Reed Flute Cave, Guilin – Nature’s Art Palace

Reed Flute Cave is renowned for its naturally formed and densely packed stalactites and stalagmites, which exhibit rich and flowing lines with a grand and expansive presence. Enhanced by lighting, these formations create various visual effects, making the columns, stalagmites, stalactites, stone flags, and draperies appear as pieces of art. The cave offers a rich and colorful imaginative space and artistic enjoyment, resembling a grand palace of nature’s art. Highlights include the vibrant “Lion Peak Morning Glow,” the majestic “High Gorge Waterfall,” the elegant “Pine Tower in Snow,” the vast and grand “Primitive Forest,” the dreamlike “Crystal Palace,” the tranquil and unique “Secluded Realm Listening to the Flute,” and formations resembling snowmen, vegetables, koi fish, and conchs. Visitors can appreciate both the natural beauty sculpted by nature and the artistic enhancements provided by landscape designers, creating an experience akin to being in an art palace. The “Crystal Palace” stands out as the most remarkable feature. It is the widest part of the cave, ideal for indoor music performances, where the acoustics achieve a concert hall effect without any sound equipment.

The Peach Blossom River, formerly known as Yang River, originates from Simoshan and Weiluoling in Lingchuan County, northwest of Guilin. It flows through Linqu and Lingchuan into Guilin, originally merging into the Li River at Zhishan. During the Ming Dynasty, a channel was dug at Xiangshan to direct it into the Li River. The river is approximately 25 kilometers long. Formed about 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, the river once had a wider and more substantial flow. Over time, the climate cooled, reducing water volume and causing the water level to drop, while the ground elevated, narrowing the river channel. The river now meanders with dozens of large bends and hundreds of small ones, forming a large “S” shape and two smaller “S” shapes in the Guilin area, resembling green ribbons winding through the karst basin of northern Guilin. Flowing through limestone regions, the water is clear, and areas between Feiluan Bridge and Shengli Bridge feature gentle, mirror-like waters with peaks reflected in them. The riverbanks are adorned with fiery oleander flowers, picturesque countryside, and mountains like Furong Mountain, Zhongyin Mountain, Shishan, Qingxiu Mountain, and Jia Mountain. The autumn moonlit scenery is especially beautiful.

The first notable feature visitors encounter upon entering the Reed Flute Cave Scenic Area is the dignified and ancient Feiluan Bridge. Also known as Feilong Bridge, it is located at the intersection of Peach Blossom River and Reed Flute Road. According to the history of Linqu County, the bridge was originally built with five stone arches during the Shaoding period of the Song Dynasty (1228-1233) and was named Feilong Bridge. It was rebuilt during both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the 6th year of the Yongzheng era (1728), local donors, including a man named Yu Bisheng, funded the reconstruction, which is commemorated by an inscription. The bridge was destroyed by war in the autumn of 1941 and was rebuilt in 1944 using wooden planks after locals raised over 400 piculs of rough rice. After the development of Reed Flute Cave, it was reconstructed into a three-arch stone bridge in 1964, and completed in April 1967. It was then named “Worker-Peasant Bridge.”

Reed Flute Cave is not only famous for its unique and majestic scenery but also for its historical wall inscriptions. These ancient inscriptions, referred to as “wall calligraphy,” include a collection of writings from various periods. There are a total of 77 wall inscriptions in the cave, comprising five from the Tang Dynasty, eleven from the Song Dynasty, one from the Yuan Dynasty, four from the Ming Dynasty, four from the Republic of China, and 52 of unknown dates. Among these, the most well-preserved and clearly legible inscription is from the Ming Dynasty, attributed to the mountain collection team of the Jingjiang Wang Mansion. It reads: “On the 16th day of the 10th month of the Dingchou year, the mountain collection team led by Zhang Wei, Wang Maoxiang, and Zhang Wenhui, among others, visited this place for the purpose of selecting stones for the construction of the Wang Mansion and tombs.” This inscription measures 50 centimeters in height and 58 centimeters in width, with a character diameter of 6 centimeters, reflecting the Wang Mansion’s historical practice of sourcing materials here.