subject: Crown Cave [print this page] Crown Cave, located in Caoping Village, 29km south of Guilin city, is one of the most famous tourist spots along Li River. Taking the shape of a crown, this cave, standing on the bank of the Li River, for hundreds of years, has attracted countless poets, scholars and nobles. In 1637, Xu Xiake, an ancient traveler in China, visited here and was regarded as the first visitors to this cave.
The cave lasts for 12km, and only 3km near the river is explored. Due to the perennial obturation, the cave was well preserved. Inside the cave, stalagmites stand here and there, grotesque and imposing, leading people into a fairyland. An underground stream originating from Mt. Haiyang empties into the Li River from this cave, with the deepest spot over 10 meters. Equipped with automatic light and sound control guide system, the cave now looks more enchanting than ever. Besides, modern facilities such as railroad car, yacht and sightseeing elevator provide convenience to visitors.
Rafting on the river, people not only can enjoy the wonderful sceneries in the cave, but also can experience the pleasure of exploration.
Visitors can go there by taking a bus at Guilin or making a stop at the Crown Cave Dock during your sailing along the Li River.
A noted traveler and geographer of the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Xu Xiake, also named Hongzu (1587-1641), was born in today's Jiangyin of East China's Jiangsu Province. He studied the ancient classics as a small boy and learned to write the eight-part essay prescribed for the imperial civil service examination, but refused to take part in the imperial examination. Instead, he developed an interest in historical books, especially such books on different places, and devoted himself to traveling all over the country.
During his lifetime, Xu Xiake traveled around and conducted surveys in 16 provinces, leaving his footsteps in virtually every part of the country. In conducting his surveys and investigations, he would never blindly embrace the conclusions recorded in previous documents. Instead, he discovered that the documentations made by his predecessors in their geographical studies were quite unreliable in many aspects.
