Fuping Water Curtain Cave

Fuping Water Curtain Cave

Water Curtain Cave

Located 22 kilometers southeast of the county town in Shuiliandong Natural Village, Dianfang Village, there is a mountain called Yunmeng Mountain. In a valley that runs from the southeast to the northwest, on the northern cliff of the valley, there is a rock cave. Inside the cave are four stone chambers, and outside the cave, a waterfall cascades down, resembling the legendary “Water Curtain Cave” described in the mythological novel Journey to the West. The Water Curtain Cave faces west, and on the cliff of the precipice there is a stone gate. Beneath a massive rock to the west of the stone gate lies another cave, which connects to three stone chambers. One of the large stone chambers is 11 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 3 meters high, with an adobe kang bed built in the sunny area. The cave can accommodate dozens of people. One of the caves contains murals from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, along with 11 clay sculptures of various sizes. Another cave has a natural spring flowing out of it, producing sweet and refreshing water, which is regarded as sacred water for praying for rain during drought years in Fuping, Xingtang, and Quyang counties. The area around the cave is covered with fragrant flowers and lush grass, while pines and cypresses grow thickly on both the upper and lower parts of the cliff, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere with a touch of Taoist mystique. On the huge rock facing the cave are inscribed four bold and majestic characters: “Shuilian Xian Dong” (Water Curtain Immortal Cave), which are ancient in style and carry an extraordinary presence. Smaller characters underneath indicate that these characters were inscribed by Sun Yuansheng, a calligrapher from Panyang (ancient Quyang). Shuiliandong Village and nearby villages such as Dongchengpu to the east are among the birthplaces of the jujube cultivation in Fuping County, known as the “Jujube Capital of China.” The story of Fuping jujubes has been passed down through generations. Today, the valleys and slopes of these mountain villages are covered with jujube trees as far as the eye can see. When viewed from the mountains, they resemble a vast green sea. In autumn, with blue skies and white clouds above, and green leaves and red jujubes below, along with millet, peanuts, beans, sesame, and wild grasses on the ground, they form a uniquely magnificent “Taihang Jujube Forest Painting.” The best time to eat the jujubes is when they turn from half green and red to deep purple-red—they are crisp, fragrant, and sweet. Soon after, farmers harvest the jujubes and dry them on their rooftops, giving every rooftop a striking red appearance. Some families string particularly large jujubes with thin green hemp stalks to create “jujube character strings,” shaped either in rows or in squares and diamonds, hanging them on white walls as simple yet beautiful decorations. People also take large, smooth jujubes, soak them in liquor, and store them in jars to make “drunken jujubes.” These are taken out and eaten during the Spring Festival, offering a fragrant aroma, crisp texture, and sweet taste.