Shuanghedong Cave Network

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Shuanghedong
双河洞
Map showing the location of Shuanghedong
Map showing the location of Shuanghedong
LocationSuiyang County, Guizhou, China
Coordinates28°14′31″N 107°16′34″E / 28.24199°N 107.27608°E / 28.24199; 107.27608 (Shuanghe Dongqun)
Depth912 metres (2,992 ft)
Length437.4 kilometres (271.8 mi)
GeologyDolomite[1]
Entrances115

Shuanghedong (Chinese: 双河洞; pinyin: Shuānghédòng; lit. 'twin rivers cave') is the longest cave in China[2][3][4] and in Asia, the largest dolomite cave system in the world,[5] and the third longest cave in the world as of May 2023.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Its current explored length is 437.4 kilometres (271.8 mi).[2]

The cave network is located in Suiyang Shuanghe Cave National Geopark, near the town of Wenquan in Suiyang County, Zunyi, Guizhou Province.[4][13] It is situated within the Furong River basin, a primary tributary of the Wu River.[3][5]

Ecology

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The cave contains numerous waterfalls and at least three underground rivers, some of which contain cave shrimp and fish weighing several pounds.[14] Tadpoles, frogs, giant salamanders, insects, spiders, crabs, bats, leeches, blind fish, and mushrooms have also been found.[5]

Many fossils from the Quaternary period have been discovered in the cave, including mammalian species such as giant pandas, serows, Sumatran rhinoceroses, and stegodons. Nearly 50 individual giant panda fossils ranging from 100,000 years to merely centuries old have been identified, with over 20 skeletons intact.[5]

Exploration

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Since exploration began in 1987, at least 20 expeditions from China, France, Japan, Portugal, Belgium, and other countries have explored the cave, including researchers from the Guizhou Institute of Mountain Resources and the Guizhou Cave Association.[1][15]

In May 2023 the network reached 400 kilometres (250 mi) of development.[16] As of 2024, there are 115 known entrances to the cave network. The average annual temperature inside the cave is 13 °C (55 °F), and its maximum explored depth is 912 metres (2,992 ft).[2][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "双河洞景区风光". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Grottes et karsts de Chine 双河洞". Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  3. ^ a b 视频：双河洞之谜 - 绥阳在线 _ 遵义市绥阳县门户网站
  4. ^ a b 亚洲第一长洞——双河洞地质公园景区5月1日开园接待游客 - 绥阳在线 _ 遵义市绥阳县门户网站
  5. ^ a b c d e "Guizhou Shuanghe Cave". Chinese National Commission for UNESCO. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Grottes et karsts de Chine Shuanghedongqun 双河洞". Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  7. ^ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia".
  8. ^ "Asia's longest cave has many wonders".
  9. ^ "Shuanghe Cave in SW China's Guizhou named longest cave in Asia".
  10. ^ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia". Archived from the original on March 24, 2018.
  11. ^ "贵州绥阳双河洞探测长度超238公里 成亚洲第一长洞".
  12. ^ "贵州双河溶洞长度已达238公里".
  13. ^ "Hong Meigui Cave Exploration Society :: Deep and Long Caves in China". Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
  14. ^ 绥阳
  15. ^ "Chinese, foreign scientists to start new expedition into Asia's longest cave". Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  16. ^ Jean Pierre Barbary; Jean Bottazzi (23 April 2023). "Grottes et karsts de Chine - Sur les traces de Xu Xiake - Shuanghedong 双河洞 400 km !". Retrieved 29 April 2023.
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