On May 28th, the author learned from the Tourism Commission of Yuan’an County that after nearly a year of renovation and upgrading, Taiqing Cave Scenic Spot will be opened next month, which will be a new tourist destination in Yuan’an.

　　Taiqing Cave, located in Hualinsi Town of Yuan’an County, is a rarely large natural cave in Hubei Province. According to relevant experts, the limestone cave is about one million years old and has two layers, with 2,800 meters deep, 90 meters high, 260 meters wide and an area of more than 20,000 square meters.

　　It is said that during the Spring and Autumn period, the Taoist founder, Lao Zi, had been cultivated and preached here. And because the monastic name of him is “Taiqing”, so called this cave “Taiqing Cave”. The various shapes of stalactites in the cave are formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate, which is made by the water drops falling from the limestone roof over millions of years. It becomes colorful and very ornamental under the illumination of the landscape light .

　　100 million yuan has been invested in the first phase to upgrade the whole scenic area, which aims to making it an ecological tourist destination for sightseeing, summer holiday, and health caring. It is of great significance to enhance the local tourism and improve the local tourism revenues.

　　Zeng Yong, director of this scenic area project, introduced that the supporting facilities such as parking lots, lodging, restaurants, tourist roads and so on in the scenic area have basically been completed, and the environment has been further improved, so it has possessed a certain capacity for tourists’ reception, which plans to starts a trial operation in mid-to-late June. (Correspondent: Huang Kui )