A drone video filmed at the Dalingqiu Scenic Area of Yandang Mountain in Zhejiang, China, featuring the phenomenon known as the “Dragon Eye Opening,” has gone viral online, amassing over 2 million views. In the footage, the receding water levels reveal the bottom of the pool and combine with the remaining water to form an incredibly lifelike “eye,” leaving viewers in awe.
According to Cover News, the overall outline of this “dragon eye” is extremely well-defined: the deep green water remaining in the center forms the “pupil,” surrounded by beige and grayish-brown rock walls as the “white of the eye,” while the dark, sunken rock at the top resembles the folded “upper eyelid.” The whole “eye” is embedded at the base of a grayish-white cliff, contrasted sharply against the dark green forest below, giving it a striking three-dimensional effect. Many netizens joked that this is a dragon eye with “double eyelids.”
Veteran Guide Captures with Drone
According to Wenzhou Evening News, the videographer “Linlin” has worked as a guide at Yandang Mountain for 23 years and was the first to discover this unique perspective. She explained that when the water level is high, the outline of the “dragon eye” is already visible, with the blue pool often likened by tourists to a foreigner’s eye. On the afternoon of January 17, she hiked up the mountain and found that the recent drought had caused water levels to recede significantly, exposing the rock formations previously hidden below the surface. This made the “Dragon Eye Opening” scene even more vivid, prompting her to document it with a drone.
Linlin put in considerable effort to find the best filming spot. She took three wrong paths before discovering the hidden route. Climbing to the viewing spot, about 200 meters high, took nearly an hour in total, with the final stretch flanked by sheer cliffs—extremely dangerous.
Dalingqiu Scenic Area of Yandang Mountain is located in Yueqing City, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, and is recognized as a national scenic site. It is famous for its “Heaven’s First Waterfall,” which boasts a single drop of 197 meters.
The video’s release has sparked fervent discussion online. Some netizens marveled, saying they had visited Dalingqiu countless times but never realized it was an “eye,” let alone a “monolid” eye. Others commented that after living for over 30 years, it was the first time they’d seen Dalingqiu “open its eye”—and how beautiful it is when seen from a new angle. Linlin revealed that many out-of-town tourists have messaged her asking for the exact location, and quite a few came specifically to capture the sight themselves. The scenic area management has reminded visitors that some viewing routes have safety hazards, and travelers should be cautious and avoid climbing into undeveloped areas.