Shiyu Lake Scenic Area

Shiyu Lake Scenic Area

Shiyu Lake Scenic Area is located in Taocitan Township, 7 kilometers west of Wuyi County, covering an area of 10 square kilometers. The terrain within the scenic area features undulating hills and complex rock formations, with well-developed faults that create unique landforms. The area has a subtropical monsoon climate, which is mild and pleasant with distinct seasons. At elevations between 1 meter and 3 meters, the scenic area boasts dense forests, picturesque peaks, and clear waters, forming a naturally delightful scene. It is especially known for its strange rocks, beautiful lake, renowned temples, and historical sites related to the Red Army's revolutionary activities.

Shiyu Rock consists of a massive boulder and a large cave beneath the rocky slope. From a distance, it looks like a stone goose ready to take flight, while the big cave resembles the goose’s beak as it feeds—hence the name Shiyu Rock. The Shiyu Cave is over 10 meters high, with a floor area of more than 2,500 square meters. When it rains, a huge waterfall cascades down from behind the cave, completely covering the cave entrance, evoking images of the Water Curtain Cave in the classic novel Journey to the West. Inside the cave stands the Cihang Dongfu Nunnery, a wooden and stone structure believed to have been built during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty. Within the cave there is a small stone mortar that, according to legend, used to produce a mortarful of rice every day—just enough to feed the nuns. However, when a former nun became greedy and had the mortar enlarged, it stopped producing rice altogether.

To the west of Shiyu Rock lies a stone beam over a hundred feet long, commonly known as the Immortal Bridge. It is over 30 meters high, dozens of meters long, and more than 10 meters wide, stretching across two mountains. The bridge deck is flat, making it easy for people and cattle to cross as if walking on level ground, earning it the title "The Number One Beam of Wu and Yue." Below the bridge is a deep abyss. In the rainy season, glistening water rushes noisily beneath the bridge.

Behind Shiyu Rock lies the Jiaolong Temple Reservoir, covering an area of 17.7 hectares with a total storage capacity of 2.35 million cubic meters, forming an artificial lake. The surrounding valleys that feed into the lake feature cold springs and cascading waterfalls, adding to its charm. The area is dotted with vividly shaped rock formations. To the north of the lake is “Stone Lion Mountain,” while to the south sits “Stone Elephant,” together creating the image of a lion and elephant guarding the entrance. On the eastern side of the lake is the massive Tortoise Mountain. From its summit, one can observe the curious sight of the “Tortoise Mountain” carrying “fish and turtles swimming together.” Walking along the lakeside trails, visitors can also see more than ten other lifelike rock formations, including “Lion Dancing Proudly” and “Golden Dog Guarding Silver Mountain.”

The area around Shiyu Rock contains dozens of caves, each with its own unique shape and legendary backstory. Some of these caves were also once activity sites for the Red Army. In 1928, a major uprising led by the Red Army broke out in Wuyi County, causing a great stir. Under the leadership of Li Tingwen and Shao Shunchang, the Northern Battalion of the Red Army secretly gathered in the Dayaduo Cave behind Shiyu Rock. This cave, capable of holding a thousand people, is situated midway up a mountain slope and is hidden and secured by dense forests and trees. Not far from the Dayaduo Cave is the Xiaodayuo Cave, which is dozens of meters long. Red Army commanders such as Shao Shunchang once took refuge here. These caves are locally referred to as the Red Army Caves and have now been designated as a county-level patriotic education base. The scenic spots at Shiyu Rock are concentrated and connected in a line, with convenient transportation. A county-level road leads directly to the scenic area.