Twelve Caves of Yan Mountain in Nanjing

Twelve Caves of Yan Mountain in Nanjing

Twelve Caves of Yan Mountain in Nanjing

The Twelve Caves of Yan Mountain in Nanjing were formed by the erosion of river water. Along the Yangtze River near Yanziji in Nanjing, there is a series of limestone caves in the cliffs, historically known as the Twelve Caves of Yan Mountain. In fact, there are far more than twelve caves.

The First Platform Cave is located a few kilometers south of Yanziji. There is a Buddhist hall right in the center of the cave, and on the outer stone wall of the cave is carved a large Chinese character “寿” (meaning longevity), which was written by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. On the eastern side of the First Platform Cave, atop the rocky cliff, stands the Guanyin Pavilion. It was built during the Hongwu era at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty and originally belonged to Hongji Temple (later renamed Chengji Temple). It is called the Guanyin Pavilion because there is a stone carving of a Guanyin image painted by Wu Daozi on the rock wall behind it. The Guanyin Pavilion is perched on the steep mountainside, appearing as if it is floating in mid-air or clinging to the cliff. Legend has it that when the pavilion was first built, iron chains were used to secure pillars through the rocks, and the structure was built atop these. Today, there are stone steps by the pond below the pavilion that allow visitors to climb up.

About 500 meters west of the First Platform Cave lies the Second Platform Cave, which features caves within caves and extends to an unfathomable depth. To the west of the Second Platform Cave is the most scenic spot of the Yan Mountain area — the Third Platform Cave. The traditional-style courtyard gate bears four bold characters reading “占三台洞” (Occupying the Three Platform Caves). The Third Platform Cave is divided into the Lower Cave, Middle Cave, and Upper Cave. Within the Lower Cave is a spring known as Guanyin Spring. By holding onto the railing, you can ascend to the Middle Cave and then the Upper Cave. Exiting the cave leads you to the Jade Emperor Pavilion, and further up you will reach the summit of the Third Platform Cave — the River-Watching Tower. From this vantage point, you can gaze out over the vast expanse of the river, with misty waters stretching into the distance, offering a truly refreshing and uplifting experience.