九乡洞

Jiǔ Xiāng Dòng - Jiuxiang Scenic Resort

Useful Information

Location:	Jiuxiang village, 70 km from Kunming, 47 km from Yiliang. Kunming Prefecture. (25.068368, 103.383895)
Open:	All year daily 9-18. [2006]
Fee:	Adults CNY 30. Cable Car: Adults CNY 15. [2006]
Classification:	Karst cave river cave. Doline Ponor Sinian Epoch, Dolomite
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Jiuxiang Scenic Resort, Tel: +86-, Fax: +86-,
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

九乡溶洞群 (Jiu Xiang Rong Dong, Jiuxiang Cave Complex) is a karst area at Jiuxiang (nine villages). Limestone ridges with heights around 1,900 m asl are separated by deep valleys, around 1,750 m asl. On a total area of about 200 km² more than one hundred karst caves are known. This is the most important karst area in China, with the highest density of caves. The whole area is divided into various regions which are named after their most important sight. Sometime the name 九乡洞 (Jiuxiang Cave) used, but that's a misnomer, because there is actually not a cave of that name. It is the name of the karst area.

Sanjiaodong (Triangular Caves)
Diehongqiao (Overlapping Rainbow Bridge)
Shangdadong (Upper Big Cave)
Dashaba (Long Sandy Bank)
Mingyuehu (Bright Moon Lake)

The karst area is also famous for a true troglobiont, the largest cave fish known in China. This mackerel has adapted to the dark environment, it has a full transparent body and the organs in the body are clearly visible. The eyes have gradually degenerated and today only tiny white spots remained.

The whole area is recently developed for tourism. Diehongqiao (Diehong Bridge Scenic Spot) is the only part which is already completed, it is now open for the public. There are various sights in this region which are developed.

The Diehongqiao sights can be visited in about three hours on a four kilometre long tour.