Ruiyun Cave

Ruiyun Cave

Ruiyun Cave

Located in Chenda Town, in the northwestern suburbs of Sanming City, about 5 kilometers from the city center, it gets its name from the colorful clouds that often linger around the mountains. The scenic area covers 10 square kilometers, with the highest peak reaching an elevation of 1,249.8 meters. It combines unique volcanic rock landforms with rich evergreen broad-leaved forest landscapes. Major attractions include Ruiyun Cave, Bat Cave, Golden Cave, Longevity Spring, Immortal Pool, Three-Tiered Rock, and Horse Head Peak. It is a third-batch provincial-level scenic spot.

Ruiyun Cave is 30 meters deep, 61 meters wide, and over 4 meters high, resembling the open mouth of a majestic lion. The cave ceiling is covered with shady pine trees, and year-round streams trickle down like pearls or curtains, hanging perpetually at the cave entrance. The stone walls at the cave mouth are steep, featuring several cliff inscriptions dating back to the Song Dynasty. Among them are the two characters “有容” (“Be Tolerant”), inscribed during the Qing Qianlong era (1736–1795) by official Guan Zhihan, who gave lectures here. There are also couplets such as “人在石中藏璞玉，客来洞口隔珠帘” (“Within the stone, a hidden uncut jade; at the cave’s mouth, guests part bead curtains”). A wooden temple structure with five bays, built during the Song Dynasty and nestled against the rock, enshrines both Buddhist and Taoist deities along with local spirits. The site has long been a place of active worship and has undergone multiple renovations since the Ming Dynasty. The stone mountain gate in front of the cave was constructed during the Qing Kangxi era (1662–1722), inscribed with the three characters “瑞云洞” (“Ruiyun Cave”). The single-arch stone bridge in front of the gate, built during the Ming Dynasty, features a classic, simple style. To the northeast of the cave, beyond the gate and uphill, stands an ancient tree that is sturdy and upright. Beneath its dense shade, a stream winds around — known as the Longevity Spring. Next to the spring is an inscription from the Ming Hongwu era (1368–1398) reading “玉泉起瀑” (“Jade Spring Gives Rise to Waterfall”). To the southwest of the cave are attractions such as the Evil-Warding Cave, Little One-Line Sky, and Fish-Viewing Pond. The scenic area is lush with greenery, home to 192 plant species across 31 families. Ancient vines cover the mountainsides, twisting gracefully like dragons and snakes — a notable feature of the landscape.