King Qin's Summer Retreat Cave

King Qin's Summer Retreat Cave

King Qin's Summer Retreat Cave is the abandoned mausoleum of Liu He, the King of Changyi during the Western Han Dynasty, located at Mount Jin in Juye. At the southern foot of Mount Jin lies a man-made large cave, commonly known as the Great Cave of Mount Jin. It is widely believed to have been an imperial lodging palace built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang during his eastern tour to Mount Tai, hence called the Summer Palace of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Local people also say that at the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Qin Li Shimin led his army in battle and once rested here, which is why it is also called King Qin’s Cave. However, research has confirmed that it was actually an unfinished mausoleum built but never used by Liu He, the King of Changyi during the Western Han Dynasty.

According to "The Book of Han • Biographies of the Sons of Emperor Wu": In the thirteenth year of his reign as King of Changyi, Liu He was summoned to become emperor but was later deposed due to misconduct and demoted to the status of Marquis of Haihun, sent to rule over Yuzhang (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi). In the Han Dynasty, the year following a new emperor’s ascension, construction of the imperial tomb would begin. Liu He of Changyi often acted beyond his rank by preparing his own burial site. However, he was soon deposed and died in exile, unable to return for burial. The tomb was built but never used, thus becoming an abandoned mausoleum. This cave consists of nine parts: the main passage, side chambers, corridor, ear chambers, and main chamber. It is 89.80 meters long in total, up to 28 meters wide, with stone walls reaching a maximum height of 15 meters—sheer as a cliff. The overall structure of the cave chambers is rigorously laid out, exquisitely carved, and astonishingly crafted, as if by supernatural forces. Inside the cave, the temperature remains cool in summer and warm in winter, with a pleasant climate. Trickles of clear spring water seep through cracks in the rocks, forming continuous hanging drips. “Clouds part to reveal the mountain’s ground, raindrops patter in the cave’s sky; paths narrow where vines hide, cliffs tower where sun and moon hang…” — this verse truly captures the essence of the Mount Jin Cave. This timeless wonder and scenic gem have attracted countless visitors throughout history. Many literati and scholars, moved by awe and admiration, have gladly put pen to paper, leaving behind widely celebrated poems and insightful historical research. The two walls of the main passage still bear 44 stone inscriptions from the Song Dynasty onwards, possessing high historical and artistic value as precious cultural heritage. During the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, this site was once a thriving Buddhist temple. The six large characters above the cave entrance, “Imperially Bestowed Great Ming Chan Monastery,” were engraved in the third year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty. Inside the cave, there is a stone Buddha statue about 90 centimeters tall, created in the fourth year of the Tai Ding era of the Yuan Dynasty (1327), finely carved and beautifully shaped.