Wuxia Scenic Area

Wuxia Scenic Area

Wuxia Scenic Area is located on the mountainside of Ma'ren Mountain, beside Provincial Highway Nan (Ling)–Tong (Ling), about 15 kilometers from Nanling County. Here stands the ancient Wuxia Temple. Behind the temple, on the rocky cliff, lies the renowned Wuxia Cave. The cave is described in the Chinese Scenic Spots Dictionary as being “surrounded by mountain ridges, with secluded winding paths, situated beneath steep cliffs.” The surrounding peaks are steep and rugged, dotted with grotesque rocks and fragrant orchids, exuding lush greenery and delicate aromas. The peculiar rocks take the shapes of turtles, snakes, and other creatures, lying or coiling in countless fascinating forms. The cave features interconnected chambers that twist and turn up and down, each with its own unique character.

The landscape outside the cave is spectacular, with naturally formed scenes such as Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon, Cat Playing with Mouse, Boy Worshiping Guanyin, Turtle Gazing at the Moon, Five Horses Around the Trough, and Doctorate Candidate, all vividly lifelike. The Immortal Bridge’s Iron Threshold and Monkey Cave are uniquely natural and exquisitely crafted. The striking “Eight Immortals Stone,” the mirror-like “Moon Cave,” and the human-footprint-shaped “Guanyin’s Foot-Resting Stone” are all remarkably realistic and captivating, accompanied by naturally fitting and beautifully legendary folk tales. Exploring the area is an enchanting experience. The Restoration of Divine Statues Stele from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty praises Wuxia, saying: “Among the Five Pine Soils, there is a cave named ‘Wuxia,’ with walls suspended in mid-air, layered peaks rising gracefully, clouds swirling at the valley mouth, and celestial aura gathering within the cave. The pavilions seem naturally formed, akin to a unique paradise apart from the Peach Blossom Spring.” Chen Zhu (982–1061 AD), a renowned forestry scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, once lived in seclusion in the cave and wrote the world’s earliest monograph on tung trees, the Tong Pu. Chen Zhu’s study remains well-preserved.