Fengjie, Chongqing

Fengjie Earth Fissure: A Mysterious Journey Through the "Gate of the Underworld" and the World's Longest Karst Rift

📸Photography 🧗Adventure 🛤️Highland Aesthetics(高原美学)

Altitude

650m

Best Time

🌸 🍂

Ticket

Paid

ℹ️

About This Attraction

1.Fengjie Earth: Fissure, also known as Tianjingxia (Patio Gorge), is a breathtaking geological spectacle located in Xinglong Town, Fengjie County, Chongqing. Often visited in conjunction with the nearby Xiaozhai Tiankeng (Heavenly Pit), it constitutes a critical part of the world-class karst landscape system in the region. While the Tiankeng is a massive vertical sinkhole, the Difeng acts as a deep, winding scar sliced into the earth's surface, stretching for approximately 37 kilometers, making it one of the longest continuous karst fissures in the world.

The fissure is characterized by its dramatic structure: narrow at the top and widening at the bottom, creating a secluded subterranean world. As visitors descend into the gorge, the sky narrows to a thin "One Line Sky" (Yixiantian) overhead, while the cliffs rise vertically on both sides, often obscuring the sun and creating a mysterious, twilight atmosphere even at midday. The bottom of the fissure is home to the Upper Stream of the Underground River that eventually flows beneath the Xiaozhai Tiankeng. This powerful subterranean current roars through the cavernous depths, carving the limestone over millennia and feeding the lush, mossy vegetation that clings to the wet rock walls.

2.Exploring Fengjie: Difeng feels like a journey to the center of the earth. The hiking path winds along the cliffside and the riverbed, passing through dark caves, under natural stone bridges, and alongside thundering waterfalls that cascade from the rim hundreds of meters above. The air inside the fissure is cool and humid, offering a refreshing escape from the summer heat and supporting a unique ecosystem of shade-loving plants. Geologists and adventurers alike are drawn to its raw, primitive beauty, which serves as a vivid record of the earth's dynamic geological history and the erosive power of water.

✨ Why Visit Fengjie Earth Fissure (Tianjingxia)

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A 37-kilometer-long karst fissure, one of the world's longest and deepest terrestrial canyons

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Sheer limestone cliffs over 200 meters high, with the narrowest point just a few meters wide

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A pristine underground river system with clear turquoise pools and cascading waterfalls

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Unique microclimate fostering lush, hanging vegetation and rare ferns on the gorge walls

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Geological formations showcasing millions of years of tectonic and water erosion processes

Location & Nearby

📍 Fengjie, Chongqing • 🏔️ 650m elevation

Frequently Asked Questions - Fengjie Earth Fissure (Tianjingxia) Travel Guide

Where is Fengjie Earth Fissure located?

It is located in Xinglong Town, Fengjie County, Chongqing Municipality, near the famous Xiaozhai Tiankeng.

How deep is the fissure? The depth varies, generally ranging hundreds of meters deep, with the cliffs creating a dramatic vertical drop.

Is it connected to Xiaozhai Tiankeng? Yes, they are part of the same geological karst system, and the underground river flowing through the fissure eventually reaches the Tiankeng.

Is the hiking trail difficult? The trail involves stairs and walking along the canyon floor. While well-maintained, it involves significant walking and elevation change, requiring a moderate level of fitness.

How do I get there? From Fengjie County center, you can take a bus or taxi to Xinglong Town. There are tourist shuttles connecting the Tiankeng and Difeng scenic areas.

Why do you include Chinese characters and Pinyin in the descriptions for Fengjie Earth Fissure (Tianjingxia)?

We provide the original Chinese names and Pinyin to make your travel smoother. Since English is rarely spoken in remote parts of Western China, you can easily show these Chinese names to local taxi drivers, hotel staff, or police when asking for help, or copy-paste them directly into Chinese navigation apps like Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps.