── The Ninth Wonder of the World ──
Longyou Caves
A vast underground mystery hidden in Quzhou, Zhejiang: twenty-four monumental man-made caves, millions of tons of missing stone, and no surviving historical record.
An Ancient Underground Wonder
The Longyou Caves are among the largest and most mysterious ancient man-made underground complexes ever found.
The Longyou Caves lie beside the Qujiang River in Shiyanbei Village, Xiaonanhai Town, Longyou County, Zhejiang. In 1992, local villagers drained a pond to catch fish and unexpectedly uncovered a hidden underground world.
Within an area of less than 0.38 square kilometers, twenty-four giant chambers are densely distributed. Individual caves range from hundreds to more than 3,000 square meters, with heights reaching about 30 meters. Estimates suggest that excavating the caves required removing about 900,000 cubic meters, or 4.6 million tons, of stone.
Explore Further
Uncover the layers of the Longyou Caves story.
Discovery Timeline
From local curiosity to an archaeological discovery that drew global attention.
Accidental discovery
Four villagers from Shiyanbei Village, including Wu Anai, drained a so-called bottomless pond for 17 days and revealed an enormous underground chamber.
More caves found
The news caused a sensation, and the surrounding area soon yielded twenty-four similar man-made caves within less than 0.38 square kilometers.
Academic attention
Researchers including Dr. Chu Liangcai of Zhejiang University began systematic study, proposing theories from quarrying to storage, military use, and imperial burial.
A lasting mystery
The age, purpose, methods, and missing stone of the Longyou Caves remain unresolved, continuing to attract researchers and visitors.
── Step Into History ──
Experience the Ancient Wonder
Enter the Longyou Caves and feel the scale, silence, and mystery of this underground labyrinth.
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