Reed Flute caves

The Reed Flute Cave (Chinese: 芦笛岩; pinyin: Lúdí Yán), also known as “the Palace of Natural Arts,” is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.

Lake inside the cave, with artificial lighting

The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into flutes. Reed Flute Cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty. These aged inscriptions tell us that it has been an attraction in Guilin since ancient times. It was rediscovered in the 1940s by a group of refugees fleeing the Japanese troops. Nowadays, multicolored lighting artificially illuminates the cave. The Reed Flute Cave is filled with various stalactites and stalagmites, which are named according to what they look like and the legends surrounding them, Crystal Palace, Fish Tail Peak, and Dragon Pagoda. One giant stalactite is said to have been the magic spear of the Dragon King, used by the Monkey King Sun Wu Kong in the Chinese Buddhist classic, Journey to the West.

What is the Reed Flute Cave famous for?
The Reed Flute Cave is a popular tourist destination because of its numerous stalactites, stalagmites, and other fantastic stone formations. The cave is also lit up with colorful lights, which makes it even more beautiful. There are over 70 inscriptions in the cave that date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).
Why is the Reed Flute Cave so special and rare?
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The Reed Flute Cave boasts bodies of water, extraordinary stalagmite and stalactite formations, as well as a number of ink inscriptions dating back to the 8th century. The sheer number of rock formations, paired with their variance in form and color, has led to the cave being deemed “The Palace of Natural Arts”.
How old is Reed Flute Cave?
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about 180 million years ago
As cracks formed in the limestone bedrock, water flowed into these cracks, creating drainage systems that eventually became full-fledged caverns, such as Reed Flute Cave, which took shape about 180 million years ago.
What is inside the Cave of the Winds?
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You will navigate dark narrow tunnels, low passageways, uneven stairs, and rooms with muddy, original floors. Along the way you will hear scary ghost stories, folklore, and the spooky history of Cave of the Winds as well as the frightening folklore, and unexplained phenomena of the Manitou Grands.
What is the Reed Flute Cave made of?
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limestone cave
The Reed Flute Cave is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China. It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years.