Canglong Gorge

Canglong Gorge

Canglong Gorge is located in Zhizhu Mountain on the western canyon of Longwanyu Village, Xihé Town, and is one of the Twenty-Four Scenic Spots of Zichuan.

The 1546 *Zichuan County Annals* from the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era records: "Canglong Gorge is thirty *li* southeast of the county seat, where two mountains embrace each other, with sheer cliffs towering tens of thousands of feet high. In between lies a craggy gorge barely wide enough for a single person to pass through. It gradually widens downstream to a depth of twenty *chi* and a width of four to five *zhang*. On both sides of the cliffs there are caves, the bottoms of which cannot be fathomed. Whenever southern floods come, timber and rocks rush down but do not sully the bay below. A dragon was said to have once hidden here, hence the name."

Outside the cave on Zhizhu Mountain today, the three characters "Canglong Gorge" are carved into the stone cliff, while the brick carving above the cave entrance, reading "Gradually Entering a Fine Scene," invites visitors through the tunnel. The small hill adjacent to Zhizhu Mountain to the east and west is Baihelin (White Crane Forest), which still houses several steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The inscriptions praise it as "the scenic wonder of Canglong Gorge, a marvel of Zichuan..."

Exploring Canglong Gorge

Zhai Shen’an

Mountains need not be high to be famous if they are home to immortals; waters need not be deep to be spiritual if they shelter dragons. Longwanyu Village in Xihé Town owes its name to Canglong Gorge. The area also features an ancient pagoda, the Bagua Cloud Tower, steles inscribed with calligraphy personally penned by the Ming Dynasty calligrapher Wang Mian, temples from the Tang Dynasty, and more. It is recognized as one of the "Eight Major Historic Sites" of Zichuan District.

Canglong Gorge is situated in Zhizhu Mountain on the western canyon of Longwanyu Village. Sheer cliffs rise on both the eastern and western sides, known as the "Dragon Screen," overlooking a deep pool referred to as the "Dragon Spring." Legend has it that a Canglong (Azure Dragon) once dwelled within, hence the gorge’s name. According to the 1546 *Zichuan County Annals* from the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era: "Canglong Gorge is thirty *li* southeast of the county seat, where two mountains embrace each other, with sheer cliffs towering tens of thousands of feet high. In between lies a craggy gorge barely wide enough for a single person to pass through. It gradually widens downstream to a depth of twenty *chi* and a width of four to five *zhang*. On both sides of the cliffs there are caves, the bottoms of which cannot be fathomed. Whenever southern floods come, timber and rocks rush down but do not sully the bay below. A dragon was said to have once hidden here, hence the name." Today, outside the cave on Zhizhu Mountain, the three characters "Canglong Gorge" are carved into the stone cliff, while the brick carving above the cave entrance, reading "Gradually Entering a Fine Scene," invites visitors through the tunnel. The small hill adjacent to Zhizhu Mountain to the east and west is Baihelin (White Crane Forest), which still houses several steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The inscriptions praise it as "the scenic wonder of Canglong Gorge, a marvel of Zichuan..."

Looking around Longwanyu Village, one sees overlapping mountain ranges, towering peaks, and cliffs that seem to touch the sky. To the east, Panlongzhai Mountain resembles a big-bellied Maitreya Buddha, with the entire mountain village nestled in its embrace. To the west, lush forests and green pines stand out vividly against patches of yellow flowers and red-leaf trees. Canglong Gorge cradles a pool of emerald water that remains unfrozen year-round. The western side of the gorge features steep terrain and dense, verdant woods that turn crimson red after autumn frosts, offering a uniquely beautiful sight when the hills are ablaze with color. Along the mountainside runs a stream channel that, during rainy days, cascades down like a narrow white waterfall, resembling a dragon diving into the sea—majestic and powerful. To the east of the gorge lies a small hill shaped like a spider, named Zhizhu Mountain. Midway up its slope lies a natural east-west cave, the Zhizhu Cave, with the brick-carved inscription "Gradually Entering a Fine Realm" above its entrance. Just two meters beyond the cave exit stands a steep cliff, beneath which lies a deep pool sixteen meters deep and fourteen meters wide. On the opposite cliff face, a dark brown rocky vein twists down from the mountain to the water’s edge, resembling a dragon drinking from the pool. Ascending the stone steps to the top of Zhizhu Mountain, you’ll find an ancient pagoda—the Bagua Cloud Tower, also called the Wenchang Pavilion—dedicated to the deities Wenchang Dijun and Kuixing. It was a place where early literati came to worship and is now the iconic structure of the Canglong Gorge scenic area. The tower terrace features stone tablets inscribed with the Ming Dynasty calligrapher Wang Mian’s characters "Reaching the Pinnacle" and "As If Ascending Nature Itself."

Just seven or eight meters apart from Zhizhu Mountain lies Baihelin Mountain, shaped like a gourd. Legend says it grew from a gourd vine originating in the East Sea and is called the "Dragon Hollow." To its south stand clusters of temples—Canglong Palace and Longshan Temple—famous Buddhist and Taoist shrines that remain active to this day. The temples once housed a locust tree planted in the Tang Dynasty and a pine tree planted in the Song Dynasty, both of which were cut down during the Cultural Revolution. However, stone tablets marked "Tang Locust" and "Song Pine" still stand as evidence. Among them, the "Record of the Reconstruction of the Dragon King Temple" dated November 25, 1593 (Ming Dynasty, Wanli 21st year), was composed by Wang Mian.

In Canglong Gorge, several natural caves have been discovered. Legend has it that the stone walls inside the caves feature patterns resembling white flowers, hence the name Baihua Cave (White Flower Cave). Sitting at the cave’s mouth and looking east, the highest peak rising above the surrounding mountains is Panlongzhai, with its summit known as Tianmen (Heaven’s Gate). From the mountaintop, one can gaze eastward to the sea and take in sweeping views of the landscape. The scenic area boasts not only abundant natural beauty but also numerous captivating legends. Old records state, "Within Canglong Gorge in the southeast of the city, there is a dragon that responds to prayers for rain during droughts." "In the winter of 1523 (Jiajing 2nd year), ice formations on the surface of the gorge’s waters resembled shapes of the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, people, vessels, and plants. Residents from far and near came to behold the sight."

Throughout the ages, Canglong Gorge has drawn visits from literati, officials, and nobility, who have composed poems and essays in its praise. During the Ming Dynasty, Bi Ziyi, a Juren scholar of the Wanli era who later became Minister of Revenue, and Gao Yan, who served as Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and Left Vice Minister of Justice, visited the site multiple times, leaving behind historical traces. Gao Ju, who ranked in the 1580 (Wanli Gengchen) imperial examination and later served as Minor Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Governor of Zhejiang, wrote the poem *Touring Canglong Gorge*, capturing the natural splendor of the gorge:

I’ve heard the southeast holds scenes both deep and fair,

So in spring’s full bloom, I seek its wonders there.

Pines hang from cliffs where blue mist curls light,

Pagodas hide ‘mid hills veiled in twilight.

In White Crane Cave, dreams of cranes take flight,

In Canglong Gorge, the dragon pool shines bright.

Seeking wonders, I find this gorge so grand,

Free and unbound, I roam this wondrous land.

The ancient Canglong Gorge, an age-old scenic treasure, has been long admired, celebrated, and praised by scholars, poets, and common folk alike. Today, in this new era of prosperity, the district Party committee and government have prioritized the development of the Canglong Gorge scenic area as a cultural tourism project. District leaders have conducted multiple research visits to Longwanyu Village and provided specific guidance. Currently, the development plan for the Canglong Gorge cultural tourism project has been completed. With a planned total investment of 10 million yuan, the project aims to enhance infrastructure, restore ancient village ruins, establish photography and art bases, develop eco-agriculture, and improve facilities and environmental quality throughout the scenic area. It is believed that Canglong Gorge will shine brilliantly amid the current boom in tourism.