Ruiyun Cave

Ruiyun Cave

Ruiyun Cave

Located in Chenda Town, on the northwest outskirts of Sanming City, about 5 kilometers from the city center, it gets its name from the colorful clouds that often drift around the mountain. The scenic area spans 10 square kilometers, with the highest peak reaching an elevation of 1,249.8 meters. It combines unique volcanic rock formations with rich evergreen broadleaf forest landscapes. Major attractions include Ruiyun Cave, Bat Cave, Golden Cave, Longevity Spring, Immortal’s Pool, Three-Tiered Rock, and Horse Head Peak. It is recognized as one of the third batch of provincial-level scenic spots.

Ruiyun Cave is 30 meters deep, 61 meters wide, and over 4 meters high, resembling an open-mouthed lion. Its ceiling is covered with lush pine trees, while streams flow down year-round, producing sounds like beads and curtains hanging at the cave entrance. The stone walls at the mouth are steep, featuring several cliff inscriptions dating back to the Song Dynasty. Among them is the inscription “You Rong” (“Embracing All”), written during the Qing Qianlong period (1736–1795) by official Guan Zhihan, who gave lectures here. There are also couplets such as “Jade hides within the stone, unseen by guests; visitors arrive at the cave mouth, veiled by beaded curtains.” A wooden temple structure with five bays, originally built during the Song Dynasty, stands against the rock, enshrining both Buddhist and Taoist deities along with local spirits. It enjoys thriving incense offerings and has been renovated multiple times since the Ming Dynasty. The stone mountain gate in front of the cave was built during the Qing Kangxi period (1662–1722), with the three characters “Ruiyun Cave” engraved on it. The single-arch stone bridge in front of the gate, built in the Ming Dynasty, features an ancient style. To the northeast of the cave, beyond the gate and uphill, stands an ancient tree that is sturdy and upright, with dense shade where a stream winds below—this is known as Longevity Spring. Beside the spring is an inscription from the Ming Hongwu period (1368–1398) reading “Jade Spring Gives Rise to Waterfalls.” To the southwest of the cave are attractions such as the Evil-Averting Cave, Little One-Line Sky, and Fish-Viewing Pond. The scenic area is lush with vegetation, home to 192 plant species across 31 families. The ancient vines covering the mountains are supple and vigorous, twisting and curling like dragons and snakes, forming a distinctive feature of the landscape.