Ryongmun Taegul

Ryongmun Cavern - Ryongmun Big Cave - Ryongmun Grand Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Near Hyangsan, North Pyongan Province, southeast of Pyongyang. (39.856440, 126.112168)
Open:	For western tourist only in organized trips. [2006]
Fee:	Included in trip fee. [2006]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=11 °C, H=80%.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	(): Underground Scenic Spot, Ryongmun Cavern, Pictorial of the World Famous Ryongmun Cavern in North Korea, Unequalled for Underground Scenic Beauty, Softcover, 122pp.
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1958	cave explored.
1999	one of three sites opened to foreign tourists.

Description

Ryongmun Taegul is noted for its enormous size and its speleothems. This cave was developed by the heroic work of KPA soldiers in the period of the Arduous March. It shows such important speleothems as the Pool of Anti-Imperialist People's Struggle and the Mountain Peak of the Great Leader Kim II Sung. Noteworthy are also some speleothems resembling vaginas and penises.

The cave and Mt. Yongmun above are named after an old legend. A dragon living at Mt. Myohyang came to Mt. Ryongmun, but he lost his way. He used the cave to return home, which is since then called dragon gate cavern. A heavy stone gate at the cave entrance weighing 3.5 tons has an inscription showing two dragons.

The cave has numerous huge stalagmites, up to 5 m high and 12 m wide. There are numerous stalactites and stalagmites all of pure white colour. A special sight is the 40 m high underground waterfall.

The cave is a famous tourist site for the locals. It is visited daily by 1,800 in average and 4,000 at maximum.