鱼龙洞

Lichuan Yulong Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Yingtao Jing, Tuanpu Town, Lichuan City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province 445420. (30.389433, 109.125397)
Open:	All year daily 8:30-17:30. [2025]
Fee:	Adults CNY 65. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light
Dimension:	L=1,630 m.
Guided tours:	D=2 h.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Lichuan Yulong Cave, Yingtaojing Village, Tuanbao Town, Lichuan City, Hubei Province, Tel: +86-718-7868555. Yulongdong Scenic Area, 梨树村, Tuanpuzhen, Lichuan, Enshi City, Hubei 445420, Tel +867188507704.
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

1992	during a draught local farmers Li Yufeng and Jiang Shuhua were searching for water and accidentally discovered this cave.
2017	approved by the State Council as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Description

玉龙洞 (Yù lóngdòng, Jade Dragon Cave) is one of those names which exist multiple times, jade dragons are quite popular in China. So we named the cave 利川玉龙洞 (Lìchuān yù lóngdòng, Lichuan Jade Dragon Cave), which is at least unique. It is also used on other webpages, as this is a common strategy to make such names unique. In this case there is another twist: actually the Fish Dragon Cave and the Jade Dragon Cave, which have different Names in Chinese, are both translated into Yulong Dong. So the typical "Yulong Cave" partly-translated name is identical. It is located in the 玉龙洞风景区 (yù lóngdòng fēngjǐng qū, Yulong Cave Scenic Area).

Yulongdong is located in the village of Yingtaojing in Tuanbao Town, Lichuan City, Hubei Province. We actually think that jade is typically green, but here that’s not the case. The people thought that one of the pure white speleothems resembles a flying dragon, and so they called the cave the Jade Dragon Cave. Its unclear which of the speleothems was namesake as they are all flooded by coloured light and its impossible to determine the white one.

The cave is reached on a trail along a gorge and over a brdige. The entrance portal is huge, 6 m high amd 12 m wide, followed by a huge passage. It seem there is not only the possibility to walk by foot but also a sort of trolleys.

The most interesting highlight is a show with folk dances in traditional costumes. The cave is located in the rae Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which are both minorities. While they were not very respected before, they are now welcome for such folk dances, which actually gives them an income and makes their culture better known. The show starts at several times throughout the day, the times are published at the ticket office. It’s a good idea to synchronize the visit with the show.