Rongshui Laojun Cave

　　Laojun Cave, also known as "Zhenxian Rock" or "Lingyan," is located 1.5 kilometers south of Rongshui Miao Autonomous County. The entire scenic area covers more than 10 hectares. There are two karst caves, with entrances about 20 meters high, 30 meters wide, and extending 50 meters deep. Originally, inside the cave there was a naturally formed stalagmite statue of Laojun (the Taoist deity) over 7 meters tall, with white hair and silver beard, vividly lifelike—hence the name Laojun Cave. During the Song Dynasty, Zhenxian Pavilion was built in the cave, but it has long been destroyed, leaving only 136 stone inscriptions from the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republic of China. These carvings include inscriptions, poems, essays, divinations, plaques, and images, featuring seal, clerical, regular, and cursive scripts. With diverse forms and rich content, they have drawn attention from scholars throughout history. Xu Hongzu (Xu Xiake), the famous geographer and traveler of the Ming Dynasty, stayed in Zhenxian Rock for as long as 13 days during his visit to Rongshui, mainly engaged in copying and collecting the stone inscriptions inside the cave. Wang Chang, a renowned epigrapher of the Qing Dynasty who compiled "Jinshi Cuibian," Lu Zengxiang who compiled "Baqiongshi Jinshi Buzheng," and the prominent official and scholar Xie Qikun who authored "YueXi Jinshi Lüe" all documented the stone inscriptions of Zhenxian Rock. According to the Jiaqing-era "Guangxi Tongzhi," Volume 260, quoting the Ming Dynasty’s Cao Xuequan’s "Guangxi Youlu": “Behind the cave there is a towering rock face, with the cave's mouth facing the river, where the clear stream meanders. On the cave walls are carved calligraphy and images. Inside the cave is a naturally formed statue of Laojun, seven meters tall, with white hair and beard, lifelike. It is said that Laojun was so captivated by this place that he chose to reside here.” Furthermore, it is noted that "the cave is one of the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, sacred sites of Taoism." In the Song Dynasty’s Shaoxing era, the famous poet and top imperial scholar Zhang Xiaoxiang visited the cave and was full of praise, calling it "the foremost sacred cave of Laojun under heaven." Emperor Taizong of Song bestowed 120 scrolls of imperial calligraphy, which were stored in the cave, and ordered the site to be renovated and named "Zhenxian Rock." The interior walls are covered with inscriptions, including no fewer than 17 Song Dynasty steles. Among them, the "Zhenxian Cave" inscription by Wang Zuo, a one-armed general under Yue Fei, features characters half a foot large with vigorous strokes. The "Yuanyou Party Register Stele" erected by Shen (a descendant of Shen Qian, a member of the Yuanyou Party of the Northern Song) is especially precious. The sights inside the cave are breathtaking, including the Heavenly Pillar Stone Star, Golden Thread Hanging a Gourd, Crane Rock Sunrise, Peaks Coming in Beauty, and Immortal Elders Playing Chess. There is a drum-shaped stalactite that rises from the ground; when lightly tapped, it rings like a bell, and the hanging stalactites above respond with echoing sounds that reverberate from near to far, deeply touching the heart.

　　Laojun Cave is the foremost of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Rongzhou, and can be described as a "water-moon cave-heaven." The clear and winding Lingshou Stream flows through the mountain behind the cave and runs across part of the cave for about 300 meters. Taking a small boat downstream from the back cave allows visitors to take in the full view of the cave, admire the cliff inscriptions on the cave walls, and view the variously shaped stalactites. Towering ancient trees shade the cave entrance, and two ancient stone bridges built during the Song Dynasty span the stream at the entrance. These bridges are exquisitely designed and still passable by vehicles today. Legend has it that Laojun, the Supreme Taoist Deity, traveled south to Rongling and arrived at this cave, where he was so enchanted that he couldn't bear to leave. He told people: "This cave is the most magnificent wonder under heaven. With its unique rocks, crystal-clear stream, I will not journey further west beyond the sandy desert. I shall dwell here." He then transformed into stone and remains in the cave forever. The cave thus gained its name and became one of the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, sacred sites of Taoism nationwide. During the Shaoxing reign of the Song Dynasty, the famous poet and top imperial scholar Zhang Xiaoxiang visited the cave and was full of admiration, calling it "the foremost sacred cave of Laojun under heaven." Emperor Taizong of Song stored 120 scrolls of imperial calligraphy in the cave and decreed its renovation as "Zhenxian Rock." The cave walls are covered in inscriptions, including 17 Song Dynasty steles alone. Among them, the "Zhenxian Cave" inscription by Wang Zuo, a one-armed general under Yue Fei, features characters half a foot large with strong strokes. Also particularly precious is the "Yuanyou Party Register Stele" erected by Shen (a descendant of Shen Qian, a member of the Yuanyou Party of the Northern Song). The cave offers stunning scenery, such as the Sky Pillar Stone Star, Golden Thread Hanging a Gourd, Crane Rock Sunrise, Peaks Coming in Beauty, and Immortal Elders Playing Chess. There is a drum-shaped stalactite that rises from the ground; when lightly tapped, it rings like a bell, and the hanging stalactites above respond with echoing sounds that reverberate from near to far, deeply touching the heart.

　　The Laojun Cave scenic area originally featured well-preserved structures such as the Three Pure Ones Hall, Imperial Calligraphy Pavilion, Ziwei Pavilion, Bao’en Temple, Suihan Pavilion, Hongyin Tower, Lushi Pagoda, Qingfeng Pavilion, Wangyuan Pavilion, and the Five Hundred Arhats Fengdu Mountain, as well as the natural stalagmite statue of Laojun. Due to historical reasons, many of these sites have been damaged. Currently, relevant departments have begun restoration efforts and have developed new attractions such as Hidden Immortal Cave, Water-Moon Cave, Goat Horn Cave, along with newly built gardens including a bonsai garden, peach blossom garden, lotus pond, and a sculpture of Xu Xiake for visitors to explore.

　　The garden and religious structures of Laojun Cave were first built in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. Since the Tang and Song periods, numerous literati have left behind a wealth of poems, travelogues, inscriptions, and cliff carvings—over a hundred in total—making it a precious historical and cultural heritage. Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty personally bestowed 120 scrolls of "Imperial Calligraphy Steles" which were stored in the cave, and he decreed Laojun Cave to be honored as "Zhenxian Rock." The Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake stayed in this cave for 13 days—the longest he stayed in any single cave during his 30 years of travels—and wrote a 5,000-word travelogue vividly describing the landscape, waterscapes, and legendary myths of Laojun Cave. Carrying a torch into the cave to explore its wonders, he encountered a giant python whose head and tail were hidden under stones blocking his path; he stepped over it, and the snake did not move, showing how deep and mysterious the cave was. Standing midway in the cave stream, you can see both the front and back entrances of Zhenxian Rock, naturally formed within the surrounding rock. Sunlight shines on both ends of the stream, resembling two bright moons rising from the water. This spectacular "water-moon cave-heaven" scene made Xu Xiake exclaim: "Laojun is the best under heaven, and this sight is the finest of Laojun!" The famed Song Dynasty poet Fan Chengda praised in his "Jia Hai Yan Dong Ji": "Rongzhou has the spiritual Lingyan Zhenxian Cave, said to rival even Guilin."