[2025 Anyue Attraction] Travel Guide for Huayan Cave (Updated Apr)

Anyue Grottoes are beyond words! As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, cliff tombs and wall carvings appeared in the territory. Since the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties, large-scale stone carvings have emerged in Anyue. The Anyue Grottoes inherit the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes and are connected to the Dazu Grottoes. Perhaps because it is located in the inland and the people of Anyue devoutly believe in Amitabha Buddha, many exquisite statues have been preserved after the changes of dynasties and wars. However, the Anyue stone carvings are still little known, which has a lot to do with the fact that it missed the "Architectural Society". In 1940, Liang Sicheng and his colleagues from the Architectural Society, including Liu Dunzhen, conducted diligent investigations in Bashu. In January, they came to Tongnan County, where they heard that there were many cliff carvings in the nearby Dazu County, as well as the Thousand-Armed Guanyin from the Tang Dynasty (later confirmed to be from the Song Dynasty). So Mr. Liang and others happily went there and took a lot of photos at Beishan and Baoding Mountain. From then on, the Dazu Rock Carvings gradually became known to the outside world. Unfortunately, they missed the source of Dazu Rock Carvings - Anyue Rock Carvings; even more unfortunately, Anyue missed Liang Sicheng and also missed the opportunity for future development. To this day, Dazu Rock Carvings have been successfully listed as a World Heritage Site, but Anyue Rock Carvings are still little known! I visited the Dazu Rock Carvings last year. This time I came to Anyue Grottoes. After three days of sightseeing, I can say that it is in no way inferior to the Dazu Rock Carvings. Not only are there more of them, but they are also extremely well preserved! Anyue Grottoes are distributed throughout the county. The highlights include Yuanjue Cave, Thousand Buddha Village, Pilu Cave, Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple, Reclining Buddha Courtyard, Mumen City, as well as Gaosheng Buddha, Tapo, Peacock Cave, Xuanmiao Temple, etc. However, many places are not open, and you need to contact cultural relics protection officers, and it all depends on luck. Anyue Grottoes are extremely scattered, most of them are located in remote mountains, and you need to drive yourself or charter a car to get there. The mountain roads are narrow and steep, which is a big test for inexperienced drivers! Picture 1 is the most tranquil Purple Bamboo Guanyin outside Pilu Cave, Picture 2 is the most beautiful Guanyin in Huayan Cave, Picture 3 is the Lotus Guanyin in Yuanjue Cave, Picture 4 is the Pure Bottle Guanyin in Yuanjue Cave. Unlike other Pure Bottle Guanyins holding bottles, this one is the Guanyin holding bottles, Picture 5 is the Sakyamuni holding a flower in Yuanjue Cave, looking at his disciples tenderly; Picture 6 is the Ten Refining Diagrams of Liu Benzun, who preached by self-mutilation; Pictures 7, 8, 9, Figure ten is the Huayan Three Saints Vairocana Buddha and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in the Huayan Cave, with five Bodhisattvas on each side; Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are the Guanyin statues in Mingshan Temple. Although they are well preserved, they still cannot escape the years of wind erosion; Figure 16 is the Tapo statue; Figure 17 is the big reclining Buddha in the Reclining Buddha Courtyard, and Figure 18 is one of the countless backgrounds behind the many main statues in the caves, and they are lifelike! Anyue Grottoes can be visited in two to three days. On the first day, we visited Yuanjue Cave, Qianfo Village, Reclining Buddha Courtyard, and Mumen Temple; On the second day, we visited Pilu Cave, Huayan Cave and Mingshan Temple. These two days of itinerary are the highlight. If you have time, you can try your luck at Tapo, Xuanmiao Temple, Peacock Cave, Banbian Temple, Bodhisattva Bay and Lingyouyuan to see if these places are open. Personally, I think these two days of highlights are enough!

Anyue is known as the Buddhist Capital of China. Ancient Buddha statues are scattered throughout the county. It is the county with the highest concentration of ancient Chinese Buddhist statue sites and is also one of the filming locations for the recently popular Black Wukong game. ▫️ Unfortunately, Shanxi's ancient monuments became popular because of the Black Wukong game, but Anyue stone carvings have remained unknown. Anyue stone carvings have rich themes, including flying apsaras, celestial musicians, Buddha statues, etc., showing the ancient high artistic level and religious and cultural charm. Anyue ancient Buddha statues are scattered throughout the county, and it takes at least two days to visit them. ▫️ Route planning: Day 1: Reclining Buddha Temple - Thousand Buddha Temple - Yuanjue Cave - Stay in Anyue County Day 2: Pilu Cave - Huayan Cave - Mingshan Temple - Peacock Cave ▫️ Recommended attractions: [RedHeart] Reclining Buddha Temple: China's largest full-body stone reclining Buddha statue from the Tang Dynasty. It is the earliest and most complete full-body reclining Buddha statue in the country. [RedHeart] Yuanjue Cave: The closest attraction to the county seat, with the three most spectacular Buddha statues of Guanyin in the Pure Bottle, Guanyin in the Lotus Hand, and Sakyamuni. [RedHeart] Pilu Cave: Water Moon Guanyin (also known as Purple Bamboo Guanyin), known as the "Venus of the East". [RedHeart] Mingshan Temple: An ancient temple hidden deep in the mountains. The Buddha statues on the cliffs are particularly stunning and have become one of the filming locations for Black Wukong. Among them, the weathered Buddha statues have a more natural and artistic feel. [RedHeart] Peacock Cave: A small cave with a very exquisite statue of Peacock King Buddha. Because it has survived to this day as a kitchen for later generations, the existing Buddha statue looks dark. Behind the Peacock Cave there is an abandoned temple from the Qing Dynasty that is worth a visit. Inside the abandoned temple is a stone pagoda from the late Tang Dynasty. ▫️ [Airplane]Play suggestions: [One] Currently, all Anyue Stone Carvings attractions are free to visit. Among them, the Reclining Buddha Temple, Yuanjue Cave, Pilu Cave, and Huayan Cave are free of charge until March 31, 2025, and the admission fee is also cheap, about 10 yuan per person. [Two] Anyue stone carvings are scattered throughout the county. If you have enough time, it is recommended to travel slowly by car. If you follow this route to visit Anyue Rock Carvings, you can go directly to the more famous Dazu Rock Carvings, which is very close. [Three] Peacock Cave is on the side of the road and it is difficult to park. You need to find a parking space in advance. The door is usually locked for protection. If you want to visit, you need to ask the uncle who lives next door to help open the door for free. ▫️ 🚗Transportation strategy: [Car] Self-driving: Self-driving is the quickest way to travel. It is recommended to start from the north to the south of Anyue County. [Bus] You can take the bus. You can buy bus tickets on the Princess "Anyue Travel" to go to various attractions. Anyue-Wofo Town bus (visit the Reclining Buddha Temple), fare is 9 yuan. Anyue-Shiyang Town bus (visit Pilu Cave, Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple, Peacock Cave), fare 12. To visit the Thousand Buddha Temple and Yuanjue Cave in Anyue County, you can take Anyue Bus No. 6 and Bus No. 5 respectively, and the fare is 1 yuan. Note: Except for the Thousand Buddha Temple and Yuanjue Cave, you need to take a taxi to the other attractions instead of taking the bus to the town. ▫️ [IceCream] Food recommendation: ✅Anyue lemon: As the hometown of lemons in China, how can we miss this? Not only is the quality good, but it is also very cheap. There are many street vendors selling goods at 2 yuan per pound. ✅Anyue Rice Rolls: The rice rolls are crystal clear, lightly wrapped in red oil, and have a bright and attractive color.

📍 Address: Xianggaishan, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, 6 km from Shiyang Town, 50 km east of Anyue County, and more than 30 km from Dazu County, Chongqing City. 📍 🕒 Opening Hours: All year: Monday to Sunday 9:00 am–6:00 pm. ⏰ 🚥 Transportation: • You can buy a direct bus ticket to Anyue Huayan Cave on Tuanzi Travel if you depart from Chengdu. Remember to buy tickets in advance during the peak tourist season. 🚌 • Huayan Cave Scenic Area is very convenient for dining, accommodation, transportation, and communication, and is a must-see place for Anyue tourism. 🚶‍♂️ 👍 Must-try: 1. Huayan Cave Statues: Huayan Cave is named after the "Three Saints of Huayan" carved inside. The cave is 6.2 meters high, 11.1 meters wide, and 11.3 meters deep, with a rectangular front. The statues in Huayan Cave are mainly of Tantric Buddhism, and are statues of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in the same cave, with 39 themes. 🙏 2. Great Prajna Cave: 4.7 meters high, about 5 meters wide and deep, with the name of the cave carved on the cave forehead. In the middle of the cave, there is a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, and the two corridors are divided into three layers, with eighteen Arhats in the lower layer, twenty-four gods in the middle, and ten children in the upper layer. Behind the Buddha statue in the middle, there are two niches with relief statues of Laozi and Confucius, which are typical statues of the three religions in the same cave. 🏞️ 3. Explore the Ancient Mystery: There is a "Renya" character with a diameter of 2.2 meters carved on the top of the cave, which has no convincing pronunciation and meaning, and has become an ancient mystery. 🤔 📋 Tips: • Ticket Information: CNY 12 per person. 🎫 • Student Discount: Student ID can be discounted, remember to bring it. 👨‍🎓 • Sun Protection: Remember to protect yourself from the sun when traveling. 🌞 • Protect Cultural Relics: Please pay attention to protecting cultural relics during the tour, and do not touch or damage the statues. 🛡️ • Respect Culture: Huayan Cave is an important embodiment of Buddhist culture, please be respectful and quiet when visiting. 🙏 Huayan Cave is famous for its unique stone carving art and historical and cultural background, and is an excellent place to experience traditional Chinese culture and Buddhist art. 🌈

Here it is! A 2-day tour of Ziyang! Explore Ziyang with this super practical guide and discover the secrets of Ziyang with ease. Come and get new ways to play! . Must-visit attractions: ✨ Yuanjue Cave Cliffside Statues Scenic Area 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Address: West Section of Chentuan Road, Yueyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City Opening hours: 08:30–18:00 Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours The colorful stone statues reveal exquisite carving skills, which are breathtaking. ✨ Wofoyuan Temple 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Address: Xiaojia Valley, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province Opening hours: 09:00–18:00 Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours The temple has 1,613 cliffside statues from the Tang Dynasty and 15 caves with stone inscriptions. Experience ancient Buddhist art. ✨ Qianfozhai Forest Park 🌟🌟 Address: Qianfo Temple Road, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province Opening hours: 08:00–18:00 Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours The park is famous for its cliffside statues from the Song Dynasty. There are 105 large and small niches, and the traces of history are clearly visible here. ✨ Huayan Cave 🌟🌟 Address: Xianggai Mountain, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City Opening hours: 08:30–17:30 Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours The stone carving culture and natural landscape here complement each other, bringing you a different visual and spiritual experience. . **Notes**: * Food: You must try Ziyang Anyue salted pork and Wubao red lotus root, which have unique flavors. Don't forget Zhouli Sad Cold Noodles! 🍜 * Photo spots: Huangjue Giant Buddha and Ziku Mountain have magnificent scenery, and the wax plums in Zizhu Park are fragrant. Take beautiful photos! 📸 * Airport transportation: The Tianfu Airport bus line is convenient, and there are buses at night, so you can travel worry-free. 🚌 * Travel arrangements: If you have enough time, you can visit all the attractions. If not, you can select a few attractions and enjoy the highlights in just a few hours. ⏰ * Safety tips: Follow the rules of the scenic area, pay attention to fire safety, and check your vehicle if you are driving. 🔐 * Civilized travel: Take care of public facilities, don't scribble, practice the Clean Plate Campaign, and be civilized. 🌸 . Ziyang is a treasure city waiting for you to explore! Don't forget to like and save this post. 👀 Bring your friends and start your Ziyang trip! ✨