Shiqiao Longyan Scenic Area

Shiqiao Longyan Scenic Area

The Longyan Scenic Area, located in Shiqiao Town, Cangwu County, is commonly referred to as "Longyan" and is a noted scenic spot of Cangwu. It was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 1987.

The scenic area is situated about 700 meters west of the town center of Shiqiao Town, Cangwu County, and houses limestone karst caves. The cave extends 100 meters in length and 60 meters in width, running from north to south, with a passage that goes all the way through to the mountain peak. When looking up, one can see the blue sky, which is why it is also called Tongtianyan (Sky-Connecting Cave). A small stream runs through the cave with crystal-clear water. The cave walls are covered with peculiar and fantastic rock formations formed by limestone deposits over hundreds of years, resembling trees, flowers, grasses, birds, beasts, insects, fish, lions, tigers, dragons, phoenixes, Guan Yu, fairies, and more—each shape vivid and lifelike. Inside the cave, there is an opening to the sky where “you can look up to see the moon and listen to birds singing by the ear,” hence its alternate name, Tongtianyan. The cave features uniquely suspended stalactites, including natural formations shaped like stone horses, stone sheep, stone rabbits, stone turtles, stone snakes, as well as a statue of Guan Yu and a duet stage dedicated to Liu Sanjie. The cliffs inside and outside the cave are inscribed with poetic writings by dignitaries and literati such as Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, and Huang Xuchu. Longyan was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 1987.