Taimu Mountain's Gourd Cave: An Explorer's Paradise
The Gourd Cave scenic area is located at the hub of Taimu Mountain's hiking trails, connecting Yingxian Terrace, Jiuli Peak, and Yi Pian Wa. This area is rich with caves, the most distinctive being the Gourd Cave, known as the 'Cave Paradise,' followed by the interconnected General's Cave. Upon exiting the cave, turning back offers a view of the amusing Kissing Rock. After leaving General's Cave, at the foot of the ridge, you can see the towering Heavenly Pillar Peak, standing over 40 meters tall. Two mountain paths lead to Dapan Rock and Sea-Viewing Terrace, both excellent spots for climbing high and gazing at the sea.
Among Taimu Mountain's over a hundred rock caves, the most distinctive is the Gourd Cave. This cave is composed of connected barrier valleys and stacked rock formations, stretching over a thousand meters. It gets its name because its shape resembles an inverted gourd. Upon entering, the cave first narrows then widens. When you reach the 'Gourd Belly,' you are surrounded by steep cliffs, with a round patch of blue sky overhead that can accommodate a hundred people. During the Song Dynasty, a Gourd Cave Pavilion was built here, but it has long since vanished. Among the overgrown weeds at the old site, you can still find remnants of broken bricks and tiles, as well as stone door sockets on the cliffs. The cave also houses red nanmu, woodlotus, chinquapin, juniper, azalea, valley orchids, and thick ancient vines. Inside, there are 13 skylights and 7 halls, offering visitors spaces for entertainment and rest. Some parts of the cave are pitch black with no cell phone signal, so adventurous hikers should not miss it.
As you burrow into the cave, a few rays of light filter through crevices. Due to the airflow inside, light and color shift magically, instantly transporting you into a dreamlike world. When you reach 'Flowing Water Bend,' in the dim light, a crystal-clear spring gently flows, its dripping echoes resonating through the cave like a zither playing in harmony. Several dozen meters apart, voices echo as if right beside you—this is the Echo Cave, akin to the Echo Wall of the Temple of Heaven. Next comes a dark cave about 70 meters long, where you cannot see your hand in front of you. It's an excellent place to listen to the spring, which ancients called the 'Jade Rinsing Cave.' If you enter during the spring rainy season, the spring becomes a waterfall, roaring and thundering, an awe-inspiring experience. Following the spiral cave upward, you'll encounter moments of sheer vertical walls with a stone path reaching the sky like a single thread of light, and moments of two massive suspended rocks forming a three-line skylight. The entire cave is rugged and difficult to traverse, rising and falling, twisting left and right. You may glimpse clear skies and sunny days, or see ancient vines hanging; you may feel cold drafts or warm breezes. Strangely, there is a spot where, stretching out your arms, one side feels warm and the other cool.
Entering and exiting takes nearly two hours. Visitors must move in various postures—crawling, crouching, sidling, tiptoeing—like performing a special set of calisthenics, accompanied by laughter and joy throughout. Hence, it is called the 'Cave Paradise,' and some also honor it with the name 'World's Number One Cave.' When you finally emerge from the cave, you heave a sigh of relief, feeling both the gratitude of seeing daylight again and the thrill of conquest. As long as you persist, you will always see the light and feel the joy of success.
Exiting the Gourd Cave, you immediately enter General's Cave. This is a stacked rock cave, named for three massive rocks on top that resemble a general's shoe, sword, and hat, respectively. General's Cave is also a cave cluster with four entrances, leading to Gourd Restaurant, Gourd Cave, Dragon Beard Ridge, and Camel Cave, collectively known as the Eighteen Caves. In particular, on the stone lane leading to Dragon Beard Ridge, two rocks resemble a pair of lovers passionately kissing, called Kissing Rock.
Come explore Taimu Mountain and embark on an unprecedented new experience in the Gourd Cave!
