Zhou Caiye, a 58-year-old farmer from Yucha village, a small hamlet 3 kilometers away from the canyon, where she set up the area's first cave-dwelling homestay for visitors, said the villagers have lived near the canyon for generations, and just took it for granted.

Tourists suddenly started to arrive in large numbers last April. They said they knew about the canyon from their mobile phones, and showed the photos to the farmers.

"We carry spring water from the canyon home almost every day. We call the canyon lanshigala (riprap nook). It is a big surprise that people like to visit such a boring place," Zhou said.