Silver Cave
Silver Cave is located in Maling Town of Lipu County, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) south to the city center of Guilin and 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Yangshuo. It is the largest karst cave in Guilin and fully shows the charm of the typical karst landform in south China. Numerous crystal stalactites extend from the roof of the cave like stars in a falling Milky Way. They glitter like silver and diamonds under the colorful lights, giving the cave its name: Silver Cave. Because of the image attached to the name, there is a saying: “One will never be down and out as long as one reaches the Silver Cave”. The majestic, other-worldly features make the cave an outstanding example in the world of karst landscape.
Facts about Silver Cave
Winding 2,000 meters (2,187 yards) through twelve peaks, the Silver Cave is a multi-level cave ascending as high as 16 floors. It can be divided into three parts - the ground cave, the main hall, and the upper cave.
How Was Silver Cave Formed
Along the narrow path, there are a variety of glamorous stalactites and stalagmites formed in different geological ages. For hundreds of thousands of years, water containing lime kept slowly dripping in the cave, creating this natural spectacle. The stalactites in vivid shapes resemble columns, towers, waterfalls, curtains, and even human figures. Visitors will marvel at the art of nature when standing in such a gorgeous crystal palace.
The Three Wonders and Three Treasures in Silver Cave
There are 28 scenic spots inside the Silver Cave including 'The Three Wonders' and 'The Three Treasures'.
The unrivaled three wonders are the Flying Waterfall of Snow Mountain, the Music Stone Screen and Wonderland in a Jade Pool Fairyland. At the Flying Waterfall of Snow Mountain, visitors are bathed in the shimmering light of the cave. All the walls are snow white, and the stalactites cascade majestically like a silver waterfall. Visitors will feel as if they're in a snow world, surrounded by waterfalls. Music Stone Screen is composed of stone pieces of different height and thickness. When rapping lightly on them, visitors can hear melodious tunes. It's easy to lose oneself in the wonderful scene. In Jade Pool Fairyland, visitors may wonder if the water is really colorful. In fact, the reflection in the lake constantly changes because of the subtle change of the light. Some visitors claim that this kind of scenery only can be found in heaven.
The three treasures are The Preaching Buddha, The Hunyuan Pearl Umbrella and The Single Pillar. The Preaching Buddha stalactite looks like a Buddha statue sitting on the platform with crossed legs. It is said he is preaching Buddhist scriptures, and his pious students come to attend his lecture, unwilling to leave. The Hunyuan Pearl Umbrella is a stalactite like a magic umbrella in a legend, which was used to pray for rain and subdue the devil. Its unique shape, thick in the middle and thin at both ends, is still a puzzle to geologists. The Single Pillar descends straight down to the ground, while many branches stretch out like a tree. Visitors are amazed at the power of nature when viewing this scene.
In addition, an underground river meanders through the cave and stretches to Green Lake outside. Visitors can take a boat to enjoy the sightseeing. Outside the Silver Cave, visitors can see Chaozhai Mountain rising abruptly from the ground. Farmhouses are clustered at the foot of the mountain, creating a vision of an idyllic life. The pleasant climate, cool breeze and favorable scenery enable visitors to forget their troubles. What’s more, visitors can participate in the annual local festivals, such as the Lipu Flowers Festival, the Chestnut Festival, and the Food Festival. There are also opportunities for bicycle riding and rock climbing.
