Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin

Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin

Originally named Lishan Mountain, also known as Yishan or Chen Shui Shan, and commonly referred to as Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain), Elephant Trunk Hill is located at the confluence of Taohua River and Li River in Guilin City, Guangxi Province. It is one of Guilin’s famous mountains, with major attractions including the Water Moon Cave, Elephant Eye Rock, Puxian Pagoda, Hongfeng Temple, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Revolutionary Relics Exhibition Hall within the temple. Nearby, there is also the only surviving stupa from the Sui and Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan Temple. The Water Moon Cave is situated right next to the riverbank, with the Li River flowing through it—like a bright moon floating on water—and the mountain rocks extending into the river resemble an elephant drinking from the Li River, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has been a popular tourist destination. A poem by Song dynasty poet Ji Bei Chu Shi titled "In Harmony with the Water Moon Cave" reads: “There is a bright moon beneath the water, and a bright moon floating above. As the water flows, the moon remains; when the moon goes, the water continues to flow.” This vividly depicts the scenery. It is among the first batch of national 4A-level scenic spots, located on Binjiang Road in Guilin City, at the confluence of Taohua River and Li River, accessible by bus routes 2, 23, 16, 57, 58, and 88. Covering an area of 118,800 square meters, it is a karst landform natural scenic area, named for its resemblance to a giant elephant drinking from the river. It became a renowned tourist attraction as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, boasting over 1,000 years of tourism history.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Located at the confluence of Taohua River and Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill lies 200 meters west of Wenchang Bridge. With an elevation of 200 meters, it rises 55 meters above the river surface, stretching 108 meters in length and 100 meters in width, covering a mountain area of 1.3 hectares. It is composed of pure limestone deposited on the seabed 360 million years ago, and strikingly resembles a giant elephant extending its trunk to drink from the river. Its magic lies first in its lifelike shape, and second in the way the space between the trunk and legs forms a bright moon reflected on the water, creating the spectacular view known as “Elephant Trunk Hill Moon Reflection.” As a result, the hill has become a symbol of Guilin’s landscape and the city itself, with many local products from Guilin and even Guangxi featuring the image of Elephant Trunk Hill.

The Water Moon Cave is situated between the elephant’s trunk and legs on Elephant Trunk Hill. Around 12,000 years ago, crustal uplift and the narrowing of the Li River accelerated the formation of the cave, resulting in a round, east-west tunnel. It is 17 meters long, 9.5 meters wide, 12 meters high, and covers an area of about 150 square meters. The cave entrance faces the sunrise and is also called Chaoyang Cave (Sun-facing Cave). However, as the cave appears to float on the water like a bright moon, the name “Water Moon Cave” has endured. “Elephant Trunk Hill Moon Reflection” is one of Guilin’s most spectacular natural wonders. Facing south, it pairs with the Moon Cave of Chuanshan Mountain, one hanging in the sky and the other floating on the water, forming the unique “Twin Moons of the Li River” landscape.

Ming dynasty poet Kong Yong wrote: “The elephant’s trunk clearly drinks from the jade river; a westerly breeze stirs ripples in response. The green hills are naturally full of wonder, pleasing the eye endlessly in broad daylight.” This ever-charming Elephant Trunk Hill is located at the confluence of the Li River and Taohua River in the southern part of the city. Its shape resembles a giant elephant extending its trunk to drink from the river, hence the name. The large cave between the trunk and the body is the famous Water Moon Cave. Fan Chengda described it as “perfectly round, looking as neat as a full moon when viewed from afar.” The Li River flows through the Water Moon Cave, allowing small boats to navigate. On moonlit nights, the reflection creates the “Elephant Trunk Hill Moon Reflection” spectacle, inspiring endless verses from poets throughout history. Inside and outside the cave, there are over fifty ancient stone carvings, among which the works of patriotic Song poets Zhang Xiaoxiang, Fan Chengda, and Lu You are the most renowned. Although Lu You never visited Guilin, he was captivated by its stunning landscapes. He sent his poems and letters to his friend Du Sigong, then the prefect of Zhaizhou (now Pingle County, Guilin City, Guangxi). Du had them “carved into the cliff rocks to share with the world.”

At the foot of Elephant Trunk Hill, a stone path leads up to the summit. The mountaintop is flat and shaded by trees, where the Taiping Army once set up cannons to attack the city. At the eastern end of the summit stands a solid brick pagoda from the Ming dynasty, named Puxian Pagoda because it houses an image of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. The pagoda’s shape resembles a round treasure bottle or a sword handle, leading some to call it the Bottle Pagoda or Sword Handle Pagoda.

At the southern foot of Elephant Trunk Hill is the recently renovated Yunfeng Temple, originally built during the Tang dynasty. The temple displays historical relics from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. To the west of the temple is a stupa, and the site was once home to the Kaiyuan Temple. After failing in his fifth attempt to sail to Japan during the Tang dynasty, the monk Jianzhen drifted to Hainan Island. On his way back north, he stayed at Kaiyuan Temple in Guilin, presiding over grand ceremonies and spreading Buddhist teachings. Unfortunately, the ancient temple has long been lost, leaving only this pagoda to tell of its former glory. Elephant Trunk Hill, with its beautiful scenery, is a symbol of Guilin’s landscape and the emblem of the city, beloved by visitors from China and abroad.

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