Xiangu Cave Taoist Temple on Yandang Mountain

Xiangu Cave Taoist Temple on Yandang Mountain

Xiangu Cave, originally named West Cave, is located in the East-West Cave scenic area of the national-level scenic spot South Yandang Mountain, 87 kilometers from Wenzhou City and 30 kilometers from Pingyang County. The cave is 9 meters high, 14 meters wide, and 25 meters deep. According to the Pingyang County Annals, during the Chongning era of the Northern Song Dynasty, a local woman named Zhu Chanjuan from Naocun Village practiced bigu (a form of Daoist fasting) in West Cave for twenty years. In her later years, she was said to be able to speak prophecies and cure illnesses with miraculous efficacy, earning the respectful title of “Zhu Xiangu” (Immortal Maiden Zhu). She eventually vanished without a trace. The local people believed she had attained immortality, so they renamed West Cave as Xiangu Cave, built a Taoist temple, and erected a statue of her for worship. Her legends were compiled into the book "South Yandang Sacred Biography: The Precious Scroll of Xiangu," which has been passed down through generations. Since the mid-Qing Dynasty, the Xiangu Temple has been expanded to include structures such as the Jade Emperor Hall, Xiangu Hall, Dream Divination Tower, Rhyme Lottery Tower, and Merit Hall. The Jade Emperor Hall has been listed as a cultural relic protection unit at the Pingyang County level. In the 1990s, a Scripture Depository was additionally constructed, adding to the temple’s grand and magnificent presence. Throughout various dynasties, many notable figures—such as Pan Angu and Shao Menglong of the Song Dynasty; Fang Peng, Cai Fang, and Zheng Sigong of the Ming Dynasty; and Qian Qi, Lu Hao, Sun Qiangming, Dai..., and others of the Qing Dynasty—visited and left behind inscriptions and calligraphy, creating a rich legacy of historical and cultural artworks. These include couplets, poems, plaques, and inscribed boards. The site also preserves cultural relics and historic spots such as ancient stone chambers, Dragon Tongue Rock, Moon Window, Scholar Cave, and the Liberation Pond.

The Xiangu Taoist tradition of South Yandang has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Successive abbots of the temple have all been highly respected Taoists known for their virtue and dedication to the faith, such as Huang Puxiu, Xiao Yi, Yan Qingzhen, Huang Zhichun, Cai Zhiyue, Lü Limin, Huang Guangzhao, Zhou Zhongqing, and others. They have carried forward the fine traditions of Taoism while dedicating themselves tirelessly to the development of the temple and surrounding scenic areas. As a result, Xiangu Cave has gained fame both in China and abroad, becoming a sacred pilgrimage site for believers in Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as a popular tourist destination. It holds a significant position among Taoist temples nationwide. On the three days surrounding the birthday of Immortal Maiden Zhu on the 29th day of the ninth lunar month, grand and solemn celebratory rituals are held. These events attract large gatherings of devotees and visitors, with incense burning in profusion and the temple packed to capacity. This is both a heartfelt tribute to the great virtue of Immortal Maiden Zhu and an expression of deep admiration for the cultural and historical heritage of South Yandang Mountain.