Moss Cave

Moss Cave

Moss Cave is located in Moss Mountain in Shijian Town, northwest of Wuwei County, Wuhu City, Anhui Province. Situated at the border between Wuwei and Chaohu, it is 16 kilometers from Wuwei County and just 20 kilometers from Chaohu Lake. Adjacent to the Yinping Mountain Scenic Area and with the Chaowu Highway running along the edge of Moss Mountain, the cave enjoys an excellent geographical location and extremely convenient transportation. Covering a total area of 20,000 square meters, the cave features a tour route of about 4,000 meters. With its long, deep passages, unique landscapes, and grand scale, the cave is divided into an upper and a lower section. The upper cave was formed by the fracturing of the mountain and the development of rock strata, and experts refer to it as the Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) Cave. It stretches approximately 2,400 meters, and one of its highlights is a massive canyon about 1,200 meters long and up to 100 meters high — a spectacular wonder within the cave. The canyon winds and twists, with murmuring streams at the bottom and steep cliffs on both sides. Among them, a huge rock rises over 100 meters, standing abruptly amid lush greenery, exuding a majestic aura. The cave walls are adorned with many rare and exquisite stalactites, such as flowstones, stalactite branches, draperies, and soda straws, all glistening and dazzling. The lower cave is an underground river, which experts call the Qingquan (Clear Spring) Cave. Its winding passages feature ups and downs, while crystal-clear spring water continuously flows from the cave floor, forming multiple cascades and solution pools that create a series of stunning and unique landscapes.

Moss Cave embodies the six characteristics of karst cave landscapes: grandeur, wonder, seclusion, wildness, danger, and uniqueness. It is an exceptionally rare karst cave spectacle, seldom seen in China and even more rarely found in the world. Surrounded by mountains, the area is covered with lush, verdant forests. In front of the cave entrance lies a natural reservoir, with green hills reflected in its rippling waters. About half a kilometer to the left of the cave stands a temple called “Tianchi An.” According to the *Wuwei County Annals*, Tianchi An was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. With its upturned eaves and classic grandeur, the ancient temple is surrounded by towering old cypresses and perennial springs. The temple enjoys a thriving flow of worshippers and visitors who come here to pray and sightsee.