Xian Qi Cave

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
9:00-21:00 
45 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
9:00-21:00 
45 Address & Phone Guanshang Village, Zhangfang Town, Fangshan District, Beijing Transportation take Shidu Branch line of bus 917 and get off at Xian Qi Cave Notes

Can be mentioned in the same breath with ‘the Four Great Caves in China’, Xian Qi Cave is the only one entering through 500 meters waterway in North China.

Located in Guanshang Village, Zhangfang Town, Fangshan District, Beijing, Xian Qi Cave was found in 1998 and was opened to tourist in August 1999. This cave can be dated back to more than 16 hundred million years ago with an already ascertained depth of over 6,000 meters in three layers. The only way to enter into the cave is taking a boat through 500 hundred meters waterway.
Entering into the cave, branch-caves and source-without underground rivers can be found everywhere. All of them are in different forms but vividly and lifelike which can even be compared with ‘the Four Great Caves in China’ (Shi Hua Cave in Fujian Province, Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, Yao Lin Cave in Hangzhou and Qian Zhen Cave in Beijing) and yet has it’s own unique style.

When it was found

In the spring of 1998, this cave was found and opened for the first time by leads in Guanshang village and some geologists. At once, the found of cave created quite a stir and people called it ‘Shi Hua Palace’, ‘Shen Sui Cave’, ‘Cang Qiong Cave’ etc. in great happiness but without a specific one.

About the Name

Not long after the cave’s open, one eminent monk who was looking for a place for cultivate and temper himself arrived here and marveled at the cave and said, ‘this is a place for Celestial Beings living, I’m so humble, Amitabha… ’, hence its present name Xian Qi Cave to the outside world.

Composition and Formation

The stratum is main dolomitic limestone and sandy dolomite and was formed in the early period of Sinian Period about 16 hundred million years ago. That is to say, 16 hundred million years ago, this place was a vast expanse of water at whose bottom deposited heavily carbonate substances. Years after years, because of the lifting of earthcrust and some other movements, such as orogenic movement, Breakage of straturn, rushing etc., the cave finally formed.

A Magical Karsts World

It is in a constant temperature of 18 centigrade, so it is a good choice for people to go and visit as a summer resort in hot summer days; certainly the same in winter.

About sediments within the cave, there are five types and ten kinds including stalactites, stone pillars, stalagmite, pinnacles, cobbles, stone curtains, cave flowers, and stone drums. These stalactites mostly are in unique shapes and exquisite colors. It is really unbelievable that in a place less than 100 kilometers from the third Ring in Beijing has a so wonderful art paradise.

Some Specific Attractions

The magical nature using one to ten million years created out this wonderful art paradise. The first one greeting us after entering into the cave is called Tongtianzhu (a pillar seems to reach the sky). It is 8.6 meters and the most uncommon character is its thinness. Going deeply into the cave gradually, you will be attracted by more characterized stalactites which are all in a vivid name. This Art Paradise is praised highly by visitors.

Beijing Culture