Shiniu Ancient Cave

　　Shiniu Ancient Cave, located at the foot of Tianzhu Mountain, features over 300 stone inscriptions of poems and writings by officials, scholars, and literati from various dynasties. The eminent scholar Huang Tingjian once built a study here to read, the great painter Li Gonglin painted his portrait sitting by the stone ox, and during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song in the Huangyou era, Wang Anshi visited the site and left an inscribed poem. It holds high research value.

　　　In the western valley of Sanzu Temple, there is a large rock resembling a sleeping ox, surrounded by cliffs forming a cave-like shape, with murmuring springs, hence the name Shiniu Ancient Cave ("Stone Ox Ancient Cave"). Both "Shiniu Ancient Cave" and "Valley Stream of the Mountain Valley" are among the Ten Scenic Spots of Qianyang. The poetic inscriptions here vary greatly in size—some characters are as large as a dou (a traditional measuring unit), others as small as a cup. Some are carved on hundred-foot cliffs, while others are engraved within deep, secluded cave rocks.

　　In terms of genre, the inscriptions cover poetry, songs, odes, and inscriptions, representing a complete range of literary forms. In terms of script styles, regular, running, clerical, seal, and cursive scripts are all present. The carving methods include both raised (yang) and recessed (yin) characters, combining square and round forms. Chronologically, the inscriptions span the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic of China, and modern eras, with each dynasty represented. The quantity per dynasty ranges from as few as two pieces to as many as 109, showing no gaps in historical continuity.

Tianzhu Mountain

Sanzu Temple

Mysterious Valley

Black Tiger Waterfall

Immortal Peach Stone

West Pass Fortress

Tianning Fortress

Cliff Carvings

Mazu Hermitage