Yuxu Cave is located at the mouth of the Xiling Gorge of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, 2 kilometers east of Tanjia Mountain in Xiangxi Town, Zigui County. It is a limestone cave with a long history. According to archaeological discoveries, humans were active here in the late Pleistocene. It is recorded that in the fifth year of Tang Tianbao (746), this cave was discovered by Sichuan hunters. Since then, there have been many explorers here and it has become a famous scenic spot. It is one of the eight scenic spots in Guizhou - Three Cave Yuxu.
According to legend, Fairy Yuxu appeared here, so it was called Yuxu Cave. There are many legends about Fairy Yuxu giving birth to children in the Xiangxi River Basin. Anyone who needs a girl who owes a child sincerely asks for Fairy Yuxu, and usually gets it as soon as she asks. Therefore, feudal society is very prosperous here.
The entrance of Yuxu Cave is in the shape of a half-moon, and the bluestone is engraved with the four characters "Yuxu Cave" written by Hou Kai, the magistrate of Zigui County in the first year of Longxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1163). Go right after entering the cave and follow the stone steps down about 50 steps to reach the main hall. The main hall is spacious and slightly rectangular. It is about 50 meters high, 85 meters long and 40 meters wide. The whole cave covers an area of ??more than 3,600 square meters. It is grand and magnificent, like an underground palace. The clear spring in the cave is long and the climate is pleasant. The stalactites are the main scenery in the main hall. They are in various shapes and shapes. Those attached to the four walls are like birds and animals, exotic flowers and grasses, and those hanging on the top of the cave are like flags, flags, treasure covers, etc. The palace lantern screen is like an underground palace, displaying countless rare treasures, which is dazzling and dizzying. The most amazing thing is a huge stalactite about 10 meters high, which is shaped like a dragon-pan stone pillar and is very strange. There are many cliff stone carvings and tablets inside and outside the cave. The earliest existing cliff stone carvings are inscribed by Xie Chongchu of the Song Dynasty, and the longest tablet is "A Journey to Yuxu Cave" written by brothers Gan Lichao and Gan Liting of the Qing Dynasty.
The Xiangxi River under the cave has excellent water quality. It is said to be the fourteenth best in the world and can be used to cook fine tea. Lu Yu, the "tea sage" of the Tang Dynasty, had already commented on it. Lu Yu recorded this during his trip:
On the 15th day, after all the people in the boat had carried out, they were able to pull the boat across the beach. However, repairs were needed, so the boat could be changed. Leaving Xintan, passing through Baigou Gorge, Bozhouxing Mountain Pass. Jianyu travels to Yuxu Cave. Go to the river bank about five miles away, separated by a stream, which is called Xiangxi. It originates from Zhaojun Village. The water is delicious and recorded in "Shuipin". Its color is as green as black. Call for a small boat to cross, cross the stream, and stay in the cave. The cave door is only ten feet wide. Once inside, it is very large and can accommodate hundreds of people. It is grand and magnificent, just like entering a large palace. There are stone canopies, flags, grass, bamboo shoots, immortals, dragons, tigers, birds and beasts, all of which are in various shapes and forms, all of which are lifelike. The unique thing is that the east stone is as round as the sun, and the west stone is semicircular as the moon. It is incomparable to the rock sinuses I have seen in my life. There are inscriptions by Xie Shihou and Cen Yan in Xining Zhong, and there are also records written by Chen Yaozi, describing the origin and end of this cave. It was discovered by hunters among the Tianbao of Yuntang. By the time we returned home, it was already night, and the wind was so strong that we could not hold candles. However, the moon was as bright as day, and Ercao and the whole army followed each other with sticks and tactics, unaware of the danger of the cliff valley.
Su Shi of the Song Dynasty went to Beijing to take the exam, but he regretted that he could not go. He left behind a poem: "The jade is empty and regrets that it has not arrived, but it is actually a lie by the people on the boat. I heard that the stone is the most strange, and I see strange shapes when I sleep."
Throughout the ages, what a Yuxu Cave! It attracts many tourists to linger and many literati to admire and sing! However, now it has sneaked into Shuifu Dragon Palace with the construction of Gaoxia Pinghu.