织金洞

Zhijindong - Zhījīn Dòng - Zhijin Cave - Zhi Jin Cave - Hen Hitting Cave

Useful Information

photography — Zhijindong, Guizhou Province, China. Public Domain.

Location:	民寨乡, Minzhai Village, Zhijin, Province Gui Zhou. 152 km northwest of Gui Yang, the provincial capital of Gui Zhou. 122 km from An Shun. S55 Zhijindong exit, left on X784, left on Y016. (26.7677404, 105.8930268)
Open:	MAR to NOV daily 8:30-17:30. DEC to FEB daily 9-17. [2019]
Fee:	MAR to NOV: Adults CNY 120, Children (1.2 m-1.4 m) CNY 60, Children (-1.2 m) free, Seniors (61-70) CNY 60, Seniors (71+) free. DEC to FEB: Adults CNY 100, Children (1.2 m-1.4 m) CNY 50, Children (-1.2 m) free, Seniors (61-70) CNY 50, Seniors (71+) free. Shuttle Bus CNY 20. [2019]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	electric, but bring torch and extra batteries
Dimension:	L=13,500 m, VR=150 m, T=10-15 °C.
Guided tours:	D=2 h, L=6,000 m. V=150,000/a [2000]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Zhijindong, P.O. Box 406, Zhijin 552100, Guizhou, Tel: +86-85778-12018, Fax: +86-85778-12019.
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

1980	discovered by the Zhijin County Tourism Resources Exploration Team and named 打鸡洞 (Daji Dong - Chicken Hole).
1988	贵州织金洞风景区 (Guizhou Zhijin Cave Scenic Area) approved and announced by the State Council.
1993	opened to the public.
1994	joins the International Show Caves Association (ISCA).

Description

The dimensions of 织金洞 (Zhī jīn dòng - Weaving Gold Cave) are quite impressive. The cave system has a length of some 13 km, so it is not among the long caves of the world, but the size of the passages and chambers is really impressive. The normal height and width of the main passage is between 60 m and 100 m, some chambers reach a height of 150 m and a width of 175 m.

There is also a tallest stalagmite of the world in Zhi Jin Cave, they talk about a 70 m high formation, with many other stalagmites being 40 m high. We believe that this really is the biggest stalagmite. Actually, it is quite strange that this fact is not mentioned in the official description, while four non-existent superlatives are stupidly repeated.

It is the longest cave of the world: with a length of 13 km. According to the official list, it is currently the 17th in China and the 453rd in the World, but as they did not list their cave, this is not so obvious [2024].
It has 120 different speleothems: which is the highest number of different speleothems in any cave. This is seriously weird as there is no standardized way to classify speleothems and as a result any cave may give any number they like.
The largest unsupported roof span of any cave worldwide which is 175 m. We don't even know what they mean by that.
It has the longest stalactite "trumping other stalactites by more than 150 meters." On one page they said the stalactite is 165 m long. This is simply untrue, it does not exist, it's an invention, or a lie, you may decide yourself.

This is absolute nonsense but characteristic for web pages about Chinese caves: utter nonsense in poetic language. We thought it was a translation error, but it seems to originate from some Chinese source. And nothing is too stupid to be repeated on a dozen other pages. We guess this cave actually holds the superlative of the most wrong translations of its names. Originally named 打鸡洞 it goes by Daji Dong, Chicken Hole, Hen Hitting Cave. Then it was renamed 织金洞 which is translated Zhī jīn dòng, Zhijindong Cave (a Smile tautology), Zhījīn Dòng Cave (again a Smile tautology), Zhijin Cave, Zhi Jin Cave, and finally Weaving Gold Cave. The site is often referred to as 贵州织金洞国家地质公园 (Guizhou Zhijin Cave National Geopark).

However, the cave definitely has quite exceptional speleothems. There is an abundance of huge stalagmites, dozens which are around 40 m high. Most are of the palm trunk type, named so because their form resembles palm trunks. The most beautiful of this kind is named 银雨树 (Silver Rain Tree), and while "only" 17 m high it is symmetric and pure white. It actually resembles a huge tree or probably an orchid made of calcite crystals. There are rimstone pools which are periodically filled with water, there are helictites, and there are pools full of cave pearls.

The visit to this cave seems to be rather adventurous. The tour guides are said to save a little on the electric light and the paths are rather irregular hacked into sloping limestone escarpments. So good shoes, appropriate clothing and torches are a good idea.