Yixi Cave

Yixi Cave

It is located in Shidongwa, northeast of Yixi Village, about 35 kilometers southeast of Pianguan County. Inside the stone cave area, there are three caves— one to the south and two to the north, separated by a gully. The southern one, facing south and shaded, is called the “Yin Cave.” Legend has it that it is perilous, so only the entrance remains while the interior has been sealed off. The northern cave has a narrow opening and an extremely shallow interior; the other cave, facing north and bathed in sunlight, is called the “Yang Cave,” which is Yixi Cave.

Yixi Cave extends about five kilometers, winding and twisting inside, with varying elevations and dramatic differences in width. Some parts rise over ten meters high, while others are just a foot or so deep; some chambers are as spacious as small theaters, while others are so narrow that you can only squeeze through sideways.

Inside the cave, snow-white stalactites are abundant, with grotesquely shaped stalagmites standing tall and glistening with moisture, each uniquely formed and strikingly lifelike. There is also the crystal-clear “Azure Dragon Pool” spring; the “Immortal Bridge” made of crisscrossing bizarre rocks that spans the air; the fine, flour-like “Bright Sand Ridge” shimmering brilliantly; the massive “Bell and Drum Stones”; and the smooth, milky-white “Horse-Control Column” standing solitary like a pillar. There is also a small cave shaped like a basin, with a chilly breeze blowing at its mouth and the sound of water audible nearby. Legend says this is the dwelling place of immortals.