Wuyi Stone Goose Rock

Wuyi Stone Goose Rock

Stone Goose Rock is located in Taoxicitan Township, 7 kilometers west of Wuyi County, covering an area of 10 square kilometers. The scenic area features undulating hills, complex rock formations, and well-developed faults, creating a unique landscape. With a subtropical monsoon climate that is mild, pleasant, and marked by distinct seasons, the area—ranging from one to three meters in elevation—is densely forested with beautiful peaks and clear waters. The natural scenery is charming, and the area is known for its spectacular rock formations, picturesque lakes, renowned temples, and revolutionary sites related to the Red Army.

Spectacular Rock Formations & Cave Scenery The scenic area boasts numerous bare rocks, cliffs, caves, and unusual stones, such as Stone Goose Rock, Whale Rock, Golden Ox Rock, and the Five Gods Stones, creating a rich variety of surface rock formations. The main attraction, Stone Goose Rock, consists of a massive boulder and a large cave beneath the rocky slope. It stands prominently among the rolling hills and valleys, resembling a stone goose about to take flight when viewed from afar, while the cave opening looks like the goose’s beak ready to eat—hence the name Stone Goose Rock. The cave floor spans over 2,500 square meters. When it rains, a huge waterfall cascades down from behind the cave, covering the entire cave entrance, evoking images of the Water Curtain Cave from Journey to the West. The waterfall flows into a pool in front of the cave, where lotus plants grow, adding to the serene and enchanting atmosphere. Inside the cave is the Cihang Cave Temple, a wooden-and-stone nunnery structure believed to have been built during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty. A small stone mortar in the cave is said to have produced a mortarful of white rice every day—just enough for the nuns’ daily needs—but when a greedy old nun had the mortar enlarged, it stopped producing rice altogether. To the west of Stone Goose Rock lies a stone beam over a hundred feet long, commonly called the Immortal Bridge. Standing over 30 meters high and more than 10 meters wide, it spans two mountains, appearing to float in midair. The bridge surface is flat enough for people and cattle to cross with ease, earning it the title “Number One Beam of the Wu-Yue Region.” Beneath the bridge is a deep ravine. When water levels are high, the stream beneath glistens and flows like liquid silver; on sunny days, resting under the bridge with the breeze gently blowing is an especially pleasant experience.

Beautiful Lakes & Clear Waters Scenic Area Introduction. Behind Stone Goose Rock lies Jiaolong Temple Reservoir, covering 17.7 square kilometers with a total capacity of 2.35 million cubic meters, forming an artificial lake. The lake is dotted with islands, embraced by mountains and crisscrossed with graceful bends, creating an elegant landscape painting that is both serene and picturesque. The surrounding valleys feature exposed cold springs and cascading waterfalls, which are quite captivating. The surrounding rock formations strikingly resemble various objects. To the north of the lake is “Stone Lion Mountain,” while to the south there is “Stone Elephant,” together forming a lion-and-elephant gate. On the east side of the lake is the massive Turtle Mountain. From its summit, one can admire the curious sight of the “turtle mountain” carrying “fish and turtles traveling together.” Walking along the lakeside paths, visitors can also spot more than ten other vivid rock formations, such as “Dancing Lion” and “Golden Dog Guarding Silver Mountain.”

Built during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty, Cihang Cave Temple has a history of over 1,000 years. Nestled against the rock and built into a cave, the temple commands an impressive presence. Despite the passage of time, it retains its original charm and stands as one of the classic examples of ancient Buddhist temples in central and southern Zhejiang. The Dragon Palace Grotto is a semi-circular, shell-like inclined cave with a dragon pool at its entrance. Visitors can take a pull boat from the dragon pool into the cave, then climb up to see 101 statues depicting moral tales based on folklore. To the west of Stone Goose Rock is Chenyan Hall, built during the Yuan Dynasty, which originally housed a statue of Hu Gong the Great. Covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, the hall is fronted by a river-blocking dam called Chenyan, hence its name. The main gate of the hall faces three mountains arranged in a triangular formation, which is why it's also known as “Official at the Premier Rank.” Chenyan Hall once enjoyed great prosperity but was damaged during certain historical periods and is currently under restoration.

Source: Jinhua Government Website