Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area in Qingyuan City is located in Dongpo Town, Lianzhou City, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, featuring karst cave and underground river landscapes. The total area of the scenic area reaches 62.1 hectares. It is a comprehensive scenic area integrating tourism, vacation, entertainment, leisure, and cave exploration. The temperature inside the cave remains at about 18°C throughout the year, making it warm in winter and cool in summer. The underground river is 1,500 meters long, and the water is crystal clear. The unique landscape features are that there are caves within caves, rivers within caves, and bridges within caves. The karst caves in the scenic area cover a large area, and the stalactites and stalagmites are in various shapes, exquisitely carved by nature, having extremely high ornamental value. In addition, the supporting facilities of the scenic area are complete, with a tourist service center, restaurants, parking lots, etc., providing convenient services for tourists.
History and Culture
The Lianzhou area where the Lianzhou Underground River is located has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Lianzhou was an important passage from the Central Plains to Lingnan in ancient times, with frequent business exchanges, and various cultures blended here.
The discovery of the Lianzhou Underground River can be traced back to the early 1980s when a local farmer accidentally discovered this magical underground world. Later, through development and construction, it gradually became a well-known tourist attraction. During the development process, every effort was made to maintain the original appearance of the karst cave, allowing tourists to appreciate the uncanny workmanship of nature.
The Lianzhou Underground River also carries the local folk culture. The villages around the scenic area retain many traditional customs and ways of life. While visiting the underground river, tourists can also feel the strong local cultural atmosphere.
Main Attractions
Karst Cave Wonders
The karst cave wonders of the Lianzhou Underground River are the core highlights of the scenic area. The stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave have formed various strange shapes under the geological action of millions of years. Some are like vivid birds and beasts, some are like magnificent palaces and temples, and some are like graceful fairies, which are amazing. Among them, scenic spots such as the "Waterfall Curtain", "Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn", and "South Heavenly Gate" are even more lifelike, as if they were exquisitely carved artworks by nature. Tourists walking in the karst cave seem to be in a mysterious underground kingdom, feeling the magic and beauty of nature.
Underground River Cruise
Taking a cruise on the underground river is a major characteristic experience of the scenic area. Tourists board the cruise ship and travel along the winding river. The river water is clear and cool, and the scenery on both sides changes endlessly. On the cruise ship, tourists can closely observe the stalactites and stalagmites on the cave ceiling and walls, and can also hear the gurgling sound of the flowing water, as if entering a peaceful and mysterious world. During the cruise, the tour guide will explain the formation process of the underground river and related legends to the tourists, enabling tourists to increase their knowledge while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Fairy Fields
The Fairy Fields are a unique landscape inside the karst cave. Over a long period of time, the stalactites and stalagmites here have formed a layered "terraced field" shape, just like the farmland reclaimed by fairies, hence the name. There is also clear water accumulated in the "terraced fields", which sparkles under the illumination of the lights and is extremely beautiful. Tourists can admire the wonderful creation of nature here and feel its unique charm.
Food
Lianzhou Choy Sum
Lianzhou Choy Sum is a characteristic agricultural product of Lianzhou and one of the signature dishes in the restaurants around the scenic area. Lianzhou Choy Sum grows in an environment with a large temperature difference between day and night, and the vegetable is tender and sweet. It can be stir-fried with garlic, stir-fried plain, or used to make soup, all of which taste very delicious. Especially in winter, Lianzhou Choy Sum is even sweeter and juicier, which is deeply loved by tourists and is a must-try when tasting local cuisine.
Dongpo Cured Meats
Dongpo cured meats are traditional delicacies in Lianzhou with a long history. Dongpo cured meats include cured sausages, cured pork, cured ducks, etc. They are made using traditional production techniques, selecting high-quality meats, and going through multiple processes such as pickling, sun-drying, and roasting. The cured meats have a golden color, a strong aroma, and a rich taste. They can be used for stir-frying, cooking rice, or making soup. They are common delicacies on the tables of Lianzhou people and are also a popular choice for tourists to buy local specialties.
Xingzi Red Bean Paste Cakes
Xingzi Red Bean Paste Cakes are characteristic pastries in Xingzi Town, Lianzhou. They are made from high-quality glutinous rice flour, red bean paste, etc. through careful production. The crust of the cake is crispy, and the red bean paste filling is sweet and delicious, not too greasy. Xingzi Red Bean Paste Cakes are not only a favorite snack of local people but also a good choice for tourists to taste Lianzhou's characteristic snacks, which can be purchased in the specialty stores around the scenic area.
Lianzhou Shuijiao
Lianzhou Shuijiao is one of the traditional snacks in Lianzhou. It uses water chestnuts, lean meat, shrimps, etc. as fillings, wraps them into a triangular shape with glutinous rice flour, and cooks them in water. Shuijiao has a soft and glutinous taste, and the filling is delicious. Paired with the special sauce, it has a very unique taste. Tourists can taste this delicious traditional snack at snack stalls or restaurants near the scenic area.
Admission Tickets
The admission ticket price of Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area in Qingyuan City is about 120 yuan per person (the price may be adjusted according to the peak and off-peak seasons). Special groups such as children under 1.2 meters in height and the elderly over 70 years old (with valid certificates) are exempt from tickets. Children with a height between 1.2 meters and 1.5 meters, the elderly between 60 and 69 years old (with valid certificates), students (with student ID cards), etc. can enjoy a half-price discount. Tourists can buy tickets at the ticket window at the entrance of the scenic area, or they can book tickets in advance through online travel platforms to save queuing time. At the same time, the scenic area sometimes launches some package tickets or preferential activities, and tourists can pay attention to the official website of the scenic area or relevant travel platforms for the latest information.
Opening Hours
Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area in Qingyuan City is open throughout the year, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm every day. The scenic area may make slight adjustments to the opening hours according to actual situations, such as holidays and special events. It is recommended that tourists check the official website of the scenic area or relevant announcements before going to the scenic area to reasonably arrange their visiting time. Tourists will be prohibited from entering the scenic area for a certain period before it closes, and tourists need to pay attention to the entry time to avoid delaying the visit.
Itinerary for Visiting
One-day Itinerary: Go to Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area from the departure place in the morning. After arrival, take a short rest at the tourist service center to learn about the basic situation of the scenic area and the precautions for the visit. Then enter the scenic area. First, visit the karst cave wonders, and follow the designated tour route to admire the stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave and listen to the tour guide's explanation. Then go to the underground river cruise terminal and take a cruise to visit the underground river to feel the tranquility and mystery of the underground river. After the visit, have lunch at a restaurant inside or around the scenic area and taste local delicacies such as Lianzhou Choy Sum and Dongpo Cured Meats. After lunch, you can stroll around the scenic area and buy some special souvenirs, such as Xingzi Red Bean Paste Cakes and Dongpo Cured Meats, and finally return.
Transportation
- Bus: There are buses from the bus station in Qingyuan urban area to Lianzhou City. After arriving in Lianzhou City, you can transfer to a bus to Dongpo Town at Lianzhou Bus Station. After getting off the bus, walk or take local transportation to Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area.
- Self-driving: Self-driving tourists can enter "Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area" in the navigation software and follow the navigation prompts to get there. Starting from Qingyuan urban area, you can reach the scenic area via Qinglian Expressway and other roads. There is a parking lot in the scenic area for convenient parking. However, during holidays and other peak tourist seasons, the parking lot may be crowded, so it is recommended to set out in advance.
- Tourist Special Line Bus: Some travel agencies or tourism institutions will open tourist special line buses to Lianzhou Underground River Scenic Area. Tourists can choose to take them by consulting travel agencies or making online reservations. This method is relatively convenient and may include services such as tour guide explanations.
Must-visit Attractions
- Karst Cave Wonders: The stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave are in various shapes. Scenic spots such as the "Waterfall Curtain", "Golden Rooster Crowing at Dawn", and "South Heavenly Gate" are lifelike, just like an underground art palace. The large area makes it highly ornamental.
- Underground River Cruise: The underground river is 1,500 meters long. Taking a cruise allows tourists to closely observe the landscape of the cave ceiling and walls, listen to the gurgling water, feel the mysterious and peaceful underground world, and at the same time, listen to the tour guide's explanation of relevant knowledge and legends.
- Fairy Fields: The "terraced field" landscape formed by stalactites and stalagmites. The accumulated clear water sparkles under the lights, which is a unique natural wonder inside the karst cave.
Suggestions for Visiting
- The temperature inside the cave is relatively low. It is recommended to bring a thin coat to prevent catching a cold. Especially when taking a cruise, the river breeze may make you feel cooler.
- When visiting the karst cave, follow the designated route and do not leave it without permission. Pay attention to safety to avoid accidents.
- If you are interested in the cave landscape, you can learn some geological knowledge and the formation principles of karst caves in advance, so that you can better appreciate and understand the scenic spots.
- When tasting local cuisine, order food in moderation according to your own taste and appetite to avoid waste. You can try a variety of characteristic delicacies, such as Lianzhou Choy Sum and Dongpo Cured Meats.
- If you choose to buy local specialties around the scenic area, it is recommended to buy from regular stores and pay attention to checking the quality and shelf life of the products.
Precautions
- The road inside the cave is slippery in some places. Pay attention to your steps to avoid slipping.
- Do not touch the stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave to avoid damaging these precious natural landscapes.
- Take good care of the environment in the scenic area, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.
- When taking a cruise, follow the instructions of the staff, put on a life jacket, and do not walk around or make a noise on the ship.
- If you bring children or the elderly to visit, take good care of their safety to avoid them getting lost or having an accident.