Cave complex complete with own 'concert hall'
By Yang Jian |
June 18, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHANGYU Stone Cave in the northeast of Wenling City is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest man-made grotto in the world.
The cave, which is also listed as a national tourist scenic spot of China, draws thousands of visitors every year. It was created by more than 1,500 years of quarrying into 150-meter high Changyu Mountain to extract stone used for houses and bridges in the region.
Actually, there is a series of caves, from which an estimated 100 million cubic meters was extracted, almost hollowing out the mountain. The quarrying began in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589AD) and ended around the 1920s.
"Ancient quarrymen started digging from the top of the mountain and switched to another spot after reaching the bottom," said Luo Qiaohui, marketing manager of the Changyu Stone Cave Tourism Co.
Quarrymen left four major caverns in the mountain, with 1,314 smaller caves. Modern development has connected the caves and made them part of a 16.2-square-kilometer tourist area that also includes the Chongguo Temple.
Even on a warm summer's day, it's best to bundle up a bit on a visit to the Changyu Stone Cave. In the depths, the temperature can drop to freezing level. Wind blows into the cold interior of the mountain through quarry holes at the top. Those same apertures allow some sunlight through, permitting trees and flowers to grow in parts of the cave.
There are many pools in the cave, some quite large. Operators of the tourist site have stocked some of the waters with fish. The water is so clear that viewing them is mesmerizing.
Rainwater seeping into the cave over centuries has left colorful patterns on the walls. Some have the mysterious beauty of abstract paintings.
Stone steps allow visitors to reach higher portions of the cavern. Some were built by the ancient quarrymen.
Perhaps the most magical place is a huge "concert hall" in the middle of the cave. It's said the acoustics there would rival many modern theaters. Every day, musicians playing ancient instruments entertain visitors. No microphones or sound system are needed to transmit the harmonies.
The hall was discovered in 2002 by professors from the Zhejiang Folk Music Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences during a visit to the cave.
Since then, many world ensembles have performed there, including the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra from Germany.
After visiting the Changyu Stone Cave, tourists can try their hand at deepwater fishing in the nearby town of Shitang, another major tourist attraction of the area.
Local fishermen have refitted their boats to make them more stable. Tourists throw nets into the seas, hoping to catch pomfret, hairtails, crab or an occasional octopus. If they really want to soak up local color, they can dine on their catch in the homes of the fishermen.
Shitang Town is also known for China's "earliest dawn" when the world welcomed the new millennium. The local government built a "millennium dawn" landmark on the top of a mountain in the town to welcome the first ray of sunshine on January 1, 2000.
Local people believe it's auspicious to face the rising sun and make a wish.
Xie Qiding,known as the father of Wenling's pump industry.
Shanghai Daily: What have you achieved during the past decade?
Xie Qiding: My inventive skills have improved a lot. I have been an inventor since I was a boy. I made my first water pump 30 years ago and later invented a multi-functional bed that also proved to be popular in market. I also invented a new jack that can be activated with air pressure. After investing on real estate, I began designing houses and trying to add smart functions into homes, with the help of professional architects. I think my inventions have gotten more ingenious with age.
SD: What's the biggest mistake most businesses in your area make in looking forward?
Xie: They focus on fierce price competition among themselves and lose attention on quality. As profits have shrunk, many have resorted to shoddy workmanship and inferior materials, damaging the reputation of Wenling-made pumps. Quality is always more important than price.
SD: What would you most like to see in China's development planning?
Xie: The government should give some export subsidies to Wenling pump makers whose exports have been adversely impacted by the global financial crisis and the unstable political situation in the Middle East.
SD: What's your biggest concern?
Xie: I think it will be harder for the pump makers to survive in the future if they focus on only one product. They need to diversify as a hedge against vulnerability.
Wenling, about 440 kilometers south of Shanghai, has 317 kilometers of coastline along the East China Sea.
The city is known as China's "water pump capital." It is also known for its manufacture of air compressors and other light industry. In 2011, Wenling reported industrial production of 125 billion yuan (US$19.65 billion), up 12 percent from a year earlier.
Wenling also has a strong agricultural base and is noted for its watermelons, oranges and grapes.
The city's history is deeply rooted in religion. Wenling has at least five famous Buddhist temples and numerous Taoist temples.
836
square kilometers
1.4 million
registered population
16
towns
Changyu Stone Cave
Open: 7:30am-5pm in summer, 8am-4:30pm in winter
Admission: 10 to 105 yuan according to sub-scenic spots
How to get there:
Take a train from Shanghai to Wenling. A bus ride is needed from Wenling New Bus Station to Changyu.
The cave, which is also listed as a national tourist scenic spot of China, draws thousands of visitors every year. It was created by more than 1,500 years of quarrying into 150-meter high Changyu Mountain to extract stone used for houses and bridges in the region.
Actually, there is a series of caves, from which an estimated 100 million cubic meters was extracted, almost hollowing out the mountain. The quarrying began in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589AD) and ended around the 1920s.
"Ancient quarrymen started digging from the top of the mountain and switched to another spot after reaching the bottom," said Luo Qiaohui, marketing manager of the Changyu Stone Cave Tourism Co.
Quarrymen left four major caverns in the mountain, with 1,314 smaller caves. Modern development has connected the caves and made them part of a 16.2-square-kilometer tourist area that also includes the Chongguo Temple.
Even on a warm summer's day, it's best to bundle up a bit on a visit to the Changyu Stone Cave. In the depths, the temperature can drop to freezing level. Wind blows into the cold interior of the mountain through quarry holes at the top. Those same apertures allow some sunlight through, permitting trees and flowers to grow in parts of the cave.
There are many pools in the cave, some quite large. Operators of the tourist site have stocked some of the waters with fish. The water is so clear that viewing them is mesmerizing.
Rainwater seeping into the cave over centuries has left colorful patterns on the walls. Some have the mysterious beauty of abstract paintings.
Stone steps allow visitors to reach higher portions of the cavern. Some were built by the ancient quarrymen.
Perhaps the most magical place is a huge "concert hall" in the middle of the cave. It's said the acoustics there would rival many modern theaters. Every day, musicians playing ancient instruments entertain visitors. No microphones or sound system are needed to transmit the harmonies.
The hall was discovered in 2002 by professors from the Zhejiang Folk Music Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences during a visit to the cave.
Since then, many world ensembles have performed there, including the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra from Germany.
After visiting the Changyu Stone Cave, tourists can try their hand at deepwater fishing in the nearby town of Shitang, another major tourist attraction of the area.
Local fishermen have refitted their boats to make them more stable. Tourists throw nets into the seas, hoping to catch pomfret, hairtails, crab or an occasional octopus. If they really want to soak up local color, they can dine on their catch in the homes of the fishermen.
Shitang Town is also known for China's "earliest dawn" when the world welcomed the new millennium. The local government built a "millennium dawn" landmark on the top of a mountain in the town to welcome the first ray of sunshine on January 1, 2000.
Local people believe it's auspicious to face the rising sun and make a wish.
Xie Qiding,known as the father of Wenling's pump industry.
Shanghai Daily: What have you achieved during the past decade?
Xie Qiding: My inventive skills have improved a lot. I have been an inventor since I was a boy. I made my first water pump 30 years ago and later invented a multi-functional bed that also proved to be popular in market. I also invented a new jack that can be activated with air pressure. After investing on real estate, I began designing houses and trying to add smart functions into homes, with the help of professional architects. I think my inventions have gotten more ingenious with age.
SD: What's the biggest mistake most businesses in your area make in looking forward?
Xie: They focus on fierce price competition among themselves and lose attention on quality. As profits have shrunk, many have resorted to shoddy workmanship and inferior materials, damaging the reputation of Wenling-made pumps. Quality is always more important than price.
SD: What would you most like to see in China's development planning?
Xie: The government should give some export subsidies to Wenling pump makers whose exports have been adversely impacted by the global financial crisis and the unstable political situation in the Middle East.
SD: What's your biggest concern?
Xie: I think it will be harder for the pump makers to survive in the future if they focus on only one product. They need to diversify as a hedge against vulnerability.
Wenling, about 440 kilometers south of Shanghai, has 317 kilometers of coastline along the East China Sea.
The city is known as China's "water pump capital." It is also known for its manufacture of air compressors and other light industry. In 2011, Wenling reported industrial production of 125 billion yuan (US$19.65 billion), up 12 percent from a year earlier.
Wenling also has a strong agricultural base and is noted for its watermelons, oranges and grapes.
The city's history is deeply rooted in religion. Wenling has at least five famous Buddhist temples and numerous Taoist temples.
836
square kilometers
1.4 million
registered population
16
towns
Changyu Stone Cave
Open: 7:30am-5pm in summer, 8am-4:30pm in winter
Admission: 10 to 105 yuan according to sub-scenic spots
How to get there:
Take a train from Shanghai to Wenling. A bus ride is needed from Wenling New Bus Station to Changyu.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
