Jade Emperor Cave

Jade Emperor Cave is the largest grotto complex in Hunan Province, often hailed as the premier cave of the region, located 7.6 kilometers west of Zhangjiajie City. Carved by local wealthy gentry Li Jing in the fifth year of the Jiaqing reign (1800), the cave was hewn from natural karst caves along the sheer cliffs of Makong Mountain. The grotto complex consists of nine karst caves distributed across three levels — “Heaven,” “Earth,” and the “Underworld” — along the rock face, including caves such as the Heavenly Gate, the Star of Literature, the Lion, Thunder and Lightning, Confucius, and Cause and Effect. Dozens of stone sculptures remain, depicting emperors, sages, immortals, Buddhas, and various animals, all exquisitely crafted and lifelike. Visitors typically begin their tour at the Cause and Effect Cave of the Underworld level. This cave features a relatively spacious hall adorned with statues of the King of Hell, Ox-Head, and Horse-Face. The cave floor houses an underground river, scattered with numerous stalagmites. These diverse stalactites and stalagmites vary in thickness and density, creating a spectacular and ever-changing landscape. After visiting the Cause and Effect Cave, visitors can ascend stone steps to reach the Confucius Cave. Although the original statue of Confucius has been destroyed, the memorial tablet remains. Proceeding east from the Confucius Cave leads to the Lion Cave, which houses a statue of a majestic lion as well as a sculpture of Li Jing, the man who commissioned the cave’s carving. Through a narrow passageway, visitors can access the Tiger Dragon Cave, built in the sixth year of the Jiaqing reign (1801 AD). This cave contains statues representing Yao, Houji, Xie, and Gao Yao, symbolizing the four aspirations of “wise governance, bountiful harvest, educational prosperity, and peace.” Also on this level is the Ink Pool Cave, which features a statue of the God of Literature and inscriptions of couplets and poems. To the east of the Ink Pool Cave lies the Star of Literature Cave, home to a statue of the Star of Literature and a stone figure of Lu Ban, the patron saint of carpenters. Further east is the Jade Gold Cave, which houses a sculpture of the God of Land.