Wuyi Stone Goose Rock

　　Stone Goose Rock is situated in Taoxitan Township, 7 kilometers west of Wuyi County, spanning an area of 10 square kilometers. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills and complex rock structures, with well-developed fractures that create unique landforms. The area has a subtropical monsoon climate, mild and pleasant with distinct seasons. Within the scenic zone, which sits at an elevation of one to three meters, lush forests, elegant peaks, and clear waters form a naturally picturesque scene. It is renowned for its extraordinary rocks, beautiful lakes, famous temples, and revolutionary sites from the Red Army era.

　　The Unique Rocks and Caves Scenic Area boasts numerous bare rocks, cliffs, caves, and peculiar stones, such as Stone Goose Rock, Whale Rock, Golden Ox Rock, and Five Deities Stones, creating a rich variety of surface rock formations. The main attraction, Stone Goose Rock, consists of a massive boulder and a large cave beneath the rocky slope, standing prominently amidst the continuous hills and valleys. From a distance, it resembles a stone goose about to take flight, while the large cave aptly looks like the goose’s beak as it eats, hence the name Stone Goose Rock. The floor area of Stone Goose Cave exceeds 2,500 square meters. When it rains, a huge waterfall cascades down from behind the cave, covering the entire cave entrance, evoking images of the Water Curtain Cave from *Journey to the West*. The waterfall flows into a pool in front of the cave, where lotus plants add an especially elegant and charming touch. Inside the cave is the wooden-and-stone structure of Cihang Cave Temple, a nunnery believed to have been established during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty. Inside the cave is a small stone mortar said to produce a mortarful of white rice every day—enough to provide for the nuns’ needs. However, when the old nun became too greedy and had the mortar enlarged, it stopped producing rice altogether. To the west of Stone Goose Rock stands a stone beam over a hundred feet long, commonly known as the Immortal Bridge. It is over 30 meters high and more than 10 meters wide, stretching across two mountains. The bridge deck is flat, making it easy for people and cattle to cross, earning it the title “The Number One Beam of Wu and Yue.” Beneath the bridge lies a deep abyss; when water levels are high, the stream beneath glistens and flows like liquid silver. On sunny days, sitting under the bridge is a refreshing and pleasant experience.

　　Introduction to the Minghu Beautiful Waters Scenic Area. Behind Stone Goose Rock lies Jiaolong Temple Reservoir, covering an area of 17.7 square kilometers with a total storage capacity of 2.35 million cubic meters, forming an artificial lake. The lake is dotted with islands, embraced by surrounding mountains, and adorned with graceful bends, creating an elegant landscape painting that is serene and delightful. The area is also home to cold springs and cascading waterfalls along the valleys that feed into the lake, all quite captivating. The surrounding rock formations resemble various objects with striking likeness. To the north of the lake is “Stone Lion Mountain,” and to the south is “Stone Elephant,” together forming the image of a lion and elephant guarding the gate. On the eastern side of the lake lies the massive Turtle Mountain. Standing atop Turtle Mountain, one can admire the curious sight of the “Turtle Mountain” carrying the “Fish and Turtles Traveling Together.” Walking along the lakeside paths, visitors can also see over ten vividly shaped rock formations, including “Dancing Lion” and “Golden Dog Guarding Silver Mountain.”

　　Cihang Cave Temple, built during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years. Nestled beside rocks and within a cave, the temple exudes an extraordinary presence. Despite the vicissitudes of time, it retains its original charm and stands as one of the typical examples of ancient Buddhist temples in central and southern Zhejiang. The Dragon Palace Grotto is a semi-circular cave resembling a clam shell, with a dragon pond at its entrance. Visitors can take a pull boat from the dragon pond into the cave and ascend the steps to see 101 clay sculptures depicting figures from moral tales based on folklore. To the west of Stone Goose Rock lies Chenyan Hall, constructed during the Yuan Dynasty. The hall originally enshrined a statue of Hu Gong Da Di. Covering a construction area of over 1,000 square meters, the hall is fronted by a river-blocking dam called Chenyan, hence its name. The main gate of the hall faces three mountains arranged in a triangular pattern, giving rise to the saying “One Rank at Court.” Chenyan Hall was once extremely popular but suffered damage during certain historical periods and is currently under restoration.

　　Source: Jinhua Government Website