Screenshot of CCTV News

 
In Dai county, North China's Shanxi Province, the Zhaoguan Cave Cliff Complex was constructed nearly 1,600 years ago, built upon natural caves. Among them, the Chaoyuan Cave is more than 1,000-year-old structure embedded within a rocky crevice. Visitors must squeeze through narrow fissures and climb iron chains to reach the three-level cave, then ascend further using wooden ladders—with its thrilling nature truly astonishing.

Scattered throughout the canyon are over ten such cave cliff structures, hidden among the mountains. Wooden beams crisscross the sheer cliffs, showcasing the extraordinary wisdom and courage of the craftsmen who perfectly blended architectural artistry with the ruggedness of nature.

Located in a temperate continental monsoon climate zone, Dai county has been shaped by the perennial alluvial deposits of the Hutuo River, forming a vast and fertile valley basin. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the region has not only been an important rice-producing area in northern Shanxi but also a key source of high-quality vegetables such as cabbage, radishes, and peppers.