Three Travelers' Cave
Located on a cliff of the northern peak of the Xiling Hill, the Three Travelers' Cave
is 10 kilometers northwest of Yichang City, overlooking the magnificent Nanjin Pass - the
exit of the great Xiling Gorge, and the Gezhouba Hydro-electric Project.
 Edge of the Cave
This limestone cave was little known before the Tang Dynasty (618-907). A story says
that, in 819, the Tang poet Bai Juyi (772-846) and his younger brother came across another
poet Yuan Zhen (779-831). The three visited the cave together and each inscribed a long
poem on its walls in praise of it. In 1056, Su Xun (1009-1066) and his sons, Su Shi
(1036-110 1) and Su Zhe (1039-1112), all men of letters of the subsequent Song Dynasty,
came to visit the cave on their way to the imperial capital to take civil service
examinations. Each of them also wrote a poem on its stone walls.
 Inscriptions of ancient literature
Three Travelers' Cave has two interconnected entrances, one as wide and tall as a city
gate while the other so low that a tourist has to climb through it on all fours. The
bigger section measures six meters in height and 20-30 meters both in breadth and depth.
The "lobby" of the cave
Three stalactites divide it into two chambers, the front one being spacious and bright
and the rear one having a ceiling shaped like a hanging bell. The floor of the cave issues
the sound of a drum when the tourist stamps his feet on it, and smaller rocks near its
walls sound like a chime when struck. These are three wonders of Three Travelers' Cave:
Heavenly Bell, Earth Drum, and Side Chime. Cool in summer and warm in winter.
 Three
Travelers Cave looking from cruise ship
More than forty stone inscriptions both inside and outside the cave are still
discernible. Poet and articles might not be that famous to western travelers, but it is
truly a great place to sample the greatness of the Three Gorges. When you see people on
the ships far away waving to you and yielding, you can stop waving and yielding back from
the high cliff.
Cut from cliff
At the south of the cave, there is a tower peak, on top of which stands a statue of
Zhang Fei, a general of Shu in Three Kingdom Period. It was said that he had hit drums to
train his troops here. And small platform got its name "Zhang Fei Hitting Drum
Platform".
Three Travelers' Cave is a tourist highlight both because of its approximate to Yichang
and the spectacular terrain it is on. It is caught between towering peaks and skirted by a
clear stream called Xialao Brook. Its top commands a view of Nanjin
Pass where the dangerous upper section of the Yangtze River gives way to the middle
reaches along which navigation is relatively easy.
Open 7 am -- 7 PM.
Overview from the cave
Relating topics:
Three Gorges Project (TGP)
Why China Wants to Build the Three Gorges Dam
Report on Environmental Impact of the TGP
Gezhouba Dam
Three Travelers' Cave
Nanjin Pass
Yichang
Gezhouba Dam
Three Gorges Project (TGP)
Nanjin Pass
Chinese Sturgeon
Aquarium
Sandouping (Three Gorges Dam)
Shadow Play Gorge
Yellow Ox Temple
Yellow Ox Gorge
Three Travelers' Cave
Shadow Play Gorge |
