Fengshan World Geological Park

Sanmenhai Scenic Zone at Fengshan World Geological Park [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in Fengshan County and covering an area of 25,000 square meters, Sanmenhai Scenic Zone is representative of typical karst landforms found throughout the world. It is the source of the Panyang River Basin in Bama, famous for the longevity of its residents. It is one of the core scenic zones in the China Leye-Fengshan World Geological Park and a national AAAA tourist attraction in China. 

The scenic zone lies in the karst geomorphologic area featuring peak cluster depression (valley). Its peaks stretch high into the sky and span hundreds of meters. The elevation of the depression is 429 meters and the elevation of the peaks in the mountainous areas is above 600 meters.

The scenic zone consists of seven closely joined caved-in sinkholes (which are joined together by an underground river). At present, tourists can visit three skylights by boat, which are euphemistically known as the "Three Caves in Three Lakes" and "the Three Caves and Three Skies in China."

The scenic zone is characterized by a concentration of skylights in the form of joined beads. Its grand scale, unique landscapes, and perfect combination of mountains, water, caves and sky make the area a rarity around the world. It is known as "the World's Windows" or "the Karst Geological Museum" among geologists and experts in cave exploration. With a well-preserved ecosystem, the scenic zone is free from any artificial edifices. The climate is comfortable with mild winters and cool summers. The annual average temperature is 19-21 C and the temperature of the water consistently hovers around 19 C. The number of negative ions of oxygen per cubic centimeter is larger than 10,000, which means that it is a natural source of clean oxygen.

Sanmenhai Scenic Zone at Fengshan World Geological Park [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]