Taiqing Cave

Taiqing Cave

Taiqing Cave is located in Hualinsi Town, Yuan'an County, where limestone is widely distributed, karst landforms are highly developed, and the area boasts beautiful water, scenic mountains, and even more stunning caves. The Longtan River Scenic Area's main attraction, Yuan'an Cave—also known as "Taiqing Cave"—is a rare giant cave in the world and truly a blessed paradise on earth.

Driving into Yuan'an along the Hedang Highway and crossing the Longtan River Bridge, you’ll see on the left a grand mountain gate archway made of granite in the shape of an open character. It features six bold characters reading “Longtan River Scenic Area,” with the couplets on either side reading “Karst Cave” and “Breathtaking Scenery.” Entering the gate and heading upstream along the Longtan River, you’ll see towering cliffs on both sides—steep and rugged. To the left is Ma'an Mountain, and to the right is Taiping Mountain, both covered with lush, dense forests. The Longtan River flows gently with crystal-clear water, shimmering under the sunlight like a giant silver dragon winding through the mountain valley. About two kilometers upstream, you’ll pass through the grand “Chu Tian Sheng Di” (Best of the Chu Region) archway. Park your vehicle, walk on foot, cross the arched Longhe Bridge, and climb 500 meters up the steps toward Taiping Mountain to reach the splendid realm of Taiqing Cave.

The cave entrance hall is spacious and lofty, large enough to accommodate a thousand people. At the center of the cave hall’s wall is inscribed the three large characters “Taiqing Cave,” personally written by Wang Meng, a literary giant and former Minister of Culture. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Laozi, the founding patriarch of Taoism (whose surname was Li, given name Er, and courtesy name Dan), once preached here. Since Laozi’s Taoist title was “Taiqing,” this cave is called “Taiqing Cave.” On the cave hall’s ceiling is inscribed another four large characters, “Dong Tian Fu Di” (Blessed Land of the Cave Heaven), penned by Min Zhiting, a renowned Taoist master from Beijing’s White Cloud Temple. The characters exude the spiritual essence of Taoism. In the center of the cave hall’s floor lies a giant rock shaped like a reclining ox raising its head, with a shallow pool about one square foot in size on its back. Water drips down from the stalactites hanging from the ceiling, gathering the essence of mountains, rivers, sun, and moon—crystal clear. Drinking it is said to be sweet and refreshing, quenching thirst and relieving summer heat; washing with it is believed to cleanse the mind and eyes, ward off illness and disaster, beautify women, and make men more handsome. If you don’t believe it, you can try it yourself when you visit.

Going further into the entrance hall, you’ll enter a tunnel-like inner cave just over one meter high. Along the way, you’ll see stone stalagmites and stalactites, and if you’re not careful, you might bump your head. First, descend 60 stone steps, then climb 108 more, and suddenly you’ll find yourself in a much larger, taller, wider, and more marvelous cave. According to experts, this limestone cave is about one million years old, with upper and lower levels. Currently, only the upper part is open to the public, extending 2,800 meters deep, 90 meters high, and 260 meters wide, covering an area of over 20,000 square meters. It is the largest and most magnificent natural cave discovered in China so far, and also quite rare in the world.

The entire cave hall is vast, lofty, and brightly colored, with thousands of uniquely shaped formations created by calcium carbonate deposits from water dripping through the limestone cave ceiling over millions of years. There are stalagmites, stone bells, stalactites, stone pillars, stone curtains, stone screens, stone stands, stone platforms, and stone flowers—all varying in size and height. Under the illumination of more than a thousand neon lights, they take on the forms of jade palaces, pearl curtains, snow lotus pedestals, Taoist immortals, handsome men and beautiful women, rare birds and animals, flowers and trees, majestic peaks, exquisite rocks, cascading waterfalls, and flowing springs. This grand and spectacular cave scenery varies in height but complements itself vertically, differs in depth yet connects horizontally, opens and closes with order, reveals and conceals with harmony. The layout is unique, the shapes graceful, the atmosphere grand, and the brilliance dazzling. The cave is cool in summer and warm in winter, pleasant all year round. Coupled with the awe-inspiring Taoist celestial music that fills the air, the wonderful melodies elevate the spirit, making you feel as though you're in a fairyland—intoxicated, enchanted, and dreaming.

Strolling through the cave hall, you’ll surely marvel at the magical and extraordinary artistic charm crafted by nature. Truly, there is a new wonder with every step, and each scene changes as you move—each one captivating.

In the center of the cave hall stands an 88-meter-tall giant stone statue known as “Laozi, the Greatest Under Heaven,” the largest statue of Laozi ever discovered in China. Upon closer inspection, Laozi is dressed in a Taoist robe, gazing up at the sky with deep eyes, his long white beard flowing, and an ethereal expression as if questioning the heavens. Beside him are four mighty stone statues representing his four guardian deities: Zhuque (Vermilion Bird), Xuanwu (Black Tortoise), Qinglong (Azure Dragon), and Baihu (White Tiger). Nearby is a massive “Laozi’s Alchemy Furnace” and statues of the Golden Boy and Jade Girl, as well as a 40-meter-tall white jade pagoda, said to have been transformed from Laozi’s walking stick and referred to as the “Cave-Suppressing Spirit Pagoda.” Looking up at the cave ceiling from here, you’ll see clearly patterned designs in the seven colors of the rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—forming a grand cosmic star map. Countless stalactites are scattered across it, with the Milky Way and solar system clearly visible, along with shapes like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing. The composition is ingeniously designed and indescribably marvelous.

Moving to the north side of the cave hall, you’ll see on a solitary rock opposite a formation resembling three people playing chess, known as “Three Immortals Playing Go.” Legend has it that during the early Warring States Period, when feudal lords vied for power, Su Qin and Zhang Yi sought guidance from Laozi. Laozi then presented them with a Go board with thirteen vertical and horizontal lines, made a few moves, and the two suddenly had an epiphany, devising their grand strategy of “Vertical and Horizontal Alliances.” Further down, you’ll see an underground river within the cave, with rapid-flowing water pouring into the lower level of the cave hall. There, an elderly scholar lies by the rocks, representing Laozi “Pillow-Earing to Listen to the Zither.” It is said that Laozi’s illustrious disciple, Guiguzi, once asked his master where the river originated and where it flowed. Laozi replied, “It comes from the River of Clarity and flows into the Sea of Non-Action.” Guiguzi was deeply impressed by his master’s profound answer.

Climbing further to the west side of the cave hall, you’ll find a relatively flat area covered with individual stone pedestals, stands, and flowers. To the upper right is a larger platform resembling a lecture hall that could seat a thousand people. Nearby is a pile of layered rocks shaped like stacked scriptures, believed to be the place where Laozi lectured and preached to his disciples. In the southwest corner of the cave hall, the karst formations are even more uniquely spectacular, known as the “Demon-Suppressing Divine Hall.” The Demon-Suppressing Emperor refers to Guan Yu, a famous general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, who—after his death—converted to Taoism and was revered during the Ming Dynasty as the “Three-Realm Demon-Suppressing Great Emperor, the Distantly Majestic Heavenly Venerated Lord Guan, the Great Sage.” Here, you’ll see the Demon-Suppressing Emperor seated on the right, amidst rocks shaped like an Azure Dragon between two jade pillars, with his long beard flowing. Kneeling before him is Ma Zhong, a Wu Kingdom officer who betrayed him with a tangled horse bridle. Further to the right is the “Deep Palace,” said to be where Guan Yu studied the “Spring and Autumn Annals” at night—hence called the “Spring and Autumn Pavilion.” Walking forward two meters leads you to the “Azure Dragon in Hiding” scene. This is where the Azure Dragon, one of Laozi’s four guardian deities, hides, concealed within a rock crevice with only its mouth visible as it breathes in water—thus, we see only the dragon’s mouth, not its body. The massive dragon mouth is open, its teeth white and gleaming. Legend says that if you put your hand inside the dragon’s mouth and speak the truth, you’ll be unharmed; but if you lie, the mouth will close, trapping you. To the left upper side of the dragon is the huge, snow-white “Pillar Reaching Heaven and Earth,” while on the right stone pillar is a formation resembling a man and woman embracing and kissing—a legend says these are the “Marriage Gods” of the Taoist pantheon, wishing all lovers a happy union.

Moving to the south side of the cave hall, you’ll see a serene stone statue with a kind and gentle face, holding a baby in its arms with wide embrace and folded arms—as if comforting or instructing the child—resembling the widely worshipped “Goddess of Childbirth.” Further to the right, under shimmering lights and swirling clouds, you’ll see a white jade bed encircled by ninety-nine jade pillars, with pearl curtains hanging—said to be Laozi’s “White Jade Bedroom.” Beside it lies a white jade tiger, faithfully guarding its master. Ahead is the “Immortals’ Meeting Platform,” where Laozi, dressed in a Taoist robe and holding scriptures, meets Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, wearing a Buddhist crown and seated on a lotus throne. The two are seen discussing how Taoism and Buddhism can relieve human suffering and save all beings.

Descending the steps, you’ll arrive at the east side of the cave hall. To the left of the stone staircase is a beautiful “Ginseng Garden,” where lifelike, otherworldly ginseng plants of various sizes grow—some as tall as a person, others waist-high. Legend says these were planted by Patriarch Laozi to cure illnesses among the mountain people, and inhaling their scent could heal—some locals still practice this. Next to the garden is a giant upside-down bell-shaped rock, said to be the “Warning Bell” cast by Laozi from black iron to awaken mankind, with sound audible for miles. But later, Sun Wukong, venting his anger after being burned in the alchemy furnace, smashed the bell with his golden cudgel—the cracks are still visible today. Nearby, several round rocks are said to be gourds discarded by Sun Wukong after stealing Laozi’s golden elixir. To the right of the staircase is a massive sand table, believed to have been used by Laozi to teach and demonstrate military strategies. His distinguished disciple, Guiguzi, mastered these teachings here and became an exceptional military strategist. In the nearby Guiguzi Cave, a similar sand table replicates the spectacular desert and Gobi landscapes of China’s northwestern frontier. Crossing the “Lotus Dragon Palace Bridge,” beneath which a lotus pond sprays water like flying pearls and jade, you’ll feel a gentle breeze carrying wisps of clouds—like arriving at the legendary Yaochi (Jade Pool) of the Queen Mother of the West, leaving you refreshed and reluctant to leave.

Stepping out of the cave, the beauty remains unforgettable. Taiqing Cave is filled with wonders, a splendid array of jade-like scenes, each unique and collectively breathtaking. What I’ve seen and described is inevitably just a fraction. The developers and guides of this deep cave have infused it with Chinese Taoist characteristics—an interpretation open to personal perspective. Taoist philosophy is so profound and mysterious, yet the cave’s scenery aligns so well and appears so lifelike. Witnessing this blessed paradise firsthand, I couldn’t help but applaud the extraordinary natural craftsmanship and the millions of years of gradual formation. At the same time, I gained new insight into Laozi’s famous saying: “A tower of nine stories begins with a mound of earth; a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” Everything begins with small efforts, starting now, persisting without ceasing—success will naturally follow.