The Underground Palace of Northern Sichuan: Nuoshui River Karst Caves and the River of Fairies

The "Underground Great Wall" of the North

1.Located in the junction area of Jiange: County and Cangxi County in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province (near Nuoshui River Town), the Nuoshui River Karst Caves Group constitutes a magnificent subterranean world situated at an altitude of approximately 500 to 800 meters. This geological wonder is hailed as the "Underground Great Wall of Northern Sichuan" and a "Romantic Karst Wonder of the East." The site features a massive system of underground rivers and karst caves developed within the limestone of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation. With tens of discovered caves stretching over a total length of more than 50 kilometers, the scenic area offers a multi-layered landscape where "mountains, water, caves, and forests" coexist. It is a place where visitors can drift on underground rivers, marvel at crystal-clear stalactites, and explore a "Fairy Wonderland" shaped by hundreds of millions of years of geological movement and water erosion,.

A Labyrinth of Water and Stone

2.The core allure of the Nuoshui River: Karst Caves lies in its typical underground river karst system. Unlike many dry caves, this group is defined by the constant flow of water, creating a dynamic environment where visitors can combine walking with boat tours. The complex includes several famous caves such as the Nuoshui River Cave (Nuoshuihe Dong), Lion Cave (Shizi Dong), Fairy Cave (Xiannu Dong), and China Cave (Zhonghua Cave). Inside, the interplay of lights and natural formations creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Stalactites hang like icicles, stone shoots rise like forests, and massive stone curtains drape like waterfalls. The Nuoshui River Cave, the main cave of the group, extends for about 5 kilometers with a subterranean river running through it, allowing visitors to take a boat ride through a misty, magical palace of stone flowers and grapes. The Lion Cave, named for its lion-head-shaped entrance, features a magnificent "Golden Palace" of stone curtains and waterfalls, offering a more intimate tactile experience of the calcium deposits,.

Legends of the Fairy and the Red Army

Culturally, the caves are steeped in the rich heritage of the Qiang people and revolutionary history. Local legends speak of a goddess named Semu (Fairy) who transformed her tears into the underground river to save the people from drought, turning the caves into a "Fairy Cave Heaven" where the water is believed to wash away dust and bring good luck. The entrance to the caves is often marked by White Stones, a symbol of Qiang worship, where locals perform "Wei Sang" (burning aromatic plants) and offer Hada to pray for harvest and health. Historically, the site served as a vital pass on a branch of the Jianmen Shu Road during the Tang and Song dynasties. More significantly, in 1935, the Red Army passed through here during the Long March. Soldiers used the caves for shelter and healing, leaving behind a legacy of unity with the local people. The Zhonghua Cave is particularly noted for a stalactite formation resembling the characters for "China" (Zhonghua) and contains Red Army slogans and relics, making it a site of patriotic education amidst natural beauty,,.

A Symphony of Seasons

3.The experience of the Nuoshui River Karst: Caves changes with the seasons, offering year-round beauty. In spring, azaleas bloom around the cave entrances, creating a sea of flowers. Summer brings a refreshing coolness, making the caves an ideal retreat from the heat, with the underground river levels high enough for exciting boat drifts. Autumn frames the caves in golden and red foliage, adding a romantic hue to the karst landscape. In winter, the water flow creates magnificent ice waterfalls and silver curtains, transforming the caves into a silent, crystal-clear ice palace. Whether boating through the misty river or walking along the plank roads to touch the "golden" calcium beaches, visitors are treated to a profound connection with both the raw power of geology and the enduring spirit of local history,,.