Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (fourth batch) |
| Province | Beijing |
| Location | Fangshan District, Beijing |
| Mountains | Taihang Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 39.8, 116.0 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Karst; stone flowers, helictites, crystal flowers |
| Area | 18,000 m² |
| Elevation | 250 m |
| Length | 1,900 m |
| Depth | 90 m |
| Nearby cities | Beijing city centre 50km, Fangshan 30km |
| Nearby sites | The Summer Palace, Beijing 34km, The Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing 40km, The Temple of Heaven, Beijing 40km, Ming Tombs 60km Search nearby |
| Themes | Cave, Karst, Hidden River |
About
Stone Flower Cave lies on the Dashi River in Fangshan District, 50 km west of central Beijing and 30 km north of Fangshan, a fourth-batch national park and a second-batch national geopark.
It is a multi-level cave of seven storeys; levels one to five total 5,000 m of passages, and levels six and seven hold an underground river. The entrance is at 251 m, 160 m above the water table. The open passages on levels one to three run over 1,900 m. The cave is rich in secondary deposits, the finest of karst cave formations: stone flowers, helictites, crystal flowers, stone branches, stalactites, pagodas, curtains and waterfalls of every shape. Its deep chambers and underground river give it a self-regulating climate.
Above ground the area also has geological sections and structures and some old buildings and historic sites.
It is in the fourth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2002.
Travel tips
Getting there: the cave is in Fangshan District, about 50 km west of central Beijing. Take a bus to Liangxiang or Yancun and change to a bus towards the cave; by car, take the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway and leave at Liangxiang, then continue west.
Inside: only the upper levels are open. The visitor route is about 2,500 m long, covering levels one to four, on walkways and steps, past cave flowers, helictites, flowstone curtains and stone waterfalls.
Time: with travel, the visit fills most of a day. It is often combined with the Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian, about 24 km away.
Season: the cave is cool all year, which suits summer; in winter it is warmer inside than outside.
Nearby: Shidu lies to the southwest, and Tanzhe and Jietai temples to the north, so they can be joined into one trip.
Where to stay: there is little lodging near the cave; most people stay in central Beijing, or in Fangshan or Liangxiang.
Caution: the cave is damp and the steps are slippery, so wear shoes with grip and bring a light jacket. Do not touch the formations; where hands have touched them they stop growing.
Getting there
Bus 917 from Tianqiao runs a direct Stone Flower Cave service, or take the 917 Hebei branch to the Shihuadong stop. By car, leave the Jingshi expressway at Liangxiang and go 15 km west.
Photo credits: Stone Flower Cave: Yumeto (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian 23km, The Summer Palace, Beijing 34km, Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital 40km, The Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing 40km |
| National parks | Badaling–Ming Tombs Scenic Area 61km, Yesanpo 68km, Mount Pan 117km, Mount Heng (Northern Sacred Mountain) 167km |
| Detailed guides | Shidu 37km |
| AAAAA attractions | Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) 37km, Prince Gong's Mansion Scenic Area 40km, Olympic Park 43km, Mutianyu Great Wall Tourist Area 62km |
| AAAA attractions | Zhoukoudian Site Museum 8km, Baqi Cave 12km, Tanzhe Temple 13km, Jietai Temple 14km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark 71km |
| Cities | Beijing 40km, Tianjin 126km |
| Historical sites | Wanfotang, Kongshuidong Stone Carvings and Pagodas 3km, Jinling 7km, Shizisi Site 8km, Site of the Atomic Energy "One Reactor, One Accelerator" 10km |
| National geoparks | Yanqing Petrified Wood National Geopark 107km, Jizhou National Geopark 127km |
| Nature reserves | Baihuashan National Nature Reserve 30km, Songshan National Nature Reserve 79km, Dahaituo National Nature Reserve 87km, Xiaowutaishan National Nature Reserve 90km |
| Historic villages | Shuiyu Village 13km, Liuliqu Village 22km, Lingshui Village 29km, Cuandixia Village 34km |