Seven-Star Cave in Guilin

Seven-Star Cave in Guilin

Also known as Qixia Cave or Bi Xu Rock, it is located on the mountainside west of Putuo Mountain. Originally an underground riverbed, tectonic movements caused the river to rise and emerge from the ground, forming a cave. It has a history of over one million years. Over the long years, rainwater seeped continuously through the cave ceiling, dissolving limestone which then crystallized inside the cave, thus forming a variety of exquisitely shaped, crystal-clear stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and draperies.

The scenic area consists of seven rocks, eight caves, five lakes, and six hills scattered across a vast lake district. It is renowned for its spectacular mountain and water scenery, the harmonious interplay between lakes and hills, and the mysterious beauty of its caves. The seven towering and elegant limestone peaks in the area are arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper, hence the name Seven-Star Cave. They are divided into two rows — the southern row, from east to west, includes Yanfeng Rock, Yuping Rock, Shishi Cave, Tianzhu Rock, and Xianzhang Rock, while Apo Rock stands alone in the north. Between the two rows lies a small earthen hill, with Bohai Tower to the west and Xinghu Travel Agency to the east. Shishi Rock has been famous nationwide for its scenic beauty for hundreds of years and serves as the central hub for Xinghu Lake tours. It is also where many historical sites within the Seven-Star Cave Scenic Area are concentrated. The summit of the rock is called Songtai, believed to be the place where the Heavenly Emperor feasted with the gods. Below the rock is a massive stone chamber cave, with an entrance only about 2 meters high. Inside, the cavernous dome is vast, reaching over 30 meters in height, and is covered with stalactites, stone pillars, and draperies. There is an underground river inside the cave, and visitors can take a boat ride to view attractions such as Xuanyan Platform, Black Rock, Deer Cave, and Guang Rock. The most famous features inside Shishi Cave are its stone inscriptions. At the cave entrance stands a stone tablet engraved with “Record of the Stone Chamber in Duanzhou” by Li Yi of the Tang Dynasty. The cave houses over 270 cliff inscriptions, dating from the Tang and Song dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, many created by master calligraphers, earning it the title “Thousand-Year Poetry Gallery.” To the right of Shishi Cave is the Shuiyue Palace, originally built in the Ming Dynasty and renovated in 1957. Nestled against the mountain and near the water, with red walls and green tiles, it complements the Five-Dragon Pavilion and Flying Dragon Bridge in front of the cave. The reflection of the Lanyue Pavilion atop Shishi Rock and Shuiyue Palace in the lake creates a breathtaking scene known as “Moonlit Water and Cloudy Rock.” At the eastern foot of Apo Rock in the northern part of the lake area lies Shuangyuan Cave, over 270 meters long, featuring an underground river formed by the convergence of two sources. The cave is winding and deep, with uniquely shaped rocks and stunning scenery. Visitors can take a small boat to explore inside. In the southern part of Xinghu Lake is the Xinghu Amusement Park, covering more than 200,000 square meters, and is a large-scale amusement park that blends modern rides with traditional Chinese garden design.

Seven-Star Cave is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. The upper level contains only remnants such as the Laojun Platform, while the lower level is an underground river still in development. The section open to visitors is the middle level. The tour route is 814 meters long, with the highest point at 27 meters and the widest at 49 meters. The temperature inside the cave remains around 20°C year-round. There are up to 35 scenic spots, including “Elderly Watching Opera,” “Bumper Harvest,” “Ancient Banyan Tree Greets Guests,” “Rabbit Guarding the Gate,” “Immortal Drying Nets,” “Giant Rock Suppressing a Snake,” “Nine Dragons Playing in Water,” and “Milky Way Magpie Bridge.” These landscapes are incredibly beautiful, whimsical, and lifelike, often likened to a fairyland or the “First Cave Under Heaven.”

Zhang Wenxi, a scholar from Guilin who passed the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty, inscribed the words “First Cave Under Heaven” at the entrance of Seven-Star Cave, signifying that it is the finest among all famous mountain caves. In 1963, after visiting Seven-Star Cave, [a person] wrote a poem: “The ocean carved through the mountain to form a cave, with stone icicles frozen into jade-like sculptures. For a thousand years, secluded grottoes have sheltered people from disasters, and now visitors rejoice in this prosperous age.” In 1963, Guo Moruo visited Seven-Star Cave and composed a ci poem at the back entrance of the cave.

Ancient writings also describe it thus: “All things abound, with immortals dashing about on the grand stage. Though it differs in size from the Reed Flute Cave, it is equally magnificent, making it hard to choose one over the other. Now there are two cave heavens on earth, and the stars that fell from the sky have formed seven wonders. Twenty-four years later, I revisit the old place, astonished by the transformation. The universe has changed, the sun has risen. Ghosts have fled, and the gloom has lifted. Who would doubt that the songs of progress were not real? Electric wires pierce through cliffs, shining brilliantly, and ladders cling to the walls, ensuring safe passage. Look at the red lights shining halfway to the heavenly gate — how radiant!”

Ticket price: 75 RMB (adult combo ticket for Guilin Seven-Star Scenic Area + Seven-Star Cave)

Opening hours: 1. Seven-Star Cave operating hours: 8:30–17:30; Adventure Tree operating hours: 9:00–17:00

Suggested visit duration: 2 hours

Scenic highlights: From the Liberation Bridge looking eastward, the seven peaks of the Seven-Star Scenic Area consist of four on the left and three on the right. Remarkably, their arrangement perfectly mirrors the pattern of the Big Dipper, vividly illustrating the spectacle of “the Big Dipper in the heavens, the Seven Stars on earth.” The Seven-Star Scenic Area features classic karst landform landscapes. Historically, it has given rise to attractions such as the “Big Dipper,” “Flower Bridge Rainbow Shadow” (Flower Bridge — one of Guilin’s New Twenty-Four Sceneries), “Camel Mountain Scarlet Glow” (Camel Mountain — one of Guilin’s New Eight Sceneries), “Qixia True Realm” (Seven-Star Cave — one of Guilin’s Ancient Eight Sceneries), “Dragon’s Hidden Traces” (Longyin Rock — one of Guilin’s New Twenty-Four Sceneries), and “Guilin Stele Forest” (one of Guilin’s New Twenty-Four Sceneries).

Take bus routes 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30, 52, 97, 204, or the Shuguangsuo Special Line, get off at Seven-Star Park Station, and walk to the site.

Tips

1. On weekends or holidays, hotels in the scenic area are often fully booked, so it’s advisable to reserve in advance. For convenience, consider joining a tour group to ensure accommodation.

2. Be cautious of the cold mountain spring water. Warm up before taking a cold spring bath to prevent illness caused by sudden exposure to icy water.

3. Protect the environment within the scenic area. Do not litter or damage natural or cultural facilities.

4. There are many delicious foods available at local restaurants, tea houses, and street stalls. Pay attention to food hygiene when dining.

Seven-Star Park