Locust Tree Cave

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　　The Locust Tree Cave Scenic Area is situated 28 kilometers south of Chaoyang City, within Nanshuangmiao Township, Chaoyang County. It lies at the foot of Baishan Mountain, 1.3 kilometers west of the Chaoying Road, covering an area of 57 square kilometers.

　　Architecture in the Locust Tree Cave area first appeared during the Sui and Tang dynasties, flourishing especially in the Liao Dynasty. During the Jin and Yuan periods, many visitors from Jinzhou, Xingcheng, and other places came here for sightseeing and summer retreats. By the Qing Dynasty, extensive renovations were carried out on the temples, which enjoyed great popularity for worship. The scenic area features temples and pagodas, abundant water sources and forests, a pleasant climate, and rugged rocks. The spring water is cool and refreshing, earning the reputation of “Divine Dragon Sacred Water.” Additionally, there is a stone pagoda built during the Liao Dynasty, exquisitely crafted and uniquely styled, designated as a municipal cultural relics protection unit. The temple, named “Yongquan Temple,” is a structure from the Liao Dynasty.

　　The “Locust Tree Cave Natural Scenic Area” is an excellent summer retreat in Chaoyang City. The mountain is covered with thriving peach, plum, apricot, mulberry, pine, cypress, elm, poplar, and especially locust trees, forming dense ancient woodlands. The most spectacular sight is the several 300-year-old locust trees in the temple that stretch their canopy like giant umbrellas, creating a magnificent view — the origin of the name “Locust Tree Cave.”