Huangshan Taoyuan Cave

Huangshan Taoyuan Cave

Huangshan Taoyuan Cave

Introduction

Starting from Yuting and following the Zhang River upstream, located at the southern foot of Shimo Mountain about 8 kilometers from Yi County, the site features rugged mountain ridges, steep cliffs, lush ancient trees, and peach blossoms lining the shores. A cave was carved into the mountainside, known as Taoyuan Cave. Passing through it requires walking along wooden supports, hence it is also called Zhan’ge Ridge. Below lies Zhongtan Pool, with cliffs rising over a hundred meters on both the north and south sides. The Zhang River surges westward through the ravine, creating a precipitous and picturesque landscape. After passing through the cave, a sudden expanse of open land unfolds with neat houses — truly reminiscent of the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming.

Landscape and History

Taoyuan Cave was an important passageway in the county’s ancient transportation network. The cave entrance is inscribed with the four characters “Taoyuan Ancient Cave.” Originally, there was a tea hut, where “mountain spring water was drawn to brew tea, quenching the thirst of travelers.” Further up the back ridge, during the Ming Dynasty, the Taoyuan Academy—also known as the Shixi Hall—was built. On the rock face, the Guanyin Pavilion was also constructed, housing a white jade statue of Guanyin. In the 29th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1846), the inscription on the cave door was changed from “Taoyuan Ancient Pass” to “Peach Blossom Spring,” inscribed by local man Wang Liansong. Stone couplets were also engraved: “White clouds and fragrant grass make one doubt there’s a way through; flowing water and peach blossoms reveal another world” and “The land teems with spiritual plants and trees, the people still wear ancient robes.”