Shitong Cave

　　Shitong Cave is situated on the north side of Chaoyang Temple in Jianshi County. At the northwest cliff edge outside the cave, trickling streams cascade down like strings of jade beads. During prolonged heavy rains, mountain torrents rush down the cliff face, forming spectacular waterfalls. The interior of Shitong Cave is spacious and dome-like, with a shaft at the eastern end that leads straight to the mountaintop, resembling a skylight—hence the name “Shitong” (Stone Passage) Cave. The cave is 11.5 meters high and 160 meters wide, with a flat floor and crimson-hued walls. A small stream drips year-round from the cave ceiling, never drying up in any season. The sound of the dripping water resembles pearls falling on a jade plate or notes played on a wooden xylophone, creating a rhythmic melody that sounds like beautiful music. An ancient poet once wrote in praise: “A winding hole opens to the sky, filtering sand and stones with a gentle trickle. When will I wash my jaded ears clean, and sit leisurely to enjoy this music surpassing strings and flutes?” The cave enjoys ample sunlight and good air circulation, offering a cool retreat in summer and warmth in winter, making it an ideal place for summer escapes and leisure. Legend has it that the Fifth Peak Zen Master lived here in seclusion for years, gathering herbs and refining elixirs. Just a stone’s throw from the cave entrance stands a karst peak over four meters tall, serving as a natural barrier before the cave. In front of Shitong Cave, lush woods, slender bamboos, and green grass create picturesque scenery. The cave walls preserve numerous inscriptions and poems by literati throughout the ages. Huang Tingjian, a renowned poet and master calligrapher of the Song Dynasty, left behind a verse praising the cave: “Ancient trees rustle in the cave-mouth breeze; those of old once escaped their cages here. Before the cliffs flows a trickling stream—perfect to cleanse the dust from one’s heart, following the hermit’s way.” Today, Shitong Cave has become a popular destination for travelers from around the world.