望天洞溶洞

Wàng Tiān Dòng Róng Dòng - Wangtian Dong Rongdong

Useful Information

Location:	Beigoum, Huanren, Benxi, Liaoning. At the limits of Beigoum towards Lianhecun, highway 102, turn left, 750 m to parking lot. Cave is on the other side of the river. (41.188847, 125.266582)
Open:	All year daily 8-17. [2021]
Fee:	Adults CNY 70. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System Coloured Light
Dimension:	L=5,000 m.
Guided tours:	L=1,100 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Wangtian Dong Rongdong, Beigoum, Huanren, Benxi, Liaoning, Tel: +86-414-285-8578, Tel: +86-414-820-2332.
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

2016	the site was reviewed by the National Tourism Administration and publicly warned.

Description

望天洞溶洞 (Wàngtiāndòng, Wangtian Dong Rongdong, Skylight Cave) is located on the other side of the valley from Beigoum. A road across the chanel of the hydroelectric power plant leads to big parking lot. From here it's a short walk across the river on a wooden footbridge named Tongtian bridge. On the other side of the river is the cave entrance. The cave has a huge chamber, Juxian Hall, which is said to have an area of 6000 m² and seats thousands of people. It is the last chamber on the tour and the highlight is a karstfenster from which two light beams shine into the cave. The huge holes, 50 m² and 35 m² in size, look like huge eyes. The path leads up a long staircase and leaves the cave through the smaller karstfenster. You are now on top of the hill 70 m above the entrance and have to walk back on a trail through the forest.

The cave has thre levels, which are connected by vertical shafts. The show cave is located in the middle level. The lower level is at the niveau of the river and water filled.

It is said that a long time ago, the red flower seeds in the garden of the Jade Emperor of the heavenly palace fell into the world and grew into a beautiful girl. She was called 红花姑娘 (Hóng huā gūniáng, Red Flower Girl), loved the world, and finally married a young man. Living happily in the world, she sang: "swallow the clouds and absorb the rosy clouds, grow up skillfully, plant strange things in the sky and live on the earth, read all kinds of colors around the world, and then know that the lower world is better than the heaven." Red Flower Girl's behavior violated the rules of heaven. The Jade Emperor was so angry that he sent the heavenly soldiers and generals to bring Red Flower Girl back in the heaven. Red Flower Girl was still yearning for the world in the heaven, and the young man called for Red Flower Girl's return from the sky every day. In order to punish Red Flower Girl, the Jade Emperor turned the young man into a mountain. The mountain looked like a man looking at the sky, his open mouth forming a cave.