Deep beneath this Chinese mountain live creatures that have evolved to lose their eyes and pigment in total darkness.
A world without light
Jinfo Mountain, or "Golden Buddha Mountain," is part of the South China Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its surface is an area of high peaks, with its tallest reaching 2,238 meters, and dense forests. Beneath the surface, water has dissolved the region's Permian limestone to form vast and ancient cave systems. Some of these caves, like Jinfo Cave, have explored passages stretching for 11 kilometers.
Inside these caverns, there is no sunlight. The temperature and humidity remain nearly constant year-round. This extreme environment hosts troglobites, animals that have adapted exclusively to cave life. Over countless generations, they lose features not needed for life in darkness, such as eyes and skin pigment. To compensate, their other senses become highly developed. They often possess elongated antennae and legs to better navigate and feel for vibrations and food in the pitch black.
The inhabitants of the karst
The caves of Jinfo Mountain contain a specialized fauna. One of the most significant residents is a millipede named Nepalella jinfoshan, discovered in the Houshan Dong and Lingguan Dong caves at elevations between 1,500 and 2,100 meters. This species is a true troglobite, with a pale, unpigmented body, reduced eyes, and extremely long appendages. Adults can reach a length of 38 millimeters. Its antennae are so long that when stretched back, they can reach the animal's sixth body segment.
The subterranean rivers of Chongqing also host fish from the genus Sinocyclocheilus. These cyprinid fish are endemic to China's karst regions and show adaptations to cave life. Many species are blind, with eyes that have degenerated into small, dark spots covered by skin. Lacking pigment, their bodies often appear a translucent pink or white. Some species have evolved bizarre horn-like structures on their heads, the function of which is still being studied. The ecosystem also includes specialized microorganisms. Studies within Lingguan Cave have identified multiple new species of Penicillium fungi growing in the cave soil.
💡Fun Facts
The cave-dwelling millipede *Nepalella jinfoshan* is named directly after the mountain where it was first discovered.
The antennae of *N. jinfoshan* are exceptionally long, reaching back to its fifth or sixth body segment.
Some blind, colorless cavefish in the genus *Sinocyclocheilus*, found in the greater region, have prominent horn-like structures on their heads.
A new plant species, *Parnassia zhengyuana*, was discovered living in a limestone cave environment near Jinfo Mountain.
The Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area is generally open year-round, typically from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Cable car and shuttle bus times can vary seasonally, so checking in advance is recommended.
Admission
An entrance fee is required for the scenic area, with separate tickets for the cable cars and internal shuttle buses.
Accessibility
The main tourist areas are accessible via cable cars and paved walkways, including a cliffside plank road. The specific caves where scientific research is conducted, such as Lingguan Dong and Houshan Dong, are not open to the public to protect their fragile ecosystems.