三民蝙蝠洞

Sanmin Bat Cave


Useful Information

Location: Wuliao Stream Valley, east of Sanminli, Fuxing District, Taoyuan City.
Off the North-Cross Island Highway in Taoyuan County, Taiwan. From Dasi to the village Sanmin, after the bridge in the town center turn left into small lane, signposted. Parking lot after 3 km.
(24.838144, 121.350274)
Open: No restrictions.
[2022]
Fee: free.
[2022]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: bring torch
Dimension: L=600 m.
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Sanmin Bat Cave, Wuliao Stream Valley, east of Sanminli, Fuxing District, Taoyuan City.
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

1968 cave discovered.
2004 new path to the cave built.

Description

三民蝙蝠洞 (Sanmin Bat Cave) has the biggest cave portal in Taiwan, 50 m wide and 30 m high. But it is not really a cave, being not very deep, it is more or less a shelter. This place is very popular for picnics as it is shady and cool. The trail to the cave starts with a wooden arch, a wide, red-brick road with some tiles painted with black bats. When the cave was first discovered there were lots of bats, hence the name of the cave, but today there is not a single bat.

A second geologic sight is a few meters below the cave. Here is a 15 m high twin fall with a specialty: the water has carved a small but beautifully formed hole through the solid rock, through which it falls into a large, shallow pool.

Nearby is a Buddhist temple which was built in front of Guanyin Cave. The track from the cave leads up to the temple but it is also possible to drive there directly. The cave is equipped with a multicolored dragon fountain and numerous other religious enhancements.