金狮洞

Jin Shi Dong

Useful Information

Location:	Group 7 of Yangjiachong Village, Jinshidong Township, Yiling District, Yichang City. From Yichang G241 to Huanghuaxiang, turn left on S312, turn left across Guiyuan Bridge and follow X456 to the cave. (30.870926, 111.324656)
Open:	All year daily 8-16. [2025]
Fee:	Adults CNY 60, Children (1.1-1.4 m) CNY 30, Children (<1.1 m) free. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light
Dimension:	L=1,853 m, T=18 °C.
Guided tours:	D=2-3 h.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Jin Shi Dong, Group 7 of Yangjiachong Village, Jinshidong Township, Yiling District, Yichang City, Tel: +86-717-7680747.
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

09-DEC-2024

cave closed until further notice for renovation.

Description

金狮洞 (Jīn shī dòng, Golden Lion Cave) is located in the 4A 金狮洞风景区 (Jīn shī dòng fēngjǐng qū, Jinshidong Scenic Area). It is also called 太平洞 (Taipingdong, Taiping Cave). The T-shaped main passage of the cave is up to 48 m wide and 56 m high, but as always the size is given in a rather strange way. It’s impossible to actually learn anything from the 200,000 m³ they state the cave has. And actually the number is most likely not only wrong but too small. However, the cave is definitely quite spacious and full of impressive speleothems which are named and described with poems and ancient legends. One of the most spectacular formations is named Golden Lion Palace and has a 2 m high stalagmite which actually resembles a lion. The cave was named after this formation.

The cave system has three levels. There is a river passage which has about knee-deep water, but the cave description is quite strange at that point. It actually says that the river cave is the show cave and the stalagmites are growing in the water. That’s nonsense, it’s not only untrue its also impossible. The show cave part is dry, although it has several small pools.

The cave is currently closed [2025], for safety reasons, the site is renovated and updated and will be reopened when the works are completed. The reopening date has not yet been determined.