The concert held in Huangyan Grottoes attracts a large number of tourists. [Photo provided by Wang Minzhi for Tide News]

A once-forgotten quarry in Huangyan district, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, came alive on July 14 as the cavernous Huangyan Grottoes hosted a surprise flash concert. 

The performance kicked off with the soaring notes of the Italian folk classic O Sole Mio, echoing across the golden rock walls and drawing visitors into an unexpected cultural experience.

Over 90 minutes, opera, violin solos, dance, and choral pieces were staged throughout the grotto's natural chambers, corridors, and pools. 

Tourist Chen Yulin, visiting from Guangdong, said the concert was a highlight of her trip. "We came on a recommendation, but this surprise performance was magical. The music resonated with the grotto — it felt like nature was part of the show."

With a quarrying history dating back a thousand years, Huangyan Grottoes were once abandoned. In recent years, the site has undergone ecological restoration while preserving its rugged terrain. It has since been reimagined as a youth-oriented cultural venue with galleries, performance spaces, cafes, and bookstores.

Since opening six months ago, the caves have welcomed 350,000 tourism trips. This summer, nighttime events such as folk concerts, poetry readings, and swing dance parties are further boosting the appeal of this unique cultural destination.