Breaking into the underground fairyland! This billion-year-old karst cave hidden in Tonglu amazed me for a whole day

Two giant hands hold up a purple corridor floating among the mountains, with a bottomless abyss beneath and endless scenery ahead. This is not a sci-fi movie, but the daily scene at Tianzidi Mountain Wild Park in Tonglu. “This simply doesn’t look like a scene from the human world!” As soon as I stepped into the entrance of Yaolin Wonderland, a cool breeze surrounded me, instantly freeing me from the 35°C heat of Hangzhou. Passing through a classical-style courtyard corridor, I felt as if I had entered an underground fairyland forgotten by time. Since opening in 1980, Yaolin Wonderland has attracted countless visitors. This karst cave, known as the "crown of all caves in the country," is a typical example of subtropical humid zone karst caves, formed about 100,000 years ago. --- 01 A magical journey, the stunning first sight of the underground wonderland Passing through the classical-style courtyard corridor, you arrive at the cave entrance. Originally named Yaolin Cave, it was renamed "Yaolin Wonderland" by Tonglu County magistrate Yang Baoyi in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. “Lion and Elephant Welcoming Guests” is the first attraction greeting visitors—on the left, a stalactite resembles a majestic lion with a flowing mane perched on the wall, imposing without anger; on the right, a group of elephants with long trunks stand neatly arranged, lifelike and vivid. Further inside, the Milky Way Waterfall is breathtaking—the lava rock waterfall is 7 meters high and 13 meters wide. Though silent, standing beside it, you can feel the sensation of "a waterfall plunging three thousand feet." The cave’s plank road winds and twists, and walking on it offers changing views. Stalactites of various shapes are everywhere, and what they resemble depends entirely on the visitor’s imagination. 02 Technology empowerment, new vitality for the ancient karst cave Yaolin Wonderland is not static. In recent years, the park has driven the cultural tourism industry from "leisure sightseeing" to "interactive experience" through a three-dimensional approach of "scenic area upgrades + industry integration + experience innovation." Inside the cave, a new 3D naked-eye light show creates the feeling of the ocean and forest—fluttering butterflies, blue jellyfish drifting on the rock walls, and countless fireflies filling the space... This blend of modern technology and natural wonders not only restores the cave’s original ecological beauty but also creates a dreamy and romantic atmosphere. This summer, Yaolin Wonderland introduced lantern art from Zigong, Sichuan, to start night tours, giving the billion-year-old cave a new modern charm. 03 Travel tips, explore the wonderland without getting lost 📍 Location: North foothills of Luotuo Mountain, by the Fenshui River in Yaolin Town, Tonglu County, Hangzhou 🎫 Ticket price: 116 RMB (special promotion in spring 2025, tickets only 45 RMB per person) ⏰ Tour duration: About 40 minutes to 1 hour for the whole route; 2 hours recommended (including photo-taking and rest) 🚗 Transportation: · Self-driving: About 1.5 hours from Hangzhou · Public transport: From Hangzhou West Bus Station, take a bus to Fenshui, get off at Tonglu County Forest Farm, then a 10-minute walk; or take a bus to Tonglu, then transfer to a minibus to Yaolin · High-speed rail: Arrive at Tonglu Station, then taxi to the site 👕 Clothing advice: The cave maintains a constant 17-18°C year-round, cool in summer but bring a light jacket; wear non-slip sports shoes to handle slippery floors 04 Surrounding connections, from a pass-through spot to a tourism circle Yaolin Wonderland has transformed from a mere "pass-through" attraction into a chosen travel destination, evolving from a single "point" to a tourism "circle." Nearby, OMG Heartbeat Park attracts many young people with family-friendly projects like Sky Road Roller Coaster and Earth Core Exploration; the fully upgraded Qinxi Xianggu has quickly become popular online with its creatively designed "Waterfall Café." Hangzhou Equestrian Center, the venue for the Hangzhou Asian Games equestrian events, has expanded into horse trading and launched summer equestrian camps, broadening the equestrian training market. Yaolin Town has also introduced a series of high-quality accommodations, such as Shanchuan Yin Designer Architectural Boutique Stay and Lusheng Yiyun Hot Spring Homestay, giving visitors more reasons to stay longer. 05 Experience highlights, must-see wonders The light and shadow spectacle is a major feature of Yaolin Wonderland. On the flat stone wall of the cave ceiling, a 3D light show plays periodically, combining sound, lighting, and projection technology to perfectly blend the universe’s profound mystery, dazzling light effects, and the cave’s unique colors. The cave adventure rafting is worth trying—sit on a rubber raft and rush down the waterway into the cave. Without a boatman, you move the raft yourself, controlling the speed. The whole ride lasts about ten minutes. The Thirty-three Layers of Heaven is the most magnificent part of Yaolin Wonderland—stalagmites everywhere resemble exotic flowers, mythical birds and beasts, fairies scattering flowers, and peacocks spreading their tails... It strongly resembles the Western Pure Land, no wonder some compare it to the Dunhuang murals. 06 History and culture, the cultural heritage of a thousand-year-old wonderland Yaolin Wonderland is not only a natural marvel but also rich in historical and cultural heritage. On the stone wall of the third cave hall, scholars found inscriptions from the 18th year of the Sui Kaihuang era and the 17th year of the Tang Zhenzhi era, but due to the long time passed, they are covered by a layer of transparent calcium carbonate crystals, dating back over 1,300 years. Fossils of Chinese rhinoceros teeth, Eastern Han dynasty stamped pottery shards, ancient coins from the Five Dynasties and Northern Song, and Yuan dynasty celadon fragments have also been found inside. Such ancient human activity relics are rare among China’s scenic spots. Song dynasty poet Ke Yaozhai once praised Yaolin Wonderland in a poem: “The wind and thunder do not know clouds and rain, the stars never see dawn or dusk. It seems like a dream, doubting the path to Penglai Island, clearly people live in Wuling Village.” The Tonglu County Gazetteer compiled during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty records: “Yaolin Cave is 45 li northwest of the county, the entrance about two zhang wide, with steps descending over five zhang, featuring cliffs, land, pools, and holes. The walls have five colors, resembling cloud and rosy brocade. The springs have eight sounds, like many drums, zithers, and shengs. Human and dog voices can be startling and strange. It is a place where immortals gather…” --- At sunset, I walked out of the cave and, greeted warmly by the auntie at the snack shop, bought a popular Yaolin Wonderland ice cream. Sitting on a stone bench, a gentle breeze blowing, the feeling of returning from a fairyland to the human world was quite nice! Looking back at this well-established scenic spot, open for 45 years, it has not lost its charm over time. Instead, empowered by technology and innovative business models, it has been revitalized. Whether for family trips, study tours, vacation health care, outdoor travel, or couples’ getaways, this place can meet your needs. Yaolin Wonderland, a place poets likened to “Penglai Island,” “Peach Blossom Spring,” and “Wuling Village,” looks forward to meeting you.