Taiji Cave Scenic Area in Xuancheng City

Taiji Cave Scenic Area in Xuancheng City

Taiji Cave (simplified Chinese: 太极洞; traditional Chinese: 太極洞; pinyin: Tàijí Dòng; literally: ‘Cave of the Supreme Ultimate’) is a karst cave located on Shilong Mountain (石龙山) in Guangde County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China, where the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui meet. Ming Dynasty writer and poet Feng Menglong described the cave as one of the “Four Absolutes Under Heaven” (天下四绝 Tīanxià Sìjué). It is also considered a primary “Place of Enlightenment” (道教道场 Dàojiào Dàochǎng) by Taoists, similar to the Bodhimanda of Buddhism. The 200-million-year-old cave is divided into dry and wet layers representing the yin and yang of Chinese philosophy. 

Introduction of Taiji Cave Scenic Area

Reputation

The Ming Dynasty writer and poet Feng Menglong described the cave as one of the “Four Absolutes Under Heaven”. It is also considered a primary “Place of Enlightenment” by Taoists, similar to the Bodhimanda of Buddhism. The 200-million-year-old Cave is divided into dry and wet layers referring to the yin and yang of Chinese philosophy.
In February 2004, the Chinese State Council included the cave on its fifth list of National Scenic Attractions. It is also a 4A rated National Tourism Area.

History and Features 

Taiji Cave formed about 200 million years ago. Now the depth of the cave is 54 hundred meters. It consists of upper cave, lower cave, dry cave, water cave, and sky cave. There are hills in the cave and caves in the hill. All the caves there are connected. They are wonderful and mysterious. Taiji cave, mainly consists of Dry cave and Water cave, is the largest natural limestone cave in East China. There are more than five hundred spots there. They, we can say, have the features of precipitousness, wonderfulness, colorfulness, and fantasty.

The “Ten Large Landscapes”

These interior features of the cave are largely based on their resemblance to other objects. Some are individual rock formations, whilst others are groups.

  • Lord Laozi (太上老君 Tàishàng Lǎojūn)
  • Dripping Water Penetrates Stone (滴水穿石 Dīshuĭ Chuānshí)
  • Luxuriant Old Tree (槐荫古树 Huáiyìn Gŭshù)
  • Capsized Boat of the Immortals (仙舟覆挂 Xiān Zhōu Fùguà)
  • Twin Heavenly Towers (双塔凌霄 Shuāng Tǎ Língxiāo)
  • Golden Dragon Coiled around Jade Pillar (金龙盘柱 Jīnlóng Pán Zhù)
  • Yellow Mountain of the Cave (洞中黄山 Dòngzhōng Huángshān)
  • Chamber of the Myriad Rock Formations (万象揽胜 Wànxiàng Lǎn Shèng)
  • Mural of the Supreme Ultimate (太极壁画 Tàijí Bìhuà)
  • Stalactite of Heaven’s Eye (壶天极目 Hú Tiānjí Mù)

Where is Taiji Cave Scenic Area Location

Taiji Cave is a karst cave located on Shilong Mountain (石龙山) in Guangde County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province.

  • 25km from Guangde County
  • 35km from Yixing City, Jiangsu Province
  • 110km from Nanjing City
  • 80km from Changzhou
  • 80km from Wuxi City
  • 130km from Hangzhou city

Useful Travel Tips

  • Tickets: 80 yuan for all tickets; active-duty military personnel, disabled persons, reporters, guides, children under 6 years old or children under 1.2 meters in height can be visited free of charge;

How to Get There

Take the bus from Xuancheng City to Guangde, 71 kilometers, 7:00-17:30 every half an hour,

Main Attractions in Anhui

Edited by  Lynette Fu/付云锐