Guigu Cave in Zhangjiajie

Guigu Cave in Zhangjiajie

Guigu Cave is located within the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park (天门山国家森林公园) in Zhangjiajie (张家界市). It is one of the sixteen caves on Tianmen Mountain (天门山), perched on a cliff along the western route of the mountain summit. The cave gets its name from the legendary strategist Guiguzi (鬼谷子), who is said to have lived and practiced his skills there. The entrance of the cave is square-shaped, situated more than 100 meters above the mountain peak, with a sheer drop beneath it.

Legend has it that during the Warring States period, the famous scholar and strategist Guiguzi once resided in this cave, where he studied the Book of Changes (易经) and practiced martial arts, ultimately creating the renowned “Guigu Martial Arts” (鬼谷神功). The cave is also believed to house secret martial arts texts, such as the “Thirty-Six Heavenly Scales of Tianmen” (天门三十六量天尺). These mysterious associations gave rise to the name “Guigu Cave.”

Guigu Cave Viewpoint (观鬼谷洞)

The Guigu Cave viewpoint offers the best distant view of the cave. It is located on the western route at the peak of Tianmen Mountain (天门山). The cave entrance is situated 100 meters above the mountain top and opens to a steep abyss. The location is extremely dangerous and historically significant, as it is said that Guiguzi, the ancient master, once secluded himself here to practice and teach the local people his martial arts skills, such as the “Guigu Divine Art” (大庸硬气功), and authored the famous book “Guiguzi” (鬼谷子), also known as “The Strategies of Dispersion and Unification” (捭阖策).

Numerous legends surround the cave, including a record in the “Local Chronicles of Yongding County” (永定县乡土志), which describes how a woodcutter mistakenly entered the cave and discovered ancient inscriptions on the cave walls, resembling seal script. Attempting to return later, he was prevented by swirling clouds.

Contact Information

Phone: 0744-8369999

Estimated Time to Visit

1-3 hours

Transportation

You can take the Tianmen Mountain cable car to the upper station and then walk along the Guigu plank road to reach the cave.

Entrance Fee

No additional entrance fee is required for the cave, as it is included in the general ticket for Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park.

Opening Hours

Peak season (March 1st – November 30th): 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last ticket sold at 4:30 PM)
Off-season (December 1st – February 28th): 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last ticket sold at 4:00 PM)