Located northeast of Wenling, the site is famous for the largest manual cutting grotto in the Guinness Book of World Records in April 1998.

Because of the wandering mountains, the area looks like a long and narrow island in the sea, hence the name 'Changyu' (long island).

The total area of the scenic area reaches 16.2 square kilometres, including the Eight Immortals Rock, Double-Gate Cave, Chongguo Temple and Wild Mountain scenic areas.

Among them, Eight Immortals Rock and Double-Gate Cave are famous for their wondrous caves. The groups of caves date back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), having a history of more than 1,500 years.

Hundreds of years of cutting, acquiring several million cubic metres of stone, left 28 groups of 1,314 caves.

Without natural stalactites, the cut landscape looks like old clocks, covered pans, barrel walls, and giant animals. Lofty steep corridors, caverns with a hole in the ceiling and dangling bridges that zigzag and change ensue a rocky labyrinth.

Chongguo Temple, not too far away, is over 1,670 years old with much of the building still original. From the mountain top flanking the temple, you can enjoy the delightful scenery of the intertwined landscape, in the distance.

Fangshan Mountain

As one of the most famous destinations in Zhejiang Province, the mountain extends the North Yandang Mountains, with 'jurassic' ancient volcano land forms the main feature to see. Various natural scenes of slopes, cliffs, peaks, valleys, waterfalls, and brooks blend together in arrangements that cannot be missed. It also contains a long history of religious activities, a suitable place for science education.

Usually, a three-day trip offers enough time to see the places mentioned above. Because they are in a 100-square-kilometre area, buses are suggested as the best way to travel across the different sites.

Getting there: Flights available from Beijing and Shanghai to Hangzhou, Ningbo, with highways connect Wenling with Hangzhou and Ningbo. Train routes also go to Wenling, taking 14 hours and costs 300 yuan for a soft sleeper.

Accommodation: Wenling Hotel and Wenling International Hotel are recommended.

Wenling Hotel

(0576) 6208888 ext 8001

Wenling International

(0576) 6111118.