Juilongtan – An Underground Dragon Palace Adventure

Juilongtan Scenic Area in Yangshuo, Guilin, resembles a secret-filled underground dragon palace. As one of China’s rare karst caves offering both land and water exploration, it combines the Black Rock and Water Rock caves into a winding kilometer-long journey where visitors walk through stalactite forests or glide by boat, experiencing the charm of “half land, half water.” Countless stalactites inside are naturally sculpted into dragons—coiling serpents, soaring wyrms, dragon kings, maidens, and even dragon “grandchildren”—vividly enacting the myth of a “dragon gathering.” The most mystical spot is the “Bottomless Pool,” where legend claims underwater currents connect to the Li River. Ancient explorers once crawled through narrow tunnels, while today’s visitors leisurely admire the abyss by boat.

Juilongtan’s 48 attractions sparkle like dragon treasures: “Dragon Maiden Welcoming Guests” features stalactites shaped like smiling faces, “Peacock Display” reveals a radiant stone screen, “Imperial Consort Bathing” outlines graceful curves, and “Mirage” uses light to create illusions. With ceilings reaching 25 meters high and spans up to 30 meters, sunlight filtering through cracks casts dragon shadows dancing on water, while misty rain cloaks the cave like clouds veiling leviathans. Outside, the Stone Wonder Palace dazzles with thousands of rocks mimicking peacocks, ancient trees, and fairies, narrating eons of geological tales.

Two millennia ago, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Lingqu Canal linked the Li River, turning Julongtan into a playground for boatmen deciphering stone riddles. Tang poets marveled at “mountains like paintings, paintings like mountains,” while modern visitors drift on bamboo rafts, listening to Third Sister Liu’s folk songs amid lights and music. To protect this wonder, electric rafts replace fuel-powered boats, preserving crystal-clear underground streams and fragile walls. Julongtan captivates not just with nature’s artistry but also through dragon legends and human stewardship, weaving a millennium-spanning fairy tale. As local elders say: “Don’t fret if you miss some dragons—the mountains and waters will remember your curiosity and reverence.”