Heaven's Gate & Earth's Door

#holidayitinerary (Jiuxiang's Diehong Bridge Scenic Area: 'The Rainbow Bridge Spanning the Gorge' and the Epic Prelude to the Center of the Earth) This is not an entrance; it is a portal to a pre-historic world. The Diehong Bridge area is the iconic starting point of the Jiuxiang adventure, a namesake landscape where a majestic natural limestone bridge, resembling a rainbow frozen in stone, arcs over the roaring entrance of the subterranean river. It is a promise of the wonders below—a symphony of abyssal gorges, thunderous waterfalls, and silent, sacred chambers. This is not just a scenic spot; it is the dramatic overture to nature's grandest opera. Stand at the bridge and witness the surface promise of the depths: 🌉 The Stone Rainbow: The natural bridge itself is a geological marvel, formed from the collapsed roof of a ancient cave tunnel, leaving behind this monumental arch. It is a testament to the relentless cycles of creation and destruction that shape the karst landscape. ⚡ The Descent into the Abyss: From the bridge, you gaze down into the vertiginous cleft of the Bailong Gorge (白龙峡), also known as "Soul-Startling Gorge" (惊魂峡). The roar of the underground river echoes from the shadows, beckoning you downward. 💦 The Convergence of Elements: Here, rock, water, and sky collide. The solidity of the stone bridge, the relentless flow of the water below, and the open sky above create a perfect equilibrium, a moment of balance before you descend into the realm of pure stone and water.