As of January 2025, when this report was written, Mingyue Cave in Fangshan is the deepest cave in northern China, with a depth of -372 meters. The cave was first explored in 2012 and remained closed from 2013 to 2023. In April 2024, the Fangshan Global Geopark Insight Volunteer Alliance conducted a detailed survey of the cave.
Mingyue Cave is divided into three sections: above the underground river, the underground river itself, and below the underground river. The height difference above the underground river is approximately 190 meters, the middle section of the underground river has a height difference of about 40 meters, and the section below the underground river has a height difference of about 150 meters.
The underground river contains extensive karst deposits, featuring numerous flowstones, stalagmites, stalactites, and soda straws. The campsite above the underground river is notable for its spectacular rimstone dams, which are approximately 1 meter deep.
