Yaolin National Forest Park | Exploring the karst secrets under "Xiaolushan"

|Explore the karst secrets under "Xiaolushan Mountain". Yaolin National Forest Park is located in Tiandong Mountain, Yaolin Town, Tonglu County, Hangzhou City. It covers an area of ​​949 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of up to 95%. The average annual temperature is 16℃. It is known as a "summer resort". This place combines natural landscapes such as caves, stone forests, tiankengs, and dense forests, and is a rare karst landform concentration area in East China. There are nearly 20 caves in the park, such as Yangtian Cave and Zhongtian Cave. The stalactites in the caves are of various shapes and sizes, and the light and shadow effects make them even more magical, making it an "underground art palace." There are more than 30 giant natural funnel groups with a diameter of over 100 meters and a depth of 50-100 meters, which are unique in East China. The stone forest formed by billions of years of crustal movement is shaped like towers, swords, and mushrooms, combining grandeur and elegance. The surrounding Donglin Village and Taoyuan Village retain their original village features, where you can experience outdoor activities such as camping and mountain biking. Take a stroll along the 5-kilometer hiking trail, which has a very high content of negative oxygen ions and is suitable for deep breathing and light hiking. 【Must-see attractions】 "Yangtian Cave": The 2,000-square-meter hall at the entrance is densely covered with stalactites. The temperature inside the cave is constant at 18-20℃, warm in winter and cool in summer. The time tunnel connects Yangtian Cave and Zhongtian Cave, giving a full sense of time travel. "Zhongtian Cave": In summer, you can see the wonder of clouds and mist formed by the confluence of cold and warm air, which is like a fairyland. "Tiandong Stone Forest": a typical karst landform, with stone peaks like towers and bamboo shoots, dotted with greenery, and after the rain, the clouds and mist are lingering like ink-splashed mountains and waters. "Crescent Lake and Qinglong Spring": The lake is shaped like a crescent moon, reflecting the green mountains and bamboos; the clear spring flows, and it is said to have health-promoting effects. "Hundred-meter Cable Bridge": It spans the valley, with wooden planks shaking under your feet, lush greenery on both sides, and overlooking cliffs and ancient trees. It is thrilling. "Hot Spring Club": The only alpine hot spring in East China, 600 meters above sea level, with open-air baths blending with the mountain scenery, perfect for relaxation. 【Route Planning】 Morning: Cave exploration (Yangtian Cave → Time Tunnel) → Iron chain bridge challenge → Stone Forest photography. Afternoon: Hiking in the forest oxygen bar → rafting in Crescent Lake → tasting the mountain flavor at Meilu Cuisine. 【Practical Tips】 ①Tickets and opening hours: Tickets are 65 yuan, 8:30-16:30 in summer, 8:30-16:00 in winter. ② Transportation Guide: It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Hangzhou via Hangzhou-Xinjing Expressway, and 30 minutes from Tonglu High-speed Railway Station. Take a bus from Hangzhou South Bus Station/West Bus Station to Tonglu, then transfer to a minibus to Donglin Village Scenic Area, or take Bus No. 5, 15, or 18 to Fenshuijiang Bridge Station, then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus (every 10 minutes). ③ Food recommendations: Binxiao Restaurant, stir-fried bamboo shoots with sauce, scrambled eggs with Chinese toon, and mixed fish hotpot (40 yuan per person); Zuixianlou, stone chicken hotpot, pork with preserved vegetables and preserved plums, and Tianmu River shrimp (60 yuan per person); Mingchun Hotel: hotpot with dried bamboo shoots and old duck, and Yaolin stir-fried dishes (50 yuan per person). ④ Recommended joint tours: Tianzidi Scenic Area (15 kilometers from Yaolin, famous for its alpine meadows and glass plank roads), Qinxi Xianggu (karst streams and bamboo forest landscapes, suitable for hiking and oxygen breathing), Yan Ziling Fishing Platform (a historical and cultural attraction on the banks of the Fuchun River, which can be visited by boat). ⑤ Tips: The cave is slippery, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes; prepare mosquito repellent in summer and keep warm in winter; the signal in the scenic area is weak, so download the offline map in advance; please pay attention to the speed limit of 40km/h when driving. Yaolin National Forest Park combines the wonders of caves, secret forests and beautiful mountains and rivers, making it an ideal place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Avoid the peak hours and enjoy the pristine charm of "Little Jiuzhaigou in Western Zhejiang".