the various shapes of rock formations that occasionally emerged, including jellyfish shapes and sword hilt shapes. It was truly an eye-opening experience!
After walking for a while, someone led us to take a boat ride. We were amazed that there were boats in such a narrow place. We were then stunned by the incredibly wide underground river before us; it turned out we had just been on the top floor of the entire cave, and below us lay another layer of land and another underground river. We boarded the boat with delight, and it began to move slowly, the river winding and meandering, sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, very tranquil. Xu Que reminded us not to stand up for safety, because actually, you didn't need to; just by raising your hand, you could touch the stalactites above your head—icy cold, some quite sharp.
Before long, we arrived at the waterfall, which is composed of three canyons. The surrounding stalactites suddenly increased in number, varying in length and shape. The waterfall cascaded down with magnificent force, creating layers of waves. It was hard to imagine that such a spectacular waterfall existed at this lower level. The spray from the water swept around, breaking the tranquil atmosphere and creating a different melody.
After disembarking, we arrived at the rice terraces. Without the colorful lights, they didn't feel monotonous at all. The terraces, layer upon layer, under the warm yellow lights, resembled coral reefs in the ocean, intertwined together, making one want to explore their secrets.
Walking across the terraced fields, a faint, delicate aroma of wine wafted towards us. In the distance, a neat row of wine bottles formed a veritable wine array. It was a fascinating sight, as if we had stepped into an old-fashioned inn, where lively scenes of people chatting about drinking a few bottles of wine and eating a couple of pieces of meat were common. An uncle nearby joked that we might carry a few bottles back to drink and get drunk, which caused a burst of laughter from the crowd. I, too, found the uncle quite humorous.
After exploring the last wine-filled cave, we had to climb back to land. The seemingly simple stone steps were actually quite steep, and because we were underground, the floor was slippery. Xu Que led the way, reminding us to be careful. After about an hour's climb, we returned to our starting point. There were many more vendors around, selling a dazzling array of adorable little handicrafts. I bought a wine bottle chain and excitedly hung it on my backpack, as if to leave behind the joy of the day. I love this place; the natural caves, sculpted by nature's hand, are truly breathtaking.
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