Zhijin Cave Scenic Area

Location Map

Ticket Price

Ticket Prices

[Adult] Ticket + Sightseeing Bus: ¥140
[Child] Ticket + Sightseeing Bus: ¥30
[Student] Ticket + Sightseeing Bus: ¥30
[Senior] Ticket + Sightseeing Bus: ¥30

Opening Hours

Business Hours

March 1 to October 31: Monday to Sunday, all day 08:30-17:00, last entry at 17:00
November 1 to February 28 of the following year: Monday to Sunday, all day 09:00-16:30, last entry at 16:30

Recommended Duration

Play Duration

Recommended play duration is 3-6 hours

Best Time to Visit

Best Season

Recommended visiting season is year-round, especially ideal for summer retreats.

Official Phone

Scenic Area Telephone Numbers

Inquiry & Q&A: 0857-7812063
Order Processing: 0857-7812737
Complaint Handling: 0857-7812156
Emergency Handling: 0857-7749999
Car Rental: 0857-7986696
National Service Hotline: 4000-520-887

Transportation

Transportation Guide

Address: Guanzhai Miao Ethnic Township, Zhijin County, Bijie City
By Air: Arrive at Bijie Feixiong Airport, then take a bus to Zhijin County at the East Bus Station. After arriving in Zhijin County, take the special bus line (Route 10) to Zhijin Cave. The total fare is 4 yuan per person.
By Train: Take a train to Zhijin Railway Station. At the bus stop outside the station, take a bus to a stop along Guantang Bridge, then wait for the special bus line (Route 10) from Zhijin to Zhijin Cave. The total fare is 4 yuan per person.
By Public Transportation: For public transportation, you can first stay overnight in the county town. The next day, wait at a bus stop along Xiazhai for the special bus line (Route 10) from Zhijin to Zhijin Cave. The total fare is 4 yuan per person.
By Car: Get off at Qianxi High-Speed Railway Station. Take the entrance to Guiqian Expressway → Guiqian Expressway → Shiban Hub → Renwang Expressway → Zhijin Cave West Interchange → Provincial Road 106 → County Road 748 → Zhijin Cave Global Geopark (approximately 46 km, 40 minutes drive).

Classical Route

Tour Routes

Zhijin Cave Underground Palace Scenic Area

Zhijin Cave Geological Science Plaza – Visitor Center – Entrance – Double Lions Welcoming Guests – Pipa Palace – Pagoda Forest Palace – Longevity Star Palace – Deep Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Bond – Longevity Mountain – South Heavenly Gate – Lingxiao Palace – Overlord Helmet – Moon Palace – Sorrowless Tree – Silent Mountains – Three-level Diving Platform – Silver Rain Palace – Silver Rain Tree – Hundred Thousand Mountains – Jade Tree Sisters – Palm Treasure – Old Man Offering Advice – Flying Shield – Exit – Large and Small Sinkholes – Exit Performance Center – Sightseeing Bus Service Center (Return Trip Waiting Area) – Ecological Parking Lot (End of the pleasant Underground Palace journey!). Tour duration: approximately 2 hours.

Zhijin Grand Canyon

Visitor Service Center – Xima Pond – Swallow Cave – Swallows Returning to Nest – Board Sightseeing Boat – Waterfall Scenery – Twin Natural Bridges – Jingu Temple – Heavenly Buddha – Nawei Sinkhole – Red Cliff Precipice – Nine Palace Bridge – Galloping Horse in the Sky – Southwest's First Elevator (Take Sightseeing Elevator) – Exit Service Area – Parking Lot (End of the pleasant Zhijin Grand Canyon journey!). Tour duration: approximately 1.5 hours.

Wujiangyuan Hundred-Mile Gallery

Lower Hongyan Dock (Board Yacht) – Hongyan Sunset – Crocodile Mouth – Stone Nest – Stone Forest – Grand Painting Screen (Bow Mountain) – Tiger Gate Pass – Naked and Clean Pass – Sleeping Beauty – Wujiangyuan Wild Monkey Reserve – Eagle Spreading Wings – Tianzhu Peak – Huawuji Miao Ethnic Song and Dance Performance Venue – Return Trip (End of the pleasant Wujiangyuan Hundred-Mile Gallery journey!). Tour duration: approximately 3 hours.

Important Notes

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Important Child Sites

Popular Attractions

Stone Carving Corridor, Entrance of Zhijin Cave Underground Palace Scenic Area, Double Lions Welcoming Hall, Pipa Palace Pagoda Forest Palace, Dragon and Tiger Encounter, Cedar Hall, Longevity Palace, Deep Affection Between Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law, Dolphin Leap, South Heaven Gate, Middle Heaven Gate, Lingxiao Palace, Sky-Supporting Line, Conqueror's Helmet, Ancient Banyan Trees Competing in Splendor, Stone Flowers Vying in Beauty, The Land So Rich in Beauty, Cyatheaceae Trees, Spiral Trees, Conqueror's Whip, Three-Level Calcite (Helmet-shaped Stone Curtain), Silver Rain Tree, Small Mural, Sister Jade Trees, Pearl in the Palm, Thunder Cave, etc.

Attraction Introductions

Welcoming Hall

Over 200 meters long, sunlight shines through the entrance, covering the hall with moss; karst deposits resemble giant lions, jade toads, and rock pines.
The hall's ceiling features a circular skylight about ten meters in diameter, allowing sunlight to reach the cave floor directly. Water droplets trickling down the edges sparkle like countless coins under the sunlight, earning it the names "Circular Light Cave Heaven" and "Money-Dropping Cave."
A small chamber beside the side wall contains a stalactite over ten meters tall, shaped like a mushroom cloud rising after a nuclear explosion, named "Mushroom Cloud Hall."
The hall also has a circular pond about four meters in diameter. Standing by the pond, visitors can admire the forest of stone pillars and reflections of cave windows, known as "Shadow Spring."

Sutra Hall

Approximately 200 meters long and 50 meters wide, named for karst deposits resembling arhats lecturing on sutras.
A 300-square-meter pond in the center is divided by stalactites into two parts, called "Sun and Moon Pond," the lowest point in the entire cave.
A karst formation in the pond stands over 20 meters tall, with a base circumference of over ten meters, resembling a three-tiered pagoda. A Buddha sits atop, as if concentrating on lecturing.
On a semicircular stone platform to the east, numerous arhats gather to listen attentively—some holding sutra scrolls, some resting their chins in contemplation, some inquiring of their neighbors, and some bowing their heads in silent thought.
The cave walls resemble natural murals in seven colors, depicting scenes of mountains, forests, and fields.
North of the pond is a steep slope with a winding stone path leading upward, where visitors can almost touch the ceiling, named "Skyscraping Ridge."
On the left, nine stone pillars stand side by side like coiled dragons, stretching from the cave floor to the ceiling, earning the name "Nine Dragons Holding Up the Sky," the lowest point of the cave ceiling.

Pagoda Forest Cave

Covering an area of over 16,000 square meters, also known as "Golden Pagoda City."
The cave contains over a hundred stone pagodas, gleaming in golden hues, with the tallest reaching over 30 meters and a base circumference of over 20 meters.
The pagodas divide the scenic area into eleven halls, filled with stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, and bell flags of various shapes and forms.
"Mushroom Pond" features clear water with countless stone mushrooms whose reflections ripple with the waves; stone flowers spread in front of the pond.
"Stone Drum" has a flat, hollow surface; water droplets striking it produce a drum-like sound.
"Pagoda Pine Hall" contains two opposing stone pines: one dark brown, five meters tall, resembling a pagoda with needle-like stalactites clustered on the trunk, wider at the base and narrower at the top; the other nearly 20 meters tall, with layered "leaves" covered as if by snow, named "Snow-Covered Green Pine."

Longevity Palace

Named for massive ancient collapsed rocks piled like mountains inside the cave.
Features rare "cave jars," oval in shape, alongside "chicken-blood stones," crystal-clear and crimson, resembling "peacocks spreading their tails."
Contains three "Longevity Stars," each 10 to 20 meters tall.
The cave ceiling and walls are adorned with beautiful patterns in yellow, white, red, blue, and brown.

Cave Lake

An underground lake 170 meters long and over 40 meters wide.
The lakeside stalactites are black, with the tallest reaching ten meters, resembling an iron tree covered in millions of black stone beads. The upper right side appears white, as if covered in snowflakes, named "Iron Tree with Silver Flowers."
The northeastern shore is a steep slope with two paths: one ascends 441 stone steps via "Eighteen Bends" and "Twenty-Seven Turns" to enter "South Heaven Gate" and "Lingxiao Palace"; the other climbs 422 stone steps to enter "North Heaven Gate" and "Guanghan Palace."

Jiangnan Water Country

Stretching 1.1 kilometers and covering over 50,000 square meters, divided into four parts: Meandering Valley Corridor, Beihai Ridge, Banquet Hall, and Jiangnan Water Country.
"Meandering Valley Corridor" features a deep, long cave corridor with fantastically shaped stalactites on the walls.
"Banquet Hall," covering over 10,000 square meters, is flat and dry, making it an ideal resting, dining, and activity spot during the tour.
"Beihai Ridge" has winding edge stone dams resembling swimming dragons, with numerous stalactites; a deep pond in the center contains nine stone pillars, called "Clear Pond with Nine Bamboo Shoots."
"Jiangnan Water Country" is a network of flowing water, lakes, ponds, and paddy fields, with babbling streams and mirror-like waters.

Snow Fragrance Palace

Over 300 meters long and covering 6,000 square meters, the cave's karst deposits resemble a vast snowy plain, with ice pillars standing tall and jade curtains hanging high, evoking a northern landscape.
Features over 20 naturally formed fields of valley needles, pearls, and plum blossoms; more than 20 stone shields of varying sizes; dozens of red, transparent bell flags that ring like bells when struck; and a "Bamboo Garden" formed by over a hundred stone bamboos, resembling dense bamboo groves, full of charm.
"Curled Stone Cave" has tens of thousands of crystal-clear curled stones covering the ceiling of the 200-meter-long hall. These hollow stones contain water and grow in curved, even upward directions.

Lingxiao Palace

Over 40 meters high and covering 5,000 square meters, the walls are adorned with colorful hundred-foot stone curtains, resembling heavenly palace drapes.
A stone pillar rises from the center of the floor to the ceiling, called "Sky-Climbing Pillar."
Behind the pillar is a pool about 20 square meters in area, with stone lotuses floating on the water, named "Jade Pool."

Guanghan Palace

Over 400 meters long, 100 meters wide, 70 meters high, and covering 50,000 square meters.
The palace features towering, steep mountains with open flatlands between them, and an underground lake stretching across.
Includes a 60-meter-tall "Cyatheaceae Tree" covered in thousands of stone lingzhi mushrooms; a 17-meter-tall "Conqueror's Helmet" resembling an ancient warrior's helmet; a 50-meter-tall stone Buddha standing majestically; and a 17-meter-tall "Silver Rain Tree," graceful and gleaming white.

Hundred Thousand Mountains

Covering over 70,000 square meters, with the widest part reaching 175 meters and the highest point 150 meters.
The cave terrain is undulating, with clusters of stone peaks resembling overlapping mountains, often shrouded in mist.
Features golden pagoda mountains, jade tree forests, towering spiral stone pillars "Spiral Trees," a sparkling "Pearl Hall," and a 60-meter-long ancient karst river channel relic.

Zhijin Cave Central Scenic Area

Zhijin Cave has 47 developed halls, with the widest reaching 173 meters, generally 50–60 meters high, and the highest up to 150 meters.
The cave's complex terrain and grand spatial landscapes are majestic, uniquely shaped, and diverse in forms.
Includes ten attractions such as Welcoming Hall and Longevity Palace, over 40 karst formations, earning it the title "Karst Museum."

Dongfeng Lake Gorge

Dongfeng Lake is a beautiful plateau lake leading to the world-renowned Zhijin Cave and Hundred-Mile Azalea Scenic Area.
Formed by the Dongfeng Dam blocking the river valley, the lake winds through mountains in 11 bends, stretching 37 kilometers.
Though the lakeside mountains are not as steep as the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, they combine the grandeur of the Three Gorges with the beauty of Guilin. Cruising through the gorge gallery, visitors can admire the strange peaks and rocks formed by diverse karst landscapes and the waterfalls and springs created by abundant water sources, offering elegant and breathtaking scenery.

Dinosaur Lake

Located in the middle valley of the Qijie River, a tributary of the Wujiang River, in Guanzhai Township, northeast of Zhijin County, Guizhou Province.
The area features rolling hills, crisscrossing streams and valleys, lush greenery, and a pristine natural environment.
It preserves spectacular karst landscapes such as skylights, natural bridges, and underground rivers, hailed by the global geomorphology community as "world-class karst scenery."
The entire scenic area stands out for its tranquility and uniqueness, integrating mountains, water, waterfalls, caves, forests, stones, paths, and rocks into one place, combining grandeur, beauty, danger, serenity, and wonder into a distinctive tourist destination.

Zhijin City

Zhijin County is located in west-central Guizhou. The ancient city was founded in 1382 AD, surrounded by mountains on three sides and traversed by a river, boasting picturesque scenery.
The city has 71 clear springs, over 50 temples and nunneries, and more than 20 historical sites, including the uniquely structured Temple of Wealth and the integrated cave-temple Bao'an Temple.

Official Website

Scenic Area Official Website

http://gzzjd.com/#/home

Brief History

Zhijin Cave

1. Introduction

Zhijin Cave, honored as the "King of China's Karst Caves," is located in Guanzhai Miao Ethnic Township, Zhijin County, Guizhou Province. It is currently recognized as China's most magnificent and uniquely shaped treasure trove of cave resources. The cave boasts the largest and most fully developed karst landform discovered in the country, earning it the title "Encyclopedia of Karst Landforms." It has also been ranked first among "China's Most Beautiful Tourist Caves."

Discovered on April 8, 1980, Zhijin Cave opened to the public in 1985. Since then, it has welcomed visitors from over 50 countries and regions, including internationally renowned experts such as Dr. Derek Ford, President of the International Union of Speleology and Professor at the Royal Society of Canada; Dr. Jean-Noël Salomon, President of the French Karst Association; and geomorphologist Dr. William. Domestic visitors have included national and party leaders, dignitaries from various provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, as well as numerous scholars, experts, and celebrities. Joint investigations by Chinese and foreign scientists have consistently yielded high praise, lauding the cave for its abstract, figurative, classical, and modern beauty, fully showcasing four-dimensional spatial art. It has been acclaimed as the "Number One Cave Under Heaven," an "Underground Art Treasure House," a "Planetary Marvel," and a "Karst Museum."

The interior of Zhijin Cave features complex terrain with numerous halls, divided into 12 major sections including the Welcoming Hall, Pagoda Forest Palace, Lingxiao Palace, and One Hundred Thousand Mountains. The cave is adorned with breathtaking karst formations such as stalagmites, stone pillars, stone sprouts, and stone flags in various shapes. Among them, the Pagoda Forest World within the Golden Pagoda Palace is the largest spectacle in the scenic area. Within a 16,000-square-meter hall, over 100 golden and silver pagodas stand tall, interspersed with stalagmites, stone vines, stone curtains, stone draperies, stone flags, stone drums, and stone pillars, creating a dazzling interplay. Particularly notable are the Silver Rain Tree, a slender and straight stalagmite, and the Helictites—translucent calcite crystals that grow in various curled forms, seemingly defying gravity. Some resemble branches, others plum blossoms or deer antlers. They feature hollow central tubes filled with water, with extremely thin, transparent walls, holding significant scientific research value.

The tour route in Zhijin Cave is one-way. After exiting the cave, visitors can take an electric cart back to the entrance. The entire tour takes approximately 2 hours. The average temperature inside the cave ranges from 10 to 16 degrees Celsius (50 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit), with cool and humid air. Visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing for comfort. With its unique geological wonders and rich scientific value, Zhijin Cave has become an ideal destination for both domestic and international tourists and researchers seeking to explore the mysteries of nature.

2. Geographical Environment

2.1 Location and Area

The Zhijin Cave Scenic Area in Bijie City is located in Guanzhai Miao Ethnic Township, Zhijin County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. It sits on the south bank of the Liuchong River, one of the headwaters of the Wujiang River, approximately 120 kilometers from the provincial capital, Guiyang. The geographical coordinates of Zhijin Cave range from 26°38′31″N to 26°52′35″N and 105°44′42″E to 106°11′38″E.

2.2 Topography and Landforms

Zhijin Cave is situated in the southeastern part of Guanzhai Township, about 23 kilometers northeast of Zhijin County town. It lies within the karst hills at the top of the valley slope on the south bank of the upper reaches of the Liuchong River (Wujiang River) and the southeast bank of the lower reaches of the Qijie River. The cave developed within a strong karst aquifer composed of medium to thick limestone strata from the Huangcunba Member of the Lower Triassic Yelang Formation. It is located on the north-northwest wing of the Xiahongyan short-axis anticline and the southeast wing of the Dongbian syncline. Zhijin Cave is a typical karst landform, with carbonate content exceeding 90%. It encompasses most types of karst geological heritage forms.

2.3 Climate Characteristics

The Zhijin Cave Scenic Area in Bijie City features a subtropical plateau climate. The average annual temperature is 14.1°C (57.4°F), with mild winters and cool summers, offering pleasant weather year-round.

3. Main Attractions

3.1 Stalagmites

Stalagmites within Zhijin Cave are the primary chemical deposits, exhibiting diverse forms. They are mainly distributed on the third and fourth levels of the first main cave passage (Cave Entrance, Moon-Sun Pool, Wangshan Lake, Guanghan Palace, One Hundred Thousand Mountains). The following are the main morphological types and characteristics of the stalagmites:

| Morphological Type | Main Developmental Characteristics | Main Development Areas | Typical Scenic Spots | |----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------| | Normal Stalagmites | Vary in size, primarily featuring a "thick base and thin top" shape. Surfaces are often adorned with nodular or palmate protrusions, appearing vivid and diverse. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | Ancient Banyans Compete in Splendor, Stone Flowers Vie in Beauty | | Helmet-shaped Stalagmites | Lower part resembles a helmet, upper part is a slender rod, similar to an ancient general's helmet. | Guanghan Palace, Crystal Palace | Overlord's Helmet, Fishing in Zhijin, Discussing the Past and Present | | Rounded Stalagmites | Resemble rounded hills, stout and tall, with diameter and height being similar. Mostly large or giant stalagmites. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, Perfectly Rounded | | Pagoda-shaped Stalagmites | Resemble tall pagodas, grand in scale, with heights reaching over 40 meters. Diameter is less than the height. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | Buddha Saving All Beings, Zhijin Twin Pagodas | | Mushroom-shaped Stalagmites | Resemble mushrooms or umbrellas, with diameters of 15–30 cm. Calcite crystals are coarse, and the "mushroom cap" is 2–6 cm thick. | Lingxiao Palace, tail section of One Hundred Thousand Mountains | / | | Pagoda Pine-shaped Stalagmites | Surface adorned with palmate protrusions, resembling a pagoda pine tree, with a thick base and thin top. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | Silver Rain Tree, Jade Sister Trees | | Lampstand-shaped Stalagmites | Shape features "thin ends and a thick middle," resembling an ancient lampstand. | Lingxiao Palace | Thousand-Year Lampstand, Overlord's Whip | | Cane-shaped Stalagmites | Lower part is relatively thin, upper part extends in one direction, resembling a walking cane. | Lingxiao Palace, tail section of One Hundred Thousand Mountains | / | | Torch-shaped Stalagmites | Shape features a "thin lower part and thick upper part," resembling a torch or the FIFA World Cup Trophy. | Welcoming Hall | FIFA World Cup Trophy | | Breast-shaped Stalagmites | Resemble breasts, large in scale, with a thick, long lower part and a small top. | Scattered distribution throughout the cave | / | | Cup-shaped Stalagmites | Resemble round cups, relatively small in scale, height not exceeding 30 cm, mostly milky white or cream-colored. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | / |

3. 2 Stone Pillars

Stone pillars often coexist with stalagmites and exhibit diverse forms. They are mainly distributed on the third and fourth levels of the first main cave passage. The following are the main morphological types and characteristics of the stone pillars:| Morphological Type | Main Developmental Features | Main Development Areas | Typical Scenic Spots | |------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Normal Stone Column | Primarily characterized by a "thick at both ends, thin in the middle" shape, with surface encircled by nodular bodies or palmate segments. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | / | | Shield-shaped Stone Column | Formed by the symbiosis of stone shield, stalactite, and stalagmite, featuring a unique morphology. | Scattered throughout the cave | / | | Pipa-shaped Stone Column | Formed by the symbiosis of vertical stone shield, stalactite, and stalagmite, creating a "pipa-shaped" column. | Pipa Palace | Hanging Pipa | | Round Pagoda-shaped Stone Column | Resembling a tall pagoda, large in scale, thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top, with heights reaching over 40 meters. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | Twin Columns of the Temple | | Palm-shaped Stone Column | Surface encircled by palmate segments, resembling a palm tree. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | A Line to the Sky, Zhijin Cycad | | Spindle-shaped Stone Column | Surface develops parallel spindles, connected end to end. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | / | | Nodular Stone Column | Surface coiled with nodular bodies, featuring a unique morphology. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | / |

3.3 Stone Shields

Stone shields are mainly distributed in the Crystal Palace branch cave, with diverse forms, often symbiotic with stalactites and stalagmites. The following are the main morphological types and characteristics of stone shields:

| Morphological Type | Main Developmental Features | Main Development Areas | |------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Flat Stone Shield | Shield surface is elliptical, approximately horizontal, with a dip angle less than 10º, diameter 15–650 cm, thickness 2–30 cm. | Crystal Palace branch cave, Tower Forest Palace, Golden Rat Palace, etc. | | Inclined Stone Shield | Shield surface is elliptical, with a larger dip angle (15º–80º), diameter 15–650 cm, thickness 2–30 cm. | Crystal Palace branch cave, Tower Forest Palace, Golden Rat Palace, etc. | | Ground Stone Shield | Grows vertically upward from the cave floor, shield surface is elliptical, width about 95 cm, height about 160 m, thickness 15–30 cm. | Crystal Palace | | Vertical Stone Shield | Shield surface is elliptical, hanging vertically from the cave ceiling, diameter 220–550 cm, thickness 35–55 cm. | Pipa Palace (Hanging Pipa) |

3.4 Stalactites

Stalactites hang from the cave ceiling, with diverse forms and large scales. The following are the main morphological types and characteristics of stalactites:

| Morphological Type | Main Developmental Features | Main Development Areas | |--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Normal Stalactite | Primarily characterized by an inverted cone or rod shape, "thick at the top and thin at the bottom," diameter 10–90 cm, length 20–190 cm. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | | Flag-shaped Stalactite | Thicker at the top, gradually thinning toward the middle and bottom, forming a flat flag shape. | Scattered throughout the cave | | Curtain-shaped Stalactite | Forms a stone curtain shape, thicker at the top, gradually thinning toward the middle and bottom. | Scattered throughout the cave | | Shield-shaped Stalactite | Formed by the symbiosis of stone shield and stalactite, creating a "shield-shaped" stalactite. | Scattered throughout the cave | | Tongue-shaped Stalactite | Resembling a tongue, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with roughly consistent thickness. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | | Breast-shaped Stalactite | Hangs from the top of the cave wall in a breast-like shape. | Widely distributed throughout the cave | | Lung-lobe-shaped Stalactite | Hangs from the top of the cave wall in a lung-lobe shape. | Widely distributed throughout the cave || Phototropic Stalactite | Slightly inclined and curved towards the cave entrance at the lower part, not growing vertically solely under the influence of gravity. | Areas near the cave entrance with light | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Widely distributed throughout the cave |

3.5 Flowstone Deposits

The flowstone deposits in Zhijin Cave are categorized into wall flowstones (such as stone flags, stone shields, stone curtains, stone draperies, stone waterfalls, etc.) and floor flowstones (such as stone terraces, flowstone dams, etc.). They are widely distributed throughout the cave in diverse forms.

4. Origin of the Name

"Zhijin Cave" was originally named "Daji Cave" (literally "Chicken Beating Cave"). The Yi people traditionally liked to name places after personal names. Legend has it that a family named "Daji" lived near the cave, and the area was commonly referred to as "Daji's home." Consequently, the cave came to be known as "Daji Cave." Through oral transmission, a phonetic error occurred over time, and it gradually evolved into "Daji Cave" (homophonous with "Chicken Beating Cave") as it was passed down. [9] When the local government developed the site, they considered the name "Chicken Beating Cave" to be somewhat inelegant. Therefore, they decided to name the cave after Zhijin County, thus renaming it "Zhijin Cave."

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