Meishan Cave & Ziquejie Terrace

Meishan Cave

File photo/hunan.gov.cn

 

Meishan Cave, a subterranean limestone cave, is situated on the side of Zijiang River, which is rare in the world. Having the structure of several storeys in the cave with marvelous spectacles, it is proven to be 2,876 meters long, of which 1,896 meters long routes is open to the tourists with a unique underground river of 466 meters. In the cave, there are spectacular flowstones of surprising shapes and all kinds of stalactites, stalagmites, and plane sections.  Professor Lu Cunyue from the National Tourism Administration expressed his surprise by acclaiming the cave as “the most beautiful geological garden in the world”. Now, the cave is renowned as one of the world's three largest caves.
  
The landscape along the river is also unparalleled in China. The quasi-physical landscape includes Dragon Princess Washing Silk, Auspicious Kylin and Jade Tree, Dragon Kissing Crane, Confucius Preaching, Lotus-gate Half-opening, Great Minds Quizzing, Lotus Bridge Boating, Lotus Screen Drooping, Lofty Lotus Hall, Watery Lotus, and Budding Golden Lotus. The artistic landscape includes Greeting Guests, Amazing Caves, Mount Tai scenery, Dragon temple& Jade Tower, Dunhuang Frescoes, and Lotus Palace of Clear Water. Allusions landscape includes The Eight Fairies and The Mighty Naozha.

 

Ziquejie Terraced Field 

According to research, the Terraced Field, which originated from Qin & Han Dynasty and developed in the Song Dynasty, has a long history of over 2,000 years and is the product of the nationalities (Miao, Yao, Tong, and Han) working together as the remains of ancient paddy culture with fishing and hunting culture, reflecting  the greatness of the ancient Meishan farming civilization. It is approved as a state-level scenic spot in 2005. And in 2006 it was listed as a cultural and natural heritage site.