Tenglong Cave

30°20′11″N 108°58′58″E / 30.33639°N 108.98278°E / 30.33639; 108.98278

Tenglong Cave
Inner view of Tenglong Cave
LocationLichuan, Hubei, China
Length52,800 metres (173,200 ft)

Tenglong Cave (Chinese: 腾龙洞; lit. 'soaring dragon cave') is a cave located 6.8 km (4.2 mi) from Lichuan City, Hubei, China.[1] It is believed to be the longest monomer karst cave system in the world. The cave entrance is 74 m (243 ft) and 64 m (210 ft) wide, leading to 59.8 km (37.2 mi) of passageways.[2] An underground network of streams runs for 16.8 km (10.4 mi) whilst the cave is the source of the Qingjiang River. Year round temperatures underground remain in the 16–18 degrees Celsius range.[2]

To facilitate tourist access to the cave, as well as to the so-called Enshi Grand Canyon Scenic Area (恩施大峡谷景区), the prefectural authorities are considering plans for the construction of a tourist railway, which will link these two popular tourist attractions with a station on the Yichang−Wanzhou Railway (probably, Lichuan).[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Deep and Long Caves in China". Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "The most beautiful natural karst cave – Soaring Dragon Cave (最美天然溶洞—腾龙洞)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 17 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011..
  3. ^ Wang Gongshang (王功尚), Li Yuhui (李玉辉), "恩施有望开建内地首条森林旅游观光铁路" (Enshi is looking forward to the construction of the mainland's first forest scenic tourist railway), 荆楚网-楚天都市报, 2013-12-25


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