Jiangsu Province, with its abundant water resources, has long been considered a fertile land "plentiful in fish and rice" since ancient times. With a history of more than 2,000 years, cities in Jiangsu feature heritages filled with native cultures preserved in gardens, temples and mountains. They offer a trove of history, art and scenic beauty.
China.org.cn has selected the 10 most famous and worth-seeing attractions in Jiangsu for your reference.
Shanjuan Cave (善卷洞)
Shanjuan Cave [Baidu.com] |
Shanjuan Cave is a famous limestone cave situated on Luoyan Mountain, 25 kilometers (15.53 miles) away from southwestern Yixing, Jiangsu Province. It is the oddest among the "three odd caves" in the area and the other two are Zhanggong Cave and Linggu Cave.
Inside Shanjuan Cave is a world of stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations. It is about 800 meters (0.5 miles) in length and covers an area of 5,000 square meters (0.5 hectares), and could accommodate more than 1,000 people. The cave is illuminated by colored lighting. It has a temperature of about 23℃ (73.4℉) all year round.
The cave's main entrance is at the mid-level, featuring an impressive entrance hall of about 1,000 square meters (0.1 hectares), with poems painted on the walls in calligraphy.
The cave complex consists of four levels: top, bottom, middle and back. These caves meet and make up several floors, similar to a stone building. The most attractive feature is an underground waterway connected with the back level that can only be traversed by boat.
Admission: 130 yuan (US$20.57)/person