Qionghua Ancient Cave

Qionghua Ancient Cave

Qionghua Ancient Cave, located on Qionghua Island in Beihai Park, Beijing, China, is a small cave beneath the White Pagoda and is well worth a visit. Inside, there are lights and statues of deities, giving it a unique charm.

Beihai’s Qionghua Ancient Cave is located at the northern foot of Qionghua Island. It is a group of winding, deep, and serene Taihu rock artificial mountain caves, initially built in the sixth year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (). It stretches from “Hangan Hall” in the west to “Panshan Retreat” in the east, and from “Writing Marvel Stone Chamber” and “Yannanxun Pavilion” in the north, spanning over 200 meters in total. Ingeniously crafted and towering like peaks, it is not only a masterpiece of garden rockery art but also one of the larger-scale Taihu stone artificial mountains in China. The renowned cultural relics expert Shan Shiyuan once wrote a poem in praise: “Gazing at the jade palaces of Qionghua Island from the Western Garden, the azure waves of Taiye reflect ripples between them. Do not say Penglai and Fangzhang are the best—Beihai in the capital city has its own heavenly cave.” The construction of Qionghua Island in Beihai originates from China’s mysterious Kunlun mythology system. Qionghua Island symbolizes the “Penglai” immortal island from the ancient myth of “one pond and three mountains.” Qionghua Ancient Cave represents the scenery on the legendary immortal mountain and was originally the dwelling place of immortals. The cave’s features naturally form the two instruments, four symbols, twelve zodiac animals, and sixty Jiazi (Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches), arranged according to the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. There are legends such as the immortal grottoes “Lv Gong Cave” and “Zhenru Cave,” and the tale of Emperor Qianlong practicing martial arts at “Yannanxun” and constructing a pavilion in the shape of his scented fan, hence the name “Fan-Shaped Pavilion”... These many mystical stories add an air of mystery to this rugged cave. This attraction breaks away from the uniform layout of temples south of the mountain, brimming with the natural charm of twists and turns. Pavilions and towers are interspersed among the deep caves and jagged rocks. Looking up, one feels as if entering a celestial immortal cave. Whether climbing or walking through the caves, you can enjoy both mountain trail adventures and courtyard-like beauty, making it a wonderful place to explore. When you crawl into the cave, it feels like entering a tunnel. Inside Qionghua Ancient Cave, it alternates between wide and narrow, starting off flat and then becoming steep. Within the 200-meter-long cave, it’s not very dark; every so often, a sliver of light seeps through the cracks in the rocks, and in many places, you can even peek outside, though it’s hard to tell from above that there’s a cave beneath your feet. These hidden crevices not only bring light into the cave but also ensure excellent ventilation, with no stuffy feeling whatsoever. Next time you visit Beihai, be sure to seek out the mysterious Qionghua Ancient Cave—it’s sure to bring endless fun.

Website

http://www.beihaipark.com.cn

Location

No. 1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District, Beijing