The largest cliffside stone carving in northern Shaanxi | Hongshi Gorge

| Hongshi Gorge. Hongshi Gorge, the largest cliffside stone carving in northern Shaanxi||| Hongshi Gorge Scenic Area, also known as Xiongshi Gorge. It is located 3 kilometers north of Yulin, Shaanxi. The Hongshi Gorge is about 350 meters long, with cliffs facing each other from east to west. The eastern cliff is dotted with stone caves of various sizes, while the western cliff is mostly covered with stone carvings. The stone caves in Hongshi Gorge have been almost completely destroyed, and the statues inside the caves are newly made with low craftsmanship. The cliffside stone carvings are relatively well preserved. In the past, border generals and literati who came to Yulin often gathered at Xiongshan Temple to drink and compose poems, leaving behind more than 160 precious calligraphy works. The largest characters are about 6 meters tall, while the smallest are only a few inches. The calligraphy includes seal script, clerical script, regular script, running script, and cursive script, all with vigorous and strong strokes. Among the inscriptions is a couplet written by Zuo Zongtang, a famous general of the late Qing Dynasty. According to historical records, Hongshi Gorge originally had 44 caves, which contained stone statues, clay sculptures, relief stone carvings, and inscription steles, mostly created during the Ming Dynasty. However, they were all destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, leaving almost nothing behind. Currently, only 33 stone caves remain, all in a dilapidated state. The larger caves include Shengmu Hall, Daxiong Hall, Guanyin Hall, Shifo Hall, Yuanjue Hall, Sleeping Buddha Hall, Ciren Hall, Xiaoxumi Hall, and Yuanqin Hall. Except for some caves where new statues have been made, all murals and inscriptions have disappeared. In April or May of 1929, the Northern Shaanxi Special Committee of the Communist Party of China held its second expanded meeting here, attended by more than 30 people including Liu Zhidan, Ma Mingfang, Liu Lantao, and Jia Tuofu. This meeting, known as the Hongshi Gorge Meeting, pointed out the direction for the activities of the party organization in northern Shaanxi and has significant historical importance.