Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave is one of the famous Seventy-Two Caves of Wuyi Mountain. It is located to the north of Zhangtang Stream. At the entrance to the scenic area, a small waterfall cascades down from the top of Xiabin Rock, known as the Little Water Curtain Cave. Climbing up the steps leads you to the main Water Curtain Cave. The cave is sheltered beneath overhanging cliffs, with its mouth wide and sloping open, the cool shade above. Two streams of water pour down from the overhanging cliff face over a hundred meters high, resembling two dragons spouting streams of liquid, drifting through the mountains, or like two pearl curtains hanging from the sky to the earth, hence it is also called the Pearl Curtain Cave.

Water Curtain Cave is the largest cave in Wuyi Mountain, measuring over a hundred meters in both height and width. In front of the cave entrance, two clear springs flow year-round, plunging down from the cliff top over a hundred meters high, like two suspended pearl curtains. Inside the cave, it is bright and spacious, able to accommodate hundreds of people. Cliff inscriptions are abundant on the rock walls, among which the two characters “活源” (Living Spring) are the most famous. To the right of the stone steps outside the cave entrance is the emerald-green Bathing Dragon Pool.

The two characters “活源” (Living Spring) on the rock wall were inscribed by Yu Hongliang, a deputy commander of the Zhejiang Xiangshan Regiment and imperial appointee of the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign. It is said that “Living Spring” is derived from Zhu Xi’s poem *Reflections on Reading*: “A small square pond reflects the sky, / Where light and cloud shadows wander by; / Why so limpid and bright it lies? / For fresh water feeds it from the source nearby.” The ancient inscription of “Living Spring” not only captures the scenery of the Water Curtain Cave but also evokes thoughts of Zhu Xi’s scholarly spirit — a perfect touch. “Water Curtain in Sunny Snow, Pearl of Red Cliff” was inscribed by Ishikawa (details of the author are unknown). These two inscriptions combine motion and stillness, blending scene and emotion to vividly depict the landscape of the Water Curtain Cave.

The water curtain here is at its widest about one zhang and two chi (approximately four meters). Major attractions nearby include Swallow Peak, Stone-Washing Pillow Flow Rock, Danxia Peak, Flame Peak, Eagle Beak Rock, and Flowing Fragrance Stream. Among them, the Sky Cart Frame is a distinctive cultural feature in this scenic area. It is located on the half-wall of Danxia Peak on the south bank of Zhangtang Stream, where several small wooden cabins are built against the cliffs inside caves of varying heights and sizes. Some are tucked deep within the caves, others partially exposed, arranged in a staggered fashion, enclosed by railings, and connected by hanging ladders — this is the Sky Cart Frame.

Water Curtain Cave is one kilometer north of Tianxin Rock. It is the largest cave in Wuyi Mountain, known as the “Foremost Wonder in the Mountains.” The cliffs rise tens of zhang high, convex above and concave below, forming a hollowed cave. The interior is bright and can hold a thousand people, with several roofless temples scattered along the cliffs. From the cave ceiling flow two springs that never run dry, which, when stirred by the breeze, turn into droplets like two suspended pearl curtains, pouring down into the Bathing Dragon Pool below.

The cave's overhanging roof is like a flying eave, shading half the sky. In front of the cave entrance, two springs flow year-round from the cliff top over a hundred meters high. When the breeze passes, the droplets sway and scatter, as if heavenly maidens are scattering blossoms or like two suspended pearl curtains. It is truly “a thousand zhang of red cliff brushed by sunny rain, ten thousand pearls hang as painted curtains.” Through the curtain, the tea gardens, bamboo groves, villages, and houses outside the cave appear hazy, like a poetic ink-wash landscape painting, offering a uniquely charming view.

Address: North of Zhangtang Stream, Water Curtain Cave Scenic Area, Wuyi Mountain National Tourism Resort, Wuyi Mountain City, Nanping City.

Type: Cave

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0599-5131890

Official website: http://www.whwy.org/

Opening hours:

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area opening hours: 8:00–18:00.

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area ticket (One-day pass: 140 RMB, Two-day pass: 150 RMB, Three-day pass: 160 RMB; Sightseeing bus: One-day pass: 70 RMB, Two-day pass: 85 RMB, Three-day pass: 95 RMB).

Transportation

You may take a train to Shaowu Railway Station in Fujian or Shangrao Railway Station in Jiangxi, then transfer to a bus in Shaowu (about 1.5 hours) or in Shangrao (about 2 hours) to reach Wuyi Mountain.

On foot:

Enter Huìyuàn Pit via Furong Rock at the Guilin intersection north of the mountain, then turn right uphill at the slope near the ticket booth to reach Water Curtain Cave. Alternatively, you can also hike up from the site of Da Hong Pao.

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area

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Da Hong Pao Scenic Area

Da’an Yuan Ecotourism Area

Nine Bend Stream

Azure Dragon Grand Waterfall

Wuyi Wisteria Self-Drive Theme Park

Da Wang Peak

One-Line Sky in Mount Wuyi

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock

Cloud Nest

Jade Valley in Mount Wuyi

Site of the Imperial Tea Garden

Jade Dragon Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Memorial Hall of Liu Yong

White Cloud Rock in Mount Wuyi