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The Mystery of the Longyu Grottoes: Why Did the Chinese Build These Huge Grottoes? Even the most knowledgeable experts in the history of ancient China are unable to answer the question of who built the enormous Longyu Grottoes in the eastern province of Zhejiang. These massive caves are clearly man-made, but there is no mention of their construction in any ancient written source. The grottoes were discovered in 1992 during the draining of ponds. The Longyu Grottoes consist of 24 separate rooms, each with its own entrance. The caves have an area of about 1000 m2 each, and their height reaches 30 meters. Each of the caves is a huge funnel-shaped hall, the exit is narrow, and the space inside expands from the entrance to the far wall. Three walls in each of the caves run strictly vertically, the fourth rises at an angle of 45 °. The volume of the excavated rock is estimated at 1 million m3. According to scientists, using simple tools and 1,000 workers, the construction would take about 25 years. But it is possible that the workers did not dig from scratch, but only expanded the already existing natural caves. The walls and ceilings of the grottoes are covered with parallel grooves about 60 cm wide. The vaults are supported by pillars, which also have horizontal grooves characteristic of all the grottoes. The walls and pillars are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from life and animals. Scientists have not yet reached a consensus on the purpose of these caves. It has been suggested that the caves were quarries or could have been used as storage facilities, shelters, dwellings, the emperor's tomb, or a religious structure. However, none of these theories have been confirmed. The exact date of the caves' construction has also remained uncertain. Based on the analysis of the stalactites, which were also hand-carved during construction, scientists have suggested that the grottoes were built more than 2,000 years ago, during the reign of the Qin dynasty emperors. Today, several of the Longyu Grottoes are open to the public. They are equipped with lighting and even host concerts. The public appreciates these events, as the unique acoustics give the music a special sound.

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