Wuyuan Cave

Wuyuan Cave

Wuyuan Cave is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

　The scenic area is located 10 li east of Badong County and 15 li from the mouth of the Shennong Stream. The core of the attraction is a unique rocky gorge formed by geological movements 350 million years ago, which meets the river to form a peninsula with both inner and outer calm lakes. The area is dotted with karst caves, waterfalls, birdsongs, and blooming flowers. Kou Zhun, a renowned statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty, served as magistrate of Badong at the age of nineteen and composed 125 poems about Badong here. Li Shangyin left behind his timeless masterpiece “Night Rain in Bashan” here. The ancient city of Badong, over a thousand years old, has now vanished near the Wangjiang Pavilion within the scenic area. Its natural scenery and cultural heritage make it a standout destination among Badong’s scenic spots.

Wuyuan Cave, also known as Wuyuan Cave or Wuyuan Cave, is situated at the foot of Jinzishan Mountain, 10 kilometers east of the county town, at an elevation of 200 meters. It features two connected caves—one water-based and one dry—with cave entrances over ten feet high and wide. According to the local county annals, it earned its name because the spring water inside is “so deep and mysterious that its source cannot be fathomed.” The cavern is spacious enough to hold thousands of people and was historically used by locals as a refuge during wartime. During the rainy season, stream water cascades over the cave roof, forming a waterfall. Inside the cave is a gorge, within which lies a tunnel, and deeper inside the tunnel is a large karst cave. Various stalactites, stalagmites, and stone curtains decorate the space. Spring water flows through the tunnel and gorge, gushing out of the cave and plummeting down the steep valley cliffs like pearls and jade scattering, a truly spectacular sight. On the deep walls of the gorge, there are also several cliff inscriptions such as “Enlightenment Spring of Wuyuan,” “Sacred Realm of Ling Mountain,” and “Flowing Stream, Realizing the Way,” which have long been a favorite leisure spot for visitors. In ancient times, it was counted as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Badong.