Wufeng Mountain

Also known as Brush Rack Mountain, Wufeng Mountain lies to the west of Ziyun County seat, stretching one kilometre from west to east. Its northwest side consists mostly of sheer cliffs, while a winding trail on the southeast leads up to the summit. The mountain rises abruptly amid farmland all around, standing like a natural screen. A television transmission tower towers atop its main peak.

Halfway up the mountain lies a connected cluster of seven caves of varying sizes: Elephant Trunk Cave, Crow Cave, Stone Dragon Cave, Lion Cave and others.

At the foot of the mountain stands a newly built circular Crane Pond, surrounded by green pine trees, bamboo and blooming flowers. Ascending the stone steps on the right side of the pond, you will reach the Cooling Pavilion. This flat-roofed reinforced concrete building is supported by neatly arranged polished stone columns. The ceiling is inlaid with carved plastic panels, with a chandelier hanging in the centre.

Thirty metres further ahead stands the Longevity Pavilion, completed in 1983. With upturned eaves and an antique design, the pavilion bears a carved pattern of two phoenixes facing the sun. Six vivid green dragons are embedded on its six corners, as if soaring through clouds.

Climbing another 40 metres along the stone steps from the pavilion, you will see a huge rock shaped like an elephant’s trunk — the Elephant Trunk Cave. Walk through a 15-metre manually chiselled tunnel and you arrive at the spacious main cave entrance. Countless wild grapevines hang down from the top, forming an embroidered flower curtain.

More than 20 metres from the entrance, the Honeycomb Rock comes into view. Dozens of amber-coloured stalactites hang from the ceiling, shaped exactly like honeycombs. When tapped gently, they produce a continuous buzzing sound just like a swarm of bees in flight.

Proceed forward and climb 15 metres upward, and you will see a half-open curtain of stalactites. Behind it stands a "Golden Dragon" formed by mineral drips, rising straight out of the rock wall with its whiskers nearly touching the cave ceiling.

A short way up to the right of the stone curtain is the Heavenly Bridge. Carved on the right wall are a group of graceful fairy maidens standing on lotus blossoms with flowing long skirts, slowly wandering toward the Jade Pond of immortals.

To the right of the fairies is the Moon Palace, as luxurious as an imperial palace. The stalactites inside are red as coral, white as jade and yellow as amber, crystal clear and translucent. Stone pillars are carved with coiling dragons, crouching tigers and dancing phoenixes.

In the middle of the cave stands the Crimson Jade Mansion, resplendent and magnificent under lamplight. On its right side is the Magpie Bridge. Slightly forward to the left hangs a stalactite "waterfall", about six metres high and two metres wide. Layer upon layer of white stone ribbons plunge down to the cave floor.

On both sides of the inner corridor grow various stalactites: some look like golden cats pouncing on mice, some resemble tigers chasing deer, others are roaring reclining lions or newly sprouted bamboo shoots, dotted with clusters of golden chrysanthemums.

At the end of the corridor, a golden boulder stretches across the left side, known as Tiger Skin Mountain. Its top is covered with silvery crystalline formations, glittering with striking red-and-white patterns.

Climb the stone ladder on the left and enter a vast hall with another fantastic scene. On the right wall, stalactites form the shape of an eagle spreading its wings and soaring high. On the left stand stalactites of different heights, depicting immortals sending the Weaver Girl back to heaven. The fairies float lightly amid clouds, drifting down to the mortal world.

On the cave floor lie several polygonal "stone farm plots". Stalactites inside the plots look like the Cowherd putting down his rake, waiting for his beloved Weaver Girl.

Straight ahead is a one-metre-wide and three-metre-high stone "stream" cascading down from towering rocks, just like a traditional Chinese landscape painting. This spot is named the Imagination Hall.

Climbing upward from the Imagination Hall, you come to an underground stone forest. The formations include jade pillars, pagodas, sharp sword blades and ornamental stone pillars, each exquisite and unique.

Inside Stone Dragon Cave rests a massive stone dragon lying along the rock wall, clad in glittering golden scales. Three metres from the dragon’s head is a clear spring called Dragon Pool. Water drips nonstop all year round to nourish the stone dragon.

Winding further uphill, you reach Lion Cave, whose entrance is shaped like a lion’s head. A stalactite inside closely resembles the sacred elephant of Putuo Mountain. Four large Chinese characters Truly Putuo were inscribed above the entrance by Wang Youzhong in the Qing Dynasty.

Outside the cave stands a five-cornered pavilion built on the precipice, named Panoramic View Pavilion. A shiny five-pointed red star is embedded right in the centre. Leaning against the railings, you can overlook the entire Ziyun Autonomous County.