Lingyan Cave is one of the attractions on the northern route of Wuyuan, consisting of 36 karst caves. Visitors are currently only allowed to explore Hanxu Cave and Lianhua Cave. Inside the caves, apart from the stalagmites and stone forests formed by water erosion on limestone, one can also admire the inscriptions left by historical figures such as Yue Fei and Zong Ze. The ancient villages and ancient trees around the scenic area are also worth visiting.
Hanxu Cave is divided into seven levels, with the entrance located on the sixth level. After touring the sixth and seventh levels, visitors descend layer by layer to reach the underground river at the bottom, exiting the cave by inflatable boat. The ‘Bodhi Ancient Tree’ on the fifth level is a representative feature of the cave, resembling a Bodhi tree that requires several people to embrace and serves as the main support of Hanxu Cave. Not far ahead is the ‘Inscription Left by Zong Ze’, which was inscribed by Yue Fei’s teacher Zong Ze during his visit to Lingyan Cave and is one of the prides of the cave. Between the fourth and fifth levels, there is a scene reminiscent of a catastrophic collapse, with steep cliffs surrounding and huge fallen rocks below, as if formed by a rockslide, creating a spectacular sight. The scenery in the lower levels is more delicate; the ‘Mountains of Gold and Silver’ share a pool of water that exhibits both golden and silver hues, with glittering mineral deposits in the water and the enticing name ‘Mountains of Gold and Silver’, leaving a profound impression. The open and tiered ‘Fairy Fields’ resemble naturally formed terraced fields, with droplets depositing in concentric circles resembling petals, looking like a large ‘Peony’ blossoming in the field, perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing stone scene in the cave. On the cave’s ceiling, lotus-shaped stalagmites grow upside down, not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but such inverted growth is also very rare. Moving downwards to the lower underground river, visitors can take a small inflatable boat to exit the cave. While boating on the river, one can slowly appreciate the surrounding cliffs, as if experiencing an adventure. After exiting Hanxu Cave, visitors need to climb up the mountain to reach Lianhua Cave. Due to its distance and some repetitive scenery compared to Hanxu Cave, fewer tourists visit. The famous feature inside is ‘The Old Lord’s Alchemy’. At the foot of the mountain, near the entrance of Shicheng Village, there is an ancient forest with ancient maples, ginkgoes, Chinese torreya trees, camphor trees, nanmu, and locust trees, some of which are a thousand years old. Visitors can stroll through the ancient village and admire the ancient trees. There are also shops nearby that can provide food and accommodation. The scenic area is open all year round from 07:30 to 17:00. Preferential policies include: Children under 1.2 meters (not including) are free of charge; children between 1.2 meters (including) and 1.5 meters (not including) receive a discount. Elderly people aged 65 and above (including) with valid identification are free of charge; those aged between 60 and 65 (excluding) with valid identification receive a discount. Full-time undergraduate students (including) and below with a student ID receive a discount. People with disabilities with valid identification are free of charge. Active military personnel with valid identification are free of charge. Tour guides with a team leader certificate, Wuyuan County tour guide certificate (interpretation certificate), or a valid national tour guide IC card (national guide certificate) are also eligible for discounts.Wuyuan Lingyan Cave is a nationally recognized scenic spot that offers free admission to certain groups:
Tourism Professionals: Individuals holding a travel agency general manager qualification certificate issued by the state are granted free entry.
Press Members: Journalists with a press card issued by the provincial or higher-level News Office or the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television enjoy free admission.
Drivers: Drivers with an A1 class driver’s license for passenger transport (official business) are also entitled to free entry.
