Xinhua Headlines: Tech, tourism fuel "cave economy" in southwest China's mountainous regions

* Guizhou has rolled out a plan to promote ecological restoration and responsible development of cave resources, aiming to enhance their ecological, scientific and tourism values. An expanding range of cave-based ventures is now flourishing across the province.

* The province's efforts align with the theme of the Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2025, which opened Saturday in the provincial capital, highlighting the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

* These caves, once dormant in the depths of the mountains, are now awakening as unique assets of the region. They are no longer just natural wonders, but also cultural and economic symbols.

GUIYANG, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Helmet strapped and headlamp shining, 14-year-old Wang Zichen zipped into the shadowy depths of a karst cave, part of a growing wave of underground adventure tourism in southwest China's mountainous regions.

Beneath the towering peaks of Guizhou Province stretches a vast karst world filled with tens of thousands of ancient caves. Formed over hundreds of millions of years by persistent water erosion, these caves hold dramatic geological formations, rich biodiversity and traces of early human activity.

In February, Guizhou rolled out a plan to promote classified management, ecological restoration and responsible development of cave resources, aiming to enhance their ecological, scientific and tourism values. An expanding range of cave-based ventures is now flourishing across the province, drawing visitors and boosting local economies.

The province's efforts align with the theme of the ongoing Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2025, which opened Saturday in the provincial capital, highlighting the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

"CAVE ECONOMY" TAKES OFF

"It is both exciting and informative," said Wang, who explored the Forest Coolpark scenic spot nestled in Libo Karst -- part of the South China Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- with friends during his summer vacation. Inside the cave, he admired the stunning stalactites while learning about karst geology.

According to Ren Peng, general manager of the scenic site, a variety of cave-based activities have been developed to suit diverse terrain, including caving adventures, sightseeing tours, cave camping and even cave hotpot dining. Since the May Day holiday this year, the site has welcomed nearly 10,000 tourists, generating over 7 million yuan (about 978,542 U.S. dollars) in revenue.

"We follow an ecology-first principle in our development," Ren said. "We preserve the caves' natural features while designing tour routes, and avoid any construction in deeper sections. All waste is strictly managed and removed from the caves daily."

"It's necessary to develop caves based on solid scientific cave research," said Jean Bottazzi, a French caver and representative of the French Federation of Speleology in China, in an interview with Xinhua during the eco forum. He has spent over three decades studying Shuanghedong Cave, the longest known cave in Asia, located in Guizhou's Suiyang County.

Over the years, Bottazzi has worked with local authorities and developers to provide expert guidance on balancing cave tourism with conservation. "It's encouraging to see that responsible development not only preserves the cave environment, but also brings economic benefits to local villagers by creating new job opportunities," he added.

According to incomplete statistics, the direct market size of Guizhou's cave tourism sector has reached an estimated 1 billion yuan.

In addition to tourism, many caves have been creatively repurposed for commercial use. Some have been transformed into restaurants, bars and homestays, while others serve as sites for winemaking, mushroom cultivation, or even data storage, taking advantage of their naturally stable temperature and humidity.

"These caves, once dormant in the depths of the mountains, are now awakening as unique assets of the region. They are no longer just natural wonders, but also cultural and economic symbols," said Qin Xiaokang, deputy director of the culture, radio, television and tourism bureau of Libo County.

MODERN TECH MOVES IN

Speaking at a sub-forum of the ongoing event, Hassina Mouri, president of the International Union of Geological Sciences, emphasized the role of innovative technologies in promoting environmental engagement. "By using tools like big data and artificial intelligence, we detect, predict and better comprehend the interactions among different parts of our natural environment."

In an interview with Xinhua, Zhou Wenlong, deputy director of the Guizhou Institute of Mountain Resources, said high-tech tools are playing a key role in addressing the challenges of karst cave conservation and development.

"Some caves have fragile ecosystems and complex terrains that are difficult to access," Zhou said. "We use terrestrial laser scanning technology to produce high-precision 3D models of cave interiors, and leverage digital tools to offer virtual access to these delicate sites."

These technologies have already been applied in Zhijindong Cave UNESCO Global Geopark in Guizhou's Bijie City. According to Liu Haibo, general manager of Guizhou Zhijindong Cave Tourism Development Co., Ltd., the geopark first completed a full laser scan of the caves in 2015, with a second scan planned for next year.

"By comparing the records, we can monitor the condition of each stalactite, whether it's growing or damaged, and adjust our conservation and development strategy accordingly," Liu said.

Since 2019, the geopark has also introduced an intelligent tourism system to monitor cave temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels and visitor flow in real time, helping to ensure both landscape protection and tourist safety.

China's green development practices are drawing international recognition. "The ideas and approaches taken in China's green provinces to balance economic growth and environmental protection are applicable everywhere," said Erik Solheim, former United Nations under-secretary-general. "Many cities in the developing world could look to China for inspiration."

(Reporting by Wang Yihan, Wu Si; video reporter: Liu Qinbing, Yan Yanbin, Ni Yuanshi, Wu Siyang, Cui Xiaoqiang; video editors: Zhang Yichi, Zhu Cong, Zheng Qingbin, Li Ziwei)■