Wulichuan Yuxian Cave

Wulichuan Yuxian Cave

Wulichuan Yuxian Cave

The origin of the name "Yuxian Cave" is also linked to a Taoist priest surnamed Wang. It is said that a Taoist priest with the surname Wang once resided in the Thousand Buddha Kiln, who was a native of Zhuyangguan in the same county. He cultivated himself here from a young age, eventually attaining enlightenment and becoming immortal through seated meditation. His disciples enshrined his body in a seated posture inside the cave, and after many years, it turned into one of the world’s rarest mummies. Thus, the Thousand Buddha Kiln came to be known as "Yuxian Cave." During the Cultural Revolution, the Thousand Buddha Kiln was damaged, the Buddha statues were destroyed, and the remains of the Taoist priest vanished without a trace. According to the *Lushi County Annals*: "Yuxian Cave, commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Kiln, is located in Henan Village, Wulichuan Town. It is said that caves and Buddha statues were carved here during the Tang Dynasty, and many colorful statues were added from the Ming and Qing dynasties onward, but they were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution." The name "Thousand Buddha Kiln" originates from a natural stone niche on the cliff face, which contains Buddha statues. It is said that in its earliest days, the niche housed over a thousand Buddha figures. Locally, the terms “niche” and “kiln” share nearly identical connotations, hence the niche came to be called a kiln — thus giving the site its name.

Wulichuan Town: Located in the western part of Henan Province, Wulichuan Town is over 100 kilometers from Sanmenxia City. Both National Highway 209 and Provincial Highway Xixietai (Xia) Tie(Suo)guan Road pass through the area, making transportation very convenient. It serves as the economic, cultural, and transportation hub for seven towns in the southwestern region of Lushi County. The town government is situated 52 kilometers from the county seat. To the east, it borders Tanghe and Zhuyangguan; to the west, it neighbors Shuanghuai Shu and Shiziping; to the south, it adjoins Wayagou Township; and to the north, it is bounded by the Xiong'er Mountain ridge—Laojieling—which separates it from Hengjian Township. The town spans 16 kilometers from east to west and 16 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 169.3 square kilometers. In 2000, it was successively designated as... More detailed information about Wulichuan Town ++