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Sanyou Cavern

The Sanyou Cavern is found on the north side of the Xiling Mountain, which is back at the mouth of the Xiling Gorge, and faces the Xialao Stream. The Cavern is a major historical and cultural site, and is under provincial protection in Hubei Province.


The cavern is a Karst-type cave shaped in the form of an irregular rectangle. The cave has a depth of 30 meters (98 feet) and a width of about 20 meters (66 feet). Three stalactite pillars divide the cave into two parts. The front of the cave is bright and spacious, while in the back it is gloomy and narrow. Rocks in the cave are full of limestone drapes taking on various shapes.

The Sanyou Cavern was unknown to public until the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when three eminent writers came across this wonderland. The three celebrities were Bai Juyi, Bai Xingjian (Bai Juyi's brother) and Yuan Zhen. They composed poems which were inscribed on the walls to record the beautiful sceneries. Bai Juyi wrote 'Preface to Sanyou Cavern', which literally means 'three people traveled in the cavern'; so we have the name Sanyou Cavern.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), many celebrities visited the cavern, and carved poems and texts on the walls and cliffs inside and outside of the cavern. From then on the cavern became a place where literary people came to enjoy the writing through the ages. There are more than 60 inscriptions in and around the cave that are treasured for their historical value, or for calligraphy appreciation. The grotesque natural scene, together with the calligraphy is sure to impress you.