Water Curtain Cave (Shuiliandong)
水帘洞
Two streams spill down a red-rock cliff more than 100 meters high, falling like a curtain of beads. Below are a Three Sages Shrine and tea pavilions, the end point of the Da Hong Pao gorge trail.
Water Curtain Cave sits in the Danxia Ridge at the northern end of the main scenic area. A red cliff more than 100 meters high and several dozen meters wide recesses inward, and two streams plunge from its top, scattering in the wind like a beaded curtain, hence the name. It is the largest of the seventy-two caves of Wuyi Mountain. Beneath the cliff once stood a Song-dynasty academy and the Three Sages Shrine, which honored Zhu Xi and others. Today's Qing-dynasty buildings and tea rooms remain, where you can sit beneath the cliff, drink tea and watch the water curtain. The paths are gentle, and it takes about 30 minutes from the entrance to the foot of the cliff. Nearby sights include Xianyu Pool, Huiyuan Temple and Liuxiang Gully. The area is also the home of Huiyuan Valley, where Yancha tea is grown. Walking from the Da Hong Pao scenic area along the gorge trail to Water Curtain Cave takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, making it the most pleasant tea-garden hike in Wuyi Mountain. It is included in the main scenic area ticket, and sightseeing shuttles stop at the Water Curtain Cave station. Note that water volume varies greatly with the seasons. In dry periods it is only a trickle or may dry up completely. The rocks below the cliff are damp, so watch your footing. Local tea farmers sell tea, and tasting is entirely optional.
Opening hours
07:00–17:00