Longyou Caves, Ancient cave complex in Longyou County, China
The site consists of two dozen chambers cut into limestone bedrock, spanning close to half a square kilometer below ground. Each chamber shows cleanly worked surfaces and thick pillars connecting floor to ceiling.
Farmers found the chambers in 1992 after pumping water from cavities that had been submerged for thousands of years. Researchers believe the work took place during the reign of the Qin Dynasty around 212 BCE, though no written records of the construction have surfaced.
The name of the complex comes from the county where farmers first uncovered the flooded chambers decades ago. Visitors today can see the parallel grooves on rock surfaces, showing traces of the tools and working methods used by those who excavated them.
The site opens in the morning and closes in the late afternoon, allowing enough time to visit several chambers. Walkways lead through the lit spaces, and sturdy shoes help on the sometimes uneven floors.
Individual chambers measure anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 square meters, with each cave holding three or four massive columns that merge seamlessly into the ceiling. Despite the scale, no clues about their original purpose appear in any of the rooms, leaving questions that remain unanswered.
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