Niuji An Ox Horn Grotto

Niuji An Ox Horn Grotto

The Niuji An Ox Horn Grotto is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ox Horn Grotto is said to have originated from a legend in which an old Taoist priest asked an elderly farmer to plant a watermelon. On the eighty-first day when it ripened, the farmer was supposed to use it to strike a cow, which would then transform into a golden ox. However, the farmer picked the watermelon on the eightieth day and only managed to strike off the cow’s head. The cow’s horns rolled here, half turning to gold and half to wood, forming this cave. The Ox Horn Grotto stretches over 120 meters. During the rainy season, a powerful stream cascades down the cliff like a waterfall, creating a spectacular and beautiful water curtain cave landscape. In winter, melting snow and ice freeze as they flow, covering the top of the grotto with icicles that hang like strings of shimmering white jade—magnificent and breathtaking.

According to the “Wang Family Genealogy,” four hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Wang family fled here to escape persecution by treacherous court officials under Emperor Wang YuYang. They first took refuge in the grotto, which was then called the Big Stone House. Later, they gradually moved out of the stone dwelling, and the site became a place where locals stored straw and used mills. The large grotto served as a natural auditorium. In the 1960s, a stage was set up inside the grotto for performances, attracting hundreds of spectators from surrounding villages who gathered both inside and outside to watch the shows.

Address: Niuji’an Village, Kunlun Town, Zichuan District, Zibo City

Admission: 50 RMB; Parking fee: 20 RMB

Phone: 0533-5555999

Opening Hours: Open all day

Niuji’an Village: Located 6.5 kilometers southwest of Kunlun Town, Zichuan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, Niuji’an Village borders Boshan District to the south. Established in the mid-Qing Dynasty, it is a traditional ancient village with a history of over 400 years. In 2015, it was designated as a “Provincial-Level Ancient Village” in Shandong Province.

Nestled deep in the mountains, Niuji’an Village enjoys the reputation of being a “village in the sky.” Surrounded by peaks, the entire settlement resembles a reclining ox when viewed from above. Halfway up the mountain sits a small hermitage named “Niuji An.”

There are two main legends about the origin of the village’s name:

One…… Niuji’an Village detailed information++