Karst cave in Mount Tai's rift valley

A crustal movement millions of years ago creates a huge Karst cave consisting of the largest variety of stalactites. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]    

A crustal movement millions of years ago created a rift valley between Mount Tai and Mount Zulai, as well as a huge Karst cave consisting of the largest variety of stalactites in the world, according to a news report published on Tai'an's official website on April 6.

The stalactites paint a picturesque scene, taking the form of various things, such as flowers, columns, and pagodas.

The rift valley is situated in Dongyanglou Village, Tai'an city, Shandong province. The Karst cave and stalactites were discovered during a geological subsidence in May 2003. The underground stalactites stretch over 6,000 meters, making it an ideal place to experience their natural beauty.

The Karst cave was formed through dissolution by the underground water, corrosion and sediment. There is still a subsurface stream running through the cave.

The cave has now been developed into a tourist attraction. Tourists can drift along the 4,000-meter underground river, allowing them to explore the cave's mysteries.