The total length of Shuanghe Cave, Asia’s longest cave, surpasses 481 kilometers
The latest scientific expedition data for Shuanghe Cave has been updated to 481.5 kilometers, firmly keeping it as Asia’s longest cave Paleontological findings and a new 5.1-million-year dating discovery debut together; click to learn about the latest results
Latest scientific survey data show that the total length of the Shuanghe Cave system in Suiyang, Guizhou, has reached 481.5 kilometers, continuing to hold its position as Asia's longest cave and the world's thirdlongest cave. Related achievements were announced at the 25th International Cave Scientific Expedition results press conference held on September 23 at Shuanghe Cave National Geopark.
This expedition involved Chinese and international cave experts and focused on cave exploration, paleontological surveys, and dating sample testing, further expanding the connected range of Shuanghe Cave and the number of cave entrances. The data show that the system's vertical depth remains 912 meters, and it is now interconnected by 124 cave entrances. Compared with the previous expedition, 41.8 kilometers have been newly added, along with 9 new cave entrances.
In terms of paleontological discoveries, the expedition team newly found 9 individual giant panda fossils, as well as 1 each of takin, rhinoceros, and sabertooth elephant remains. For the first time, they also discovered skeletons of giant muntjac and clouded leopard, and found giant panda scratch marks inside the cave. These relatively wellpreserved remains provide new materials for studying the local distribution of paleontology and species evolution.
In addition, researchers used a new uraniumlead isotope dating method for the first time and measured the oldest corrected age of the secondary carbonate deposits in Shuanghe Cave at about 5.1 million years, providing a new absolute chronological reference for cave deposit research in Southwest China.