Sunzo Flexible Yishui One-Day Tour: A million-year-old cave system, fleeting fireflies – journey together throughout

At 5 a.m., we set off together with morning sunlight.

On August 23, before dawn had broken and before night had fully fallen, a bus from Jiangsu Sunzo Spring Elastic Technology Co., Ltd. was quietly parked outside the company's gate, awaiting its long-awaited departure.

The vehicle was filled with two groups of people: one group consisted of the outstanding employees selected this year, and the other group comprised the new colleagues joining the company in 2026. Some had been with Sunzo for many years, embodying steadfastness and dedication in every ordinary day; others had just received their brand-new employee badges, marking the beginning of their journey with this enterprise. On this day, they were all heading to the same destination: the Yishui Underground Grand Canyon. Thus began a gathering set against the backdrop of majestic mountains and rivers.

At exactly 5:00 PM, the bus departed on time. The streetlights outside the window gradually faded into the distance as the sky transitioned from deep blue to a soft dawn. Inside the bus, some passengers took a brief nap under the morning light; others chatted softly; still others gazed out the window, quietly watching the dawn slowly awaken. This four-hour journey marked the first leg of the trip—and also the initial phase in the process by which old and new colleagues moved from simply knowing each other to truly becoming acquainted. The most touching aspects of a company's culture are often found precisely in the moments spent traveling side by side.

01 Underground Grand Canyon: Venture into the heart of the Earth at 18°C – embark on a journey spanning hundreds of millions of years.

At 9:00 AM, the bus arrived at the first stop of the journey – the Yishui Underground Grand Canyon.

As the car door opened, the sweltering heat of August swept over the passengers. Yet, the moment they stepped into the cave entrance, a refreshing coolness greeted them—prompting everyone to exclaim in unison: the interior of the cave maintains a constant temperature of 18°C throughout the year, creating an atmosphere starkly contrasting with the scorching heat of over 30°C outside; it was as if, with just one step, they had stepped into another dimension of time and space.

This is a dual AAAA-level tourist attraction, renowned as "China's premier underground river rafting cave." The karst cave formed approximately between 65 million and 230 million years ago; over eons of water droplets and the passage of time, it has sculpted a vast array of stalactites—stalagmites, stone curtains, and stone flowers in countless diverse forms. Under the glow of colorful lighting, these formations may resemble cascading waterfalls, resemble graceful young maidens, or resemble an army in formation—presenting a spectacular and ever-changing spectacle.

The colleagues walked leisurely along the winding boardwalk, beneath them flowed a murmuring underground river, while above them stood the awe-inspiring masterpiece shaped over hundreds of millions of years. Some raised their phones to capture the fleeting moments of light and shadow; others paused to gaze upward, lingering for a long time; still others whispered in admiration at the marvel of nature.

The most heart-pounding adventure is undoubtedly the underground river rafting experience. Two people team up and board a rubber raft, then head downstream. The river's width varies—sometimes broad, sometimes narrow—and its current shifts from gentle to swift; as the boat glides through the dimly lit cave, the stalactites overhead seem almost within reach, and cool water splashes occasionally onto their clothes. Cheers and laughter rise and fall in waves—within this limestone cave, silent for hundreds of millions of years, the trio's long-lost, uninhibited laughter echoes once more.

02 Lunchtime: A feast of Yimeng cuisine – turning a first encounter into a cherished friendship.

At noon, the group left the cave and stopped at a restaurant near the scenic area.

Ten guests gather around a single table, savoring authentic Yimeng cuisine—Yimeng stir-fried chicken, braised mackerel, shredded pork in Beijing-style sauce, Grandma's dish served with steamed cornbread, fried purple sweet potato balls, cucumber salad with pork ears, sweet-and-sour radish sprouts, homemade small meatballs, minced pork with sharp chili peppers, flavorful eggplant, braised pork belly with kidney beans, crispy grasshoppers, all accompanied by a bowl of nourishing corn soup. As the steam rises, it carries with it the genuine warmth and generosity of the mountain wilderness.

When the new colleagues first took their seats, they still carried a touch of shyness. However, after drinking a few beverages and enjoying a few bowls of home-style dishes, the atmosphere gradually warmed up—some laughed as they recalled who had let out the loudest shout during the morning rafting trip; others shared their experiences from their first month at Sunzo; experienced employees frequently served food to their new colleagues, vividly recounting amusing anecdotes and old stories from within the company.

The distance measured at the dining table is often much shorter than that in a conference room—a single ful of food or a simple conversation at home speaks louder than a thousand formal pleasantries.

03 Firefly Water Cave: In the depths of darkness, starlight forms a river.

At 1:00 PM – the second stop of this journey: Firefly Water Cave.

While the Underground Grand Canyon is renowned for its majestic grandeur, the Firefly Water Cave captivates visitors with its dreamlike beauty. This is a Grade-5A tourist attraction where thousands of fireflies dwell within its deep, cavernous chambers.

Before entering the cave, the staff repeatedly reminded visitors not to talk, take photographs, or use flashlights – as fireflies are extremely sensitive to light and sound; even the slightest disturbance could cause them to withdraw all the light emanating from their bodies.

Thus, everyone fell silent simultaneously. The two of them boarded a small boat; the boatman pulled the rope overhead as the vessel, laden with anticipation, slowly sailed into the depths of the dark cave.

At first, everything around was pitch black; all one could hear was the rhythmic sound of the oars and the faint, shallow breathing. Gradually, one dot, two dots, then thousands of dots... countless yellow-green light spots began to flicker on the rock wall above, densely covering the ceiling of the cave like a galaxy suspended upside down in the human world.

The small boat glided slowly along the underground river, as the "starry sky" above it shifted and changed. One person couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation, only to quickly cover their mouth—no one spoke in the darkness; each person looked up, their eyes filled with the faint glow of fireflies.

It was an indescribable shock—deep beneath the earth, amidst boundless darkness, countless tiny beings, each emitting their own faint light, merged into a single, radiant expanse. It turned out that when countless faint lights came together, they could shine as brightly as this—just like every ordinary trio, when gathered together, they formed a beam of light that illuminated one another.

Deep within the earth lies a starry sky belonging solely to fireflies; and every sliver of light deserves to be treated with tenderness.

04 Butterfly Valley: Where a hundred butterflies flutter in flight – a perfectly timed encounter.

After exiting Shui Cave and walking for a short distance, you will arrive at Butterfly Valley.

Unlike the serene and secluded atmosphere of the previous two scenic spots, Butterfly Valley is bright and vibrant. More than a hundred species of internationally renowned butterflies—such as the Musk凤 Butterfly and the Dead-Leaf Butterfly—call this valley home. As you wander through it, it feels as though you've stepped into a vast greenhouse garden: flowers in full bloom, butterflies dancing gracefully.

Butterflies are not afraid of humans. They perch among the flowers, rest by the roadside, or even land on a person's shoulder or the back of their hand. As a colleague held their breath and reached out their hand, a butterfly gracefully landed on their fingertip—its wings fluttering gently—prompting those around them to raise their smartphones and capture this moment of tenderness.

New and veteran colleagues walked side by side; one pointed at a butterfly and said with certainty, "This is a凤蝶," while another laughed and remarked, "This is the first time I've been this close to a butterfly." Under the sunlight, the butterfly's wings shimmered with delicate glimmers—just like the bright smiles on everyone's faces.

05 Dinner and the Return Journey: Carrying a cart laden with lights, returning home with a heart full of starlight.

At 5 p.m., the tour concluded, and the group headed to a restaurant for dinner.

The dinner was equally lavish and meticulously prepared – chicken, deep-fried knifefish, style stewed meatballs, braised pork belly with hawk-scaled pigeon eggs, minced meat with vermicelli, organic cauliflower stir-fry with pork, braised shredded pork with chrysanthemum greens, fried eggs with green onions, hand-shredded cabbage, and a mix of "Tiger Vegetable" dishes – all concluded with a bowl of green vegetable and egg drop soup, perfectly soothing the fatigue accumulated throughout the day.

Unlike the shyness they had displayed during their initial meeting at noon, the atmosphere at dinner had become lively and warm. The clinking of glasses, the laughter and chatter, and the sound of dishes being served交织ed together, filling the entire restaurant to capacity. An outstanding employee shared the company's journey with the new colleagues in detail, while the newcomers posed one curious question after another; some agreed to play sports together in the future, while others added each other on WeChat, vowing to stay in touch regularly.

At 6 p.m., the bus, still carrying the warmth of the day, set off on its return journey.