The Splendid Scenery of Meitian Cave

The Splendid Scenery of Meitian Cave

“Among the wonders of the south, Meitian stands out fine; I free my crane to seek what lies beyond the line. Its peaks resemble the Three Terraces near the Northern Dipper’s light, The cave opens where thunder splits the sky in broad daylight. Both fair and foul weather form a painted scene, For ages past, not only immortals have come to glean. In drunken verse I scratch my lines upon the cliff so steep, And leave behind some lingering joy within the drifting deep.” These verses by Ming Dynasty poet Xu Bing depict the splendid scenery of Meitian Cave, stirring the imagination and filling one with boundless longing.

Meitian Cave, located at the foot of Yishan Mountain in Shiqiao Town, Yongxin County, is also known as the Precious Immortal Holy Cave. It has two entrances: the Yang side is called the Yu Xu Cave, and the Yin side is the He Bi Cave. The entrance of the He Bi Cave is double-doored like folding screens, and nearby there are such wonders as Stone Arhats and Stone Guanyin. The Yu Xu Cave, on the other hand, is very spacious and can accommodate a thousand people for gatherings. It features a square skylight formed by huge cliffs embracing together, magnificent and resplendent. Venturing further into the main hall with a torch in hand, one encounters wonders such as stone beds, stone stalactites, stone dragons, stone elephants, stone lions, stone chessboards, and the "Two Youths Reading" stone formation. The sound of spring water dripping through rock crevices reaches the ear, resembling the soft whisper of swallows skimming over a lake or the resonant echo of ballet dancers stepping lightly on glass. Occasionally, small animals like bats move about, adding an air of mystery to the cave. Even more astonishing is the smooth stone table inside the cave, on which several raised stone chess pieces are faintly visible—said to be the remnants of a game left behind by the immortal Lü Dongbin and the Purple Mushroom Sage.

On the rocky walls of Meitian Cave, the poetry of traveler Xu Xiake can still be faintly discerned:

“I have long admired the splendors of Meitian and eagerly sought a meal before climbing the ridge. The boatman waited for me by boat in Yongxin, while I, together with Jingwen, headed south from Huangu along the old path. After five li, we reached the foot of Meitian Mountain. The peaks were all clustered stones piled high, without even a trace of soil among them, truly like lotus flowers standing gracefully above the water.”

In the golden autumn of 2002, the movie *In Search of the CCP*, which depicts the revolutionary struggles of the Soviet Area period, was aired on CCTV-6. Observant viewers may notice that many scenes were filmed in Meitian Cave. Since then, Meitian Cave has gained fame, attracting a stream of visitors.