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Tenglong Cave, located in Lichuan City, Hubei Province, a renowned city in western China, is home to the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups. The scenic area boasts picturesque scenery, including the Water Cave, Dry Cave, Carp Cave, Cool Breeze Cave, Dujiazhai, Three Dragon Gates, and the Huaxian Pit.
The entire cave system is extremely large and complex, with the largest total volume in the world. It is the best tourist cave in China and was named "the most beautiful place in China" by National Geographic China magazine in October 2005.
Tenglong Cave is renowned both domestically and internationally for its unique charm: majestic, precipitous, bizarre, secluded, and breathtaking. The cave boasts five peaks, 10 halls, and over ten underground waterfalls. Within the cave lie mountains, within mountains caves, with water and dry caves interconnected, and the main and branch caves interconnected. The landscape within the cave is diverse and mysterious.
Here you can not only enjoy the scenery of the cave, but also watch the country's only comprehensive laser show in the cave, "Flying Dragon". Through the new integration of high-tech means and the perfect fusion of virtual and real, it presents tourists with a series of magnificent, shocking and unforgettable pictures, creating a precedent for the combination of natural scenic spots and high technology.
With a pleasant climate and neither severe cold in winter nor scorching heat in summer, it is known as a " natural oxygen bar and cool city " and is a popular summer resort for tourists from home and abroad.
Recommended play time: more than 3 hours
150 yuan/person
8:30-17:30
Laser show: 10:20 , 15:00 ( each show lasts approximately 20 minutes )
Song and Dance: 11:10 , 16:00 ( each performance lasts approximately 1 hour)
Tenglong Cave (腾龙洞) is a world-class karst cave system located near Lichuan in Enshi Prefecture, Hubei. It is designated as a national AAAAA scenic area and a national geological park. The cave system spans ~59.8 km in explored length, with a massive entrance (74 m high × 64 m wide) and multiple layers, halls, and waterfalls. It integrates mountain, water, cave, and forest scenery, and holds cultural importance as a showcase for Tujia ethnic performance and folk heritage.
Tenglong Cave is located in Lichuan City, Enshi Tujia & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. It lies about 6.0–6.8 km from Lichuan’s city center. From Lichuan Railway Station, you can take a dedicated shuttle bus or local transport to the Tenglong Cave Visitor Center. Once at the scenic area, internal shuttle/transport or walking trails connect you to cave entrances and halls. Taxis or private cars from Lichuan are also viable (short drive).
Tenglong Cave’s typical opening hours are 08:30 to 17:00 (last admission at ~15:50). Some sources list extended hours: 08:30 to 17:30. It operates year-round. Best times to visit are spring and autumn when climate is mild and humidity is comfortable; summer offers a cool respite inside the cave.
The adult admission ticket is ¥150. There is also a combined option with the shuttle bus (e.g. ¥172). Some sources mention a lower price of ¥68 (this may refer to off-peak or special discount) but this is less commonly cited. You can purchase tickets onsite at the ticket office or via online booking platforms or third-party travel agencies.
Booking in advance is advisable during peak season or holiday periods to secure entry and show seats. For regular times, same-day purchase is often sufficient.
A typical visit takes 2 to 3 hours to cover cave walking, shows, and photo stops. If you take slower walking, explore deeper branches, or combine with other attractions, half a day may be used.
Guided tours (in Chinese) are standard in the scenic area. An audio / multilingual guide service is not widely documented; foreign language guidance may have to be arranged via private tour operators.
Suggested route:
Yes — the laser / light show and Tujia ethnic performance occur inside the cave during the day tours. Full night visits are not documented, likely not available due to safety concerns.
Tenglong Cave is a popular AAAAA attraction and can be crowded during holidays, summer weekends. The least crowded times are weekday mornings, off-peak seasons, or early in the day.
The scenic area offers visitor facilities: restrooms, waiting areas, shops, snack stands, cloak / clothing rental (for cave coolness). Electric cart stations, shuttle services, pathways, and resting benches are available.
The electric cart / shuttle lines help reduce walking for less mobile visitors. However, some staircases, slopes, and narrow cave passages may pose difficulty for elderly or wheelchair users. Children are generally manageable but should be supervised in slippery or darker sections.
At the ticket office and major retail points, mobile payments and cards are generally accepted. In small shops or remote sections, cash may still be useful.
There are dining options and snack stalls near the entrance and visitor center. Some restaurants linked to cave tourism services serve local Hubei / Tujia cuisine.
Vegetarian or vegan Chinese dishes (tofu, vegetables) are likely available in restaurants. Halal options are not specifically documented; in more urban or large eateries, you may find them or request.
Accommodations are available in Lichuan city (near the cave) as the main base. Some guesthouses or cave-area resorts may be located close to the cave entrance to facilitate early access.
Nearby you can combine with Enshi Grand Canyon scenic trails, canyon areas, or fissure attractions. Other cave systems or rivers in the region might also be part of extended tours.
Yes, souvenir shops are present near the entrance or inside the cave visitor zones. Common souvenirs include local crafts (Tujia ethnical items), postcards, stone / mineral items, cave-themed gifts.
After your cave visit, return to Lichuan city by shuttle or taxi, then proceed onward by train, bus, or private car to other destinations. If touring the Enshi region, you can link this with other nearby scenic spots via private vehicle or tour van.
