Qinglian Cave

Qinglian Cave

Qinglian Cave is a cultural relic protection unit of Xinjiang County.

The Qinglian Cave Natural Scenic Reserve is located on the mountainside southeast of the Gushan Mountain, about 3 kilometers north of Group 9 (Huangtupo) in Qiaogoutou Village, Zhezhang Town, Xinjiang County. It faces east and sits to the west, stretching approximately 88 meters from east to west and 50 meters from north to south, covering a total area of over 4,400 square meters. It was established during the Tang Dynasty. The cave is a natural formation, irregularly semi-circular, with a main and secondary altar situated near the front edge of the cliff inside the cave. The main altar features a lotus base, measuring 7.4 meters in length, 6.14 meters in width, and 1.32 meters in height. To its northwest is a cave hall, where secondary altars on the southern, northern, and western sides all house plaques of various deities. The original statues inside the cave hall behind the main altar have been destroyed. Opposite the altars is a stone cave with seven chambers. Inside the cave, there remains a stele from the 18th year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1178) titled “Record Stele of the Holy Shrine Assembly,” as well as a stele from the 28th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1549) titled “Record of the Reconstruction of Qinglian Cave.” Additionally, remnants of Jin Dynasty Dading-era murals cover an area of 2 square meters. According to the inscriptions, this site was where the scholar Wen Zhongzi studied. It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in 1995.

Qiaogoutou Village: The Origin of the Village Name

Qiaogoutou Village is located beside a gully. In the past, people had to cross a bridge to get there, hence the name “Bridge Gully Head,” which later evolved into Qiaogoutou. Huangtupo, situated at the foot of the Lüliang Mountains and mainly composed of loess soil, is thus named Huangtupo and belongs to Qiaogoutou. Baoxiangpo, also located at the foot of the Lüliang Mountains and derived from Qiaogoutou, was historically an area with poor conditions and population decline, leading to its hopeful name meaning “Protect the Hometown Slope,” and it also belongs to Qiaogoutou.

Basic Information

Qiaogoutou is located in the northernmost part of Zhezhang Town. The village includes two natural villages—Huangtupo and Baoxiangpo—nine resident groups, 466 households, and 202... More detailed information about Qiaogoutou Village++