CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Recently, a newly opened hot pot restaurant has been found in a karst cave in Xiannvshan Sub-district, Wulong District, Chongqing. It’s seething with visitors who come to enjoy the delicious food, feel the special karst cave, and avoid the summer heat. Will the operation of a restaurant in a karst cave cause damage? We have interviewed the local sub-district office to find the answer.

Many visitors come to experience the hot pot restaurant hidden in a karst cave 

A few kilometers away from the Xinnvshan Sub-district, hidden in the mountains is a natural cave. The entrance of the cave is not large, but there is a huge cave hall and a flight of stairs. Visitors can walk up the stairs to the next cave hall. Nearly 100 tables are placed in the karst cave, which was full of customers by 18:00. Though it’s still hot in Chongqing, the temperature in the cave is below 20℃.

Ms. Luo, who comes to the Fairy Moutain from downtown Chongqing annually to spend a summer vacation, visited the newly opened hot pot restaurant in a karst cave with her family after hearing of it from her friends. “It’s cool inside the cave. You can witness the special karst cave while having a hot pot in the restaurant,” said Ms. Luo. The retired teacher Feng Yunqi, one of the residents concerned about the possible damages caused to the karst cave by the restaurant, said, “It’s spectacular, but we worry if the operation of the shop will cause irreversible damage to the cave.”

The result of a professional assessment shows that it is feasible to open a hot pot restaurant in a karst cave

Why is the hot pot restaurant opened in a karst cave?

According to Li Pengcheng, the head of the Xiannvshan Sub-district Office, the restaurant opened in the cave has passed the qualification examination and approval of relevant departments. He added, "There are many karst caves in the Wuling Mountain area, but not each of them has as high scientific and academic value as the Furong Cave. For example, the scientific research value of this cave in Jingzhu Village is ordinary. After professional evaluation, it is believed that the cave can be protected and developed in combination with tourism.” (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)