Wenzhou Yanke Cave Yuxu Taoist Temple

Wenzhou Yanke Cave Yuxu Taoist Temple

Yanke Cave Yuxu Taoist Temple is located on Dashan Mountain (anciently known as Sunhu Mountain) in Wangli Town, Cangnan County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It has long been famed for its majestic peaks, secluded caves, peculiar rocks, beautiful waters, and ancient temples.

About three meters up the mountainside of Sunhu Mountain, there are six or seven cave openings in the rocky cliff, each as wide as a bowl and about a foot deep—this is the famous Yanke Cave. Legend has it that Dashan Mountain was originally an island in the sea, where five jade-colored swallows flew in from the East China Sea and built their nests here, hence the name. To the left of the cliff face is a stone gate; entering through it leads to a mountain cave with stone steps for climbing. The cave is extremely winding and peculiar, with caves within caves, including the Jade Coffer, Stone Beam Grotto, Linked Path, Cave Heaven, Joint Hall Cave, Breeze Gate, and Nine Stone Chambers. The stone chambers are so narrow that only one person can squeeze through. Cave Heaven is an opening in a cliff face, with surrounding cliffs forming a natural pit outside the entrance. Ancient vines cling to the cliffs, while small insects like bees and butterflies often play among them. Sunlight filters down from the top of the cliffs, creating a serene yet vibrant atmosphere—truly giving the feeling of a world within a cave.

The exit of Yanke Cave is at the Yuxu Taoist Temple. Standing by the iron railing on the terrace in front of the temple’s Daluo Treasure Hall, you can see a natural grove on the slope in front of the temple, densely covered with red maples, yellow jackwoods, emerald bamboo, and verdant pines. In spring, the area is lush and green, providing dense shade; in late autumn, the leaves turn into a brilliant mix of red, yellow, and green. About a hundred steps across the stream opposite the temple stands a small but exquisite waterfall, no more than ten meters high, with a deep pool beneath it and extremely clear water. Even in the peak heat of summer, the area remains cool and pleasant. Further along the mountain path, ascending another four or five hundred meters, there is a three-tiered waterfall in the valley, cascading down from midair, bringing rippling green waters and echoing sounds to the valley’s streams and pools.

The Yuxu Taoist Temple was originally built during the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty. After experiencing several periods of prosperity and decline, it was destroyed. In 1976, Taoist Master Huang Chengbao of the Longmen Sect of the Quanzhen School rebuilt the temple here. The renowned Taoist Master Huang Xinyang, well-known in the Taoist community, practiced here in his youth. The temple faces southeast and is built on a grand scale. It currently consists of three courtyards with halls including the Zhongmiao Gate, Daluo Treasure Hall, Lingxiao Treasure Hall, as well as ten other structures such as the dining hall, storage rooms, Taoist quarters, and dormitories. The temple covers an area of 2,000 square meters, with a built-up area of 1,000 square meters. The temple features yellow walls and dark tiles, with its halls and pavilions built along the mountain, each higher than the last, creating a majestic atmosphere. Exiting the Zhongmiao Gate and heading west to the cliff edge, there is the Yunyan Pavilion, meticulously carved entirely from granite and exquisitely designed. From here, you can overlook the entire view of Wangli Town.