Qingxudong Tianshengqiao


Useful Information

Location: Dafang, Bijie, Guizhou.
(27.098760, 105.670826)
Open: No restrictions.
[2025]
Fee: free.
[2025]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave GeologyNatural Bridge
Light: bring torch
Dimension: L=200 m, W=105 m, H=127 m.
Cave: L=3,788 m, VR=195, A=1,430 m asl.
Guided tours:  
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Qingxudong Tianshengqiao, Dafang, Bijie, Guizhou, Tel: +86-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

1998 explored and surveyed by the American Cave Foundation and Department of Geography of Guizhu University.

Description

清虚洞 天生桥 (Qingxudong Tianshengqiao, Quinxu Cave Natural Bridge) is also known as Grotte de la Sérénité (Serenity Cave) and Qing Xu Duo Ao. The bridge is 200 m long, 105 m wide, one side of the portal is 127 m high, the other 78 m, the top of the hill is 178 m above the floor. The asymmetric values show that the bridge does not have a horizontal floor, actually there is a slope inside, the floor rises to the left side. However, the cave has a total of 5,000 m² which are used by the locals to park cars.

This cave is a through-cave which borders a natural bridge. Actually there is a river cave, which is more than three kilometer long and has passages up to 195 m high. It developed in lower Triassic limestones. The river flows into the cave portal, and after 200 m there is a roof collapse which is 80 m long and 50 m wide, this huge doline separates the first 200 m from the rest of the cave. In general such caves are called through-caves if there are dark parts which require a lamp, and natural bridges if there is daylight from both sides and no lamp required. Others say it’s a bridge if one can see the sky on the other side from one side. This bridge fulfills both requirements. That’s why the cave is called 天生桥 (Tiānshēngqiáo) which is the Chinese term for a natural bridge, and translates literally "sky born bridge".

According to Chinese websites, this is the largest natural bridge of the world and listed by Guinness World Records. We are not sure if this is true, we only found the listing of KarstXian Ren Qiao (Fairy Bridge), northwest of Fengshan in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It spans 122 m which is slightly more than this site, although the cave is actually up to 200 m wide inside, due to niches on the sides. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society (NABS) has avoided such a ranking, and simply lists the "big 19", a list which includes both.