Shanyang Moon Cave

　　The Moon Cave Scenic Area is situated in Banshan Town, approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Shanyang County. The entire area is located at the foot of a majestic canyon, 3 kilometers downstream where the Jinqian River and Huashui River converge. Covering a total area of 30 square kilometers, it features nearly 50 attractions for visitors to explore. Its natural landscapes are renowned for their grandeur, perilousness, wonder, serenity, and beauty. Mountains, caves, and water blend harmoniously into the scenery.

　　The Moon Cave Scenic Area mainly consists of a pristine natural resort centered around the Moon Cave landscape belt, which was naturally formed over hundreds of millions of years, and the Jiaoshi Gorge landscape belt that winds through the mountains. The Moon Cave Scenic Area is located at the border of the ancient Chu and Qin regions, where the cultures of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River converge and blend. Among the historic "Eight Scenic Spots of Shanyang," "Stone Gorge String of Heaven," "Solitary Mountain Layered in Green," and "Golden Flowers Converge" are all found within the Jinqian River Valley of the Moon Cave Scenic Area. Visitors can enjoy leisure time in the natural surroundings of the Moon Cave, savor local farmhouse cuisine, and fully experience the folk culture unique to this Chu-Qin borderland.

　　The Moon Cave is ancient and mystical, extending eight li deep with nine layers of caverns, resembling an underground labyrinth. It is nestled halfway up the mountainside, about 300 meters above the valley floor. The cave entrance is shaped like a full moon, aligned with the sky. There are caves within the mountains, and mountains within the caves, with interconnected passages that twist and turn endlessly. The Moon Cave is also called the Sun Cave, consisting of a front and rear chamber. Both chambers boast fantastical and mysterious scenes, with stalactites hanging and stalagmites piled up—some crystal clear as jade, taking on various shapes as if by will, displaying endless forms and boundless variations. According to beautiful legends, it was the meeting place of Houyi and Chang'e. The Moon Cave and Moon Rabbit Cave together form a attraction characterized by grandeur, peril, wonder, serenity, and beauty, and to date, it remains the largest discovered karst cave in northwest China.

　　Key Attractions: Moon Cave karst cave landscape, Jinqian River riverine landscape, plant ecological landscape, celestial moon phase landscape, mountain massif landscape, stacked stone terraced fields landscape

　　Best Time to Visit: The Moon Cave Scenic Area features a semi-humid mountain climate with monsoon influences, transitional between subtropical and warm temperate zones. It boasts clear mountains and rivers, distinct seasons, no severe winters, and no intense summers. Springs are mild and windy, while autumns are damp and rainy. The annual average temperature is 13.1°C, with 709 mm of precipitation and a frost-free period of 207 days.

　　Shopping in Moon Cave: Shangluo City is a mountainous region characterized by “eight parts mountain, one part water, and one part farmland.” According to the *Continued Shang Prefecture Records*, Shangluo’s outskirts were “renowned for their richness, almost comparable to those near Shu.” This shows that Shangluo has long been celebrated for its abundant resources. Folklore speaks of “Shangluo’s Three Treasures”: walnuts, chestnuts, and dragon beard grass. Shangluo is known for its walnuts, large chestnuts from Zhen’an and Zhashui, dry red and white wines from Danfeng, as well as persimmon cakes from Shangzhou.

　　Scenic Area Address: Banshan Town, Shanyang County, Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province

　　Transportation: In Shanyang County, you can take a minibus to Banshan Town, then transfer to a shuttle bus heading to Jinqian River to reach the destination.

　　Self-driving Route: Xi'an – Lantian (expressway) – Shanyang County – Sehepu Town – Banshan Town – Moon Cave Scenic Area