Shimen Cave (Qingtian)
石门洞
A valley on the north bank of the Ou River where two peaks face each other like a gate. A waterfall nearly 100 meters high and relics linked to Xie Lingyun and Liu Bowen have earned it the title of the Twelfth Grotto-Heaven in Daoism.
Shimen Cave lies on the north bank of the Ou River in Qingtian County. Two peaks stand opposite each other like a gate, and within the valley a waterfall about 100 meters high plunges into a pool. Daoism lists it as the Twelfth Grotto-Heaven among the thirty-six minor grotto-heavens. In the Southern Dynasties, Xie Lingyun visited here and wrote poetry. In the Ming dynasty, Liu Ji (Liu Bowen), a founding official of the dynasty, studied here as a youth. The valley retains Liu Ji's reading place, the former site of Shimen Academy and cliff inscriptions from successive dynasties, which are a national key cultural relic protection unit. Visitors reach the scenic area by boat across the Ou River or by road. Admission and ferry fares follow on-site announcements. Allow 2 hours.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00