Dao Yuan Cave

Dao Yuan Cave

Dao Yuan Cave is a cultural relic protection unit of Wenling City.

Dao Yuan Cave is located on the mountainside of Zhonggang Mountain in Dongkang Village, Dongtian South Village, Xinhe Town, Wenling City, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. It is an ancient cave formed from quarrying activities. The name "Dao Yuan" (literally “Source of the Tao”) originates from the ancient practice of Taoist cultivators who came here to study the Tao and find spiritual enlightenment. It has long been a site for Taoist activities and now serves as the headquarters of the Wenling City Taoist Association.

Dao Yuan Cave consists of an inner and an outer cave, both featuring steep cliffs and rock-carved structures. The original Taoist temple within the cave was built in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign (1889) by Lin Mingjiang, a Taoist priest from Fangshan’s Yangjiao Cave. It was later expanded but suffered damage during the Cultural Revolution. Since 1980, it has been gradually restored, and the current structures are mostly new, comprising the Tan Yuan Palace, Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and Lüzu Hall, among others. Inside the cave, there is still a stone stele erected in the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901) by Lin Mingjiang, inscribed with the words “Fu Yuan Shan Qing” (Blessings, Virtue, Charity, and Celebration). The stele describes the cave’s environment, its founding history, and its spirit of helping others. Dao Yuan Cave is a typical example of temple construction within a cave in the Wenling area.

Dongtian South Village: Dongtian South Village is located in the southwest of Xinhe Town, covering a total area of 3.77 square kilometers with a total cultivated land area of 1,255 mu. It administers 24 villager groups, with a registered population of 1,189 households and 3,270 people, including 12 non-native residents. The village has a village committee of 13 members, 108 Party members, 76 villager representatives, 7 members of the village supervision committee, and 7 members of the elderly committee. There are 6 enterprises in the village, and the annual collective economic income is 200,000 yuan. In 2015, the per capita income of farmers reached 21,000 yuan. The village has 28 households under the subsistence allowance and 8 households on the edge of the subsistence allowance. In recent years, it has successively been awarded the title of Taizhou Civilized... Detailed information about Dongtian South Village++