Alu Caves

Overview

About

The Alu scenic area, 186 km², lies around the county town of Luxi in south-east Yunnan.

The ancient Alu cave was once the dwelling of the Alu tribe, one of the thirty-seven “barbarian” tribes of Yunnan in the Song and Yuan dynasties. It consists of three dry caves and one water cave, more than 3,000 m in all, with stalagmites, stalactites, stone flowers, stone curtains and stone walls of every shape.

It is in the fifth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2004.

Travel tips

Getting there: Luxi county is in Honghe Prefecture, about 200 km from Kunming; by high-speed train or coach from Kunming it takes about two hours. The cave is close to the county town, around ten minutes by bus or taxi.

Layout: the main sight is Alu Ancient Cave, made of three dry caves and one water cave, over three kilometres long in all; the scenic area also includes surrounding hills, waters and villages.

How to visit: paths run through the cave past stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone curtains, and the water section can be crossed by boat; the whole cave takes about an hour and a half.

Time: half a day is enough; combine it with the county town and nearby sights for a day.

Season: the cave is cool all year, so any season works; spring and autumn are the most comfortable, and roads are wet in the rainy season.

Where to stay: hotels in Luxi county town, which is also the base for the trip.

Nearby: Puzhehei and the Honghe Hani terraces are in the same region; Chengzi, an old village near Luxi, is a settlement of a branch of the Yi.

Caution: the cave is damp, so wear shoes with grip and bring a jacket.