[2025 Anyue Attraction] Travel Guide for Piludong Antique Scenic Area (Updated Apr)

| A Millennium Stone Carving Secret, Home to an Unsolved "Celestial Book Couplet." 🚩 Historical Significance Pilu Temple, located in Anyue County, Sichuan, was first built during the Later Shu period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Guangzheng 24th year), with a history of over a thousand years! It is not only an important site for Sichuan Esoteric Buddhism but also one of the core representatives of the "Anyue Stone Carvings," boasting 465 exquisite statues, including the famous Liu Benzun's "Ten Refinements" grotto. It tells the story of layman Liu Benzun's arduous cultivation to become a Buddha in the late Tang Dynasty. There are only three such sites in the country, making it extremely precious! 🔍 Mysterious "Celestial Book Couplet" Outside the temple, there are two couplets. Legend has it that one who can match the second line will receive a treasure! The first couplet has been deciphered: "Neither outside nor inside nor in the middle" matches "Not a celestial nor a Buddha nor a thing," full of Zen wisdom. However, the second couplet remains unsolved to this day. The characters resemble "bird and animal script" or "dragon and phoenix script," leaving even experts scratching their heads, making it one of the most difficult couplets in China! 🎨 Pinnacle of Stone Carving Art The Thousand Buddha Cave in Pilu Temple is incredibly stunning! The 316 small Buddha statues in the circular niches are engraved with the names of the donors, each holding different objects, full of secular interest. The main Buddha, the Three Saints of Huayan (or the Three Saints of the West), is solemn and exquisite, with flowing robes and delicate jewelry. The Song Dynasty carving technique reached its peak, earning it the reputation of being "ancient, numerous, exquisite, and beautiful." 💡 Travel Tips - 📍 Address: Youping Village, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Sichuan - 🎫 Ticket Price: CNY 20 (including three incense sticks) - 🕒 Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn, avoid the hot summer - 📸 Must-See: Liu Benzun's Ten Refinements Grotto, Purple Bamboo Guanyin, Thousand Buddha Cave ✨ Summary Pilu Temple is not just a temple but a three-dimensional history of Buddhist art! Mysterious couplets, millennium stone carvings, treasure legends… every step is like deciphering history. If you love cultural exploration, this place is definitely worth a special trip!

These places are the Thousand Buddha Cliff, Pilu Cave Scenic Area and Mingshan Temple, which are one of the locations of Black Myth Goku. Among them, the Buddha statue of Mingshan Temple is particularly beautiful and extremely characteristic. The water moon Guanyin inside the Pilu cave is a very characteristic place. Thousand Buddha Temple is one of the Black Myth Goku filming location, the location is more remote, you can go to the park after the decision to go to the Thousand Buddha Temple more like an unknown, very secret a temple in the monks practice, the environment is particularly quiet, very deep are a gathering place of the Black Myth Goku spider spirit.

Pilu Cave is located on Jue Mountain in Youping Village, Shiyang Town, 50 kilometers southeast of Anyue County. There are 465 Mowu statues, 14 steles, 18 inscriptions and 1 ancient building. The statues in Pilu Cave were first carved in the Song Dynasty and continued into the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The main statues are distributed in Pilu Cave, Youju Cave, Guanyin Hall and Qianfo Runzhong. The main themes of the statues are Tantric Buddhism. The most exquisite ones include the statues of Liu Benzun, Water-Moon Avalokitesvara, the Three Saints of Huayan, the three bodies, and the statues of the donors. Among them, the "Statue of Liu Benzun" is famous for its unique composition, rich pictures and texts, and strong local characteristics. It is a model close to the real life of the Northern Song Dynasty and pioneered the Tantric Buddhism statues in Sichuan. The statue of Water Moon Guanyin (commonly known as Purple Bamboo Guanyin) is a stone carving treasure created by carving masters who have learned from many schools of thought and used realistic techniques, making her the pinnacle of art forever. The "Biography of Liu Benzun" and "Illustrated Text of Liu Benzun's Practice and Transformation" in the Pilu Cave are valuable documents for studying the life, deeds, practice, inheritance, and teachings of Sichuan Esoteric Buddhism and the Five Generations Patriarch Liu Benzun. In 2001, it was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relic protection site. The area of ​​key cultural relics protection is 2.08 hectares, and the area of ​​general cultural relics protection is 9.31 hectares.

In the Pilu Cave in Anyue, I saw the most beautiful Guanyin I have ever seen. The British Chinese writer Han Suyin called her the "Oriental Venus." But I don't like this name. Zizhu Guanyin, Shuiyue Guanyin, Free Guanyin, Qiaojiao Guanyin, and Fengliu Guanyin are all her names. I like these. - In the Pilu Cave, there is an enthusiastic and kind old man who is the guardian of the cave. I think he is the sweeper monk here. He told us that the Guanyin took seven years and eight months to carve. He showed us the dragon carved in the middle of the crown on Guanyin's head, with the Buddha sitting in the dragon. He explained the history and culture in detail, allowing us to see five expressions of the Bodhisattva on the face of Guanyin: calm, thinking, smiling, meditating, and serious. - 📍Pilu Cave, Anyue, Sichuan 🚗Self-driving is recommended

📍 Address: Tazi Mountain, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province (50 km southeast of Anyue County).📍 🕒 Opening hours: 8:00–17:00.⏰ 🚥 Transportation: • From Chengdu, take a bus to Shiyang Town, then walk for about 10 minutes to Pilu Cave.🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ • Driving is recommended as the attractions are scattered and public transportation is inconvenient.🚗 • If you don't drive, you can charter a car from Anyue County as the attractions are far apart.🚕 👍 Must-try experiences: 1. Admire the "Ten Refinements and Practices": The "Ten Refinements and Practices" of Liu Benzun in Pilu Cave is a masterpiece with a rigorous composition and vivid, easy-to-understand statues.🖼️ 2. Purple Bamboo Guanyin Statue: Known as the "Oriental Venus", the Purple Bamboo Guanyin is a unique statue with a hollowed-out body, showcasing high artistic value.🌟 3. Explore Yuhuang Cave: Yuhuang Cave has only one seated statue of the Jade Emperor, with painted clothes, worth seeing.👑 4. Feel the history: The stone carvings in Pilu Cave are the crystallization of Song Dynasty Buddhist art, with high historical research and tourism value.📜 📋 Tips: • Ticket price: CNY 20 per person. Check for changes in advance.💰 • Driving: County Road 137 to Pilu Cave is narrow and difficult to pass. Drive safely.🚧 • Environmental protection: Keep the scenic area clean and don't litter.🌱 • Respect culture: Keep quiet and respect local religious culture and historical heritage.🙏 • Sun and rain protection: Prepare for sun or rain according to the season.☀️🌧️

In June 2022, a group of Ming Dynasty "Twenty-four Filial Exemplars" cliff carvings were newly discovered in the southern statue area of Anyue Stone Carvings in Sichuan. The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars are classics of filial piety education in ancient China, mostly preserved in the form of images in Song and Jin tombs, Ming and Qing ancient buildings, and paintings and operas, with the most concentrated in the Central Plains and Shanxi. It is also quite popular in the paintings, literature, and temple decorations of Japan, North Korea, and South Korea in the East Asian cultural circle. This is the first time that it has appeared in the temple as a grotto statue, filling an important gap in the cultural history of the Twenty-four Filial Exemplars. In October 2024, the Anyue Stone Carvings Digital Exhibition Center opened. The exhibition center is a cultural and tourism complex integrating digital preservation, display, and utilization of grottoes, aiming to integrate the "ancient, multi, fine, and beautiful" grotto resources of Anyue through digital means to provide tourists with a one-stop viewing experience. The annual reception capacity is expected to reach 1.2 million person-times, and it is expected to drive more than 3,000 people to work.

The cliffside grottoes of Anyue are hailed as ancient cultural treasures, with the "Zizhu Guanyin" praised by British writer Ms. Han Suyin as the "Eastern Venus," renowned both domestically and internationally. Zizhu Guanyin is located on Tazi Mountain in Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Sichuan Province, and is open to tourists all year round. The national cultural heritage site, Pilu Cave, is 47 kilometers away from Anyue County. It consists of the Guanyin Hall, Thousand Buddha Cave, Secluded Residence Cave, Pilu Dojo, and Lotus Platform, with a total of 446 statues and 32 inscriptions and steles. The Zizhu Guanyin in the Guanyin Hall and the stone carvings of the "Liu Ben Zun Ten Refinements Cultivation Chart" in the Pilu Dojo are particularly exquisite. By car to Tazi Mountain in Shiyang Town, passing through the tranquil bamboo forest and descending more than twenty stone steps, one arrives at Pilu Cave. According to inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty Wanli period (1573–1620), the carving of statues here began during the Five Dynasties' Later Jin Tianfu era (936–944), with subsequent generations continuing the work. It was one of the main venues for the Esoteric Buddhism of Sichuan during the Five Dynasties and Northern Song period. The Zizhu Guanyin, sitting cross-legged on a lotus platform, leans against a relief of purple bamboo and a willow branch vase, wearing a lavishly decorated crown and a short-sleeved gauze shirt, with bare chest and elbows. The necklace resembles a golden waterfall cascading down, with jade rings and nets hanging over the chest and abdomen. The lower body is adorned with a blue ribbon, tying a thin embroidered long skirt as light as Zen wings, with the skirt's pleats flowing naturally and gracefully. Look at her pair of beautiful bare feet, with the right foot raised, the left foot stepping on the lotus stamen, eyes looking down as if admiring the ripples in the water, displaying a leisurely and charming expression, like a young lady of graceful figure and gentle demeanor. She possesses both the charm of a young girl and the appearance of a goddess, with a strong worldly flavor. No wonder she is also known as the Cross-legged Guanyin, Romantic Guanyin, Water Moon Guanyin, and the "Eastern Venus."

The masterpiece of Northern Song Dynasty statues of Liu Benzun's Ten Refining Diagrams in Pilu Cave is located in Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province. It is located inside the stone statues in Pilu Cave. The main body was excavated in the Northern Song Dynasty. Among them, the "Ten Refining Diagrams of Liu Benzun Cave" is the largest and best preserved of the five niches in Pilu Cave. The "Ten Refining Diagram" niche is about 6.6 meters high and 14 meters wide. The statues in the cave are divided into three layers: upper, middle and lower. The Vairocana Buddha is the center. The upper and middle layers are engraved with the Five Refining Diagrams of Liu Benzun on the left and right, collectively known as the Ten Refining Diagrams. The content of the lower layer is more complex, including figures of men and women wearing folk costumes, disciples, officials and warriors. On the left and right of the niches are the Dharma-protecting Vajra, who is vigorous and extraordinary, with exquisitely processed clothing lines and a strong sense of power. The ten-refining cultivation method of Liu Benzun is extremely cruel, and it was banned after the Song Dynasty. Now only the ten-refining diagram exists. Among the three ten-refining diagrams in the Bashu Grottoes, the ten-refining diagram in the Pilu Cave is the best preserved, and there are almost no traces of later reconstruction. Each statue is very exquisitely processed, especially the majestic image of the Vajra, which can be compared with the Song and Jin colored sculptures in Shanxi. The connotation of this statue should not be studied in depth, just appreciate it from an artistic perspective

To sum up in one sentence: Anyue is really worth it. This treasure town located in the "heart of Sichuan and Chongqing" is no less inferior to Dunhuang, Yungang and Longmen! Anyue is the hometown of stone carvings. The Bashu Grottoes and stone Buddha statues hidden in the countryside are the best of the best, and the stone keepers who have been sticking to it for decades deserve great respect❗ 👇2 days and 1 night, 30,000 steps of walking, recommended strategies for collection👇 【🚘Transportation method】 Charter/Self-drive: I chartered a car from Anyue County. The scenic spots here are all on country roads and are relatively scattered. It is recommended to charter a car for the first time; if you drive by yourself, you must pay special attention to narrow roads and forks. 【⏰Route Arrangement】 Because I was going to Dazu on the third day, I took the north route first and then the east route. If you live in Anyue County, you can take the south route first 😭 and wait for the "Tapo Sunset". I didn't wait for it ❗ Day 1: Anyue North Line 09:20 Depart from the Central Times Square in the county → 10:00 Yuanjue Cave ¥28🎫 → 11:00 Qianfo Village → 12:20 Mumen Temple → 13:20 Reclining Buddha Courtyard ¥10🎫 → 15:00 Foji Temple → 16:10 Xuanmiao Temple → 17:30 Back to the county Day 2: Anyue East Line 09:20 Depart from the Central Times Square in the county → 10:00 Tapo → 11:20 Banbian Temple → 12:10 Pilu Cave ¥18🎫 → 13:50 Huayan Cave ¥10🎫 → 14:50 Mingshan Temple → 16:20 Peacock Cave → 17:30 Arrive at the foot of Dazu Baoding Mountain —————— ·Time points are for reference 📝I am the type who likes to take photos and walk slowly, so I am not in a hurry overall ·Except for those marked with 🎫 tickets, others don’t need tickets. It depends on your heart. Please donate 10/20 to cultural relics protection 【🔥Personal recommendation top five🔝】 📍Tapo: Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely! The most beautiful Huayan Three Saints of the Northern Song Dynasty is here. You can wait until the sunset reflects the Buddha's face around 18:00, which is very sacred❗ ⚠️You need to stand on a chair and lie on the wooden window to watch, please pay attention to safety. 📍Bilu Cave: The Water Moon Guanyin herself is so gorgeous, exquisite and stunning 😭. It is easy to shoot at 180°. If you look at it for a long time, you will feel like crying. ⚠️The old man was very enthusiastic and helpful in explaining. 📍Mingshan Temple: The weathered Buddhist shrine allows us to truly see the effects of wind and time, as well as the meaning of "Buddha has no form". ⚠️The flower mosquitoes🦟 are so abundant that a big bump will appear in one bite. 😤 📍Banbian Temple: When Sakyamuni was preaching while holding a flower and looking at his disciples with lowered brows, one could really feel their compassion and tranquility, and it also embodies the oriental romantic aesthetic. ⚠️You can see the guardian grandpa’s bed and conditions, it’s really not easy. 📍Yuanjue Cave: It is relatively close to the county seat. There is a large niche carved in the Beiyan rock to create a giant Buddha. The Buddha statue has kind eyes and the original color can be seen. The flying figures in each cave are worth a closer look. ⚠️Explanation 100 As needed, there are detailed introductions on the left and right walls in the temple, please take pictures to keep them. Anyue is the hometown of stone carvings and lemons. I heard that sweet potato vermicelli is also a specialty. It is really worth arranging a visit before it becomes popular. 👇Just came back yesterday📝Any questions will be answered👇