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Qiliang Cave is located in Qiliangqiao Township north of Fenghuang Ancient City, on the left side of the Jifeng Highway. This scenic spot combines mountains, rivers, gorges, dangerous rapids, sheer cliffs, flying waterfalls, forests, pastoral fields, and villages in one cave. It is known for four major features: "wondrous, elegant, secluded, and steep," and there is a saying that "after returning from Qiliang, one need not look at other caves." The cave entrance is like a giant dragon opening its mouth, over 50 meters high and more than 20 meters wide. A clear stream flows through the karst cave, which is over 6,000 meters long. Inside the cave are five major scenic areas: "Ancient Battlefield," "Gallery," "Heaven," "Dragon Palace," and "Yin-Yang River."
Within the cave there are mountains, and within the mountains there are caves, all interconnected. It gathers fantastic rocks and ingenious stones, flowing springs and flying waterfalls into one cave, with thousands of stalagmites, stone pillars, and stalactites forming incomparably magnificent scrolls. Qiliang Cave has countless scenes and is praised as "all the world's wonders gathered in one cave." At present, the developed scenic areas cover only the front part of the cave along the river, less than 2,000 meters deep. With economic development and increased development efforts, the rear cave will gradually open up 6 major scenic areas with about 150 scenic spots. The drift through the rear cave all the way to sightseeing tourism at Fenghuang Ancient City will surely add infinite charm to Qiliang Cave.
The most famous landscape in the cave is a suspended oval giant stalactite. The interior of the stalactite is hollow, and the whole thing looks like a hollowed-out chayote. An enormous flow of water from the cave ceiling washes over the outer surface of the stalactite and strikes the ground, producing a tremendous sound. Drop by drop, year by year, the water slowly changes the face of the stalactite at every moment.
The Ancient Battlefield is located at the front section of Qiliang Cave. Legend has it that in the late Southern Song Dynasty, righteous people of various ethnic groups in the south, unable to bear oppression, once plotted rebellion here. The local native He Che led an uprising army mainly composed of Miao people and fought fierce battles here against government troops led by the three brothers Yang Long, Yang Hu, and Yang Bao sent by the imperial court, repelling the government attacks each time. Later, because a traitor informed on them, all the officers and soldiers of the uprising army died miserably in the cave. A folk ballad still circulates to this day: "Thirty-six men killed nine thousand, killed all the way into Qiliang Cave; blood flowed into rivers, bones piled into mountains; if you do not believe it, go outside the cave and see, the armor is buried in the muddy field."
Within the Ancient Battlefield, many place names are still related to this battle: "Fallen Horse River," where the uprising army smashed government troops with huge stones so they rolled into the river; the "Ancient Rice Mill," which husked rice to feed nearly ten thousand uprising soldiers; "Rain-Washed Lotus," transformed from the lotus umbrella, the protective magic treasure of uprising leader He Che; and "Snake Head Stone," "Turtle Stone," and "Hippo Playing on the Mountain," transformed from He Che's three great generals.
Heaven is a major scenic area that distinguishes Qiliang Cave from the "Dragon Palace." After passing through the Ancient Battlefield and following the river downstream, one reaches the bewildering, bizarre, and enchanting "Dragon Palace"; climbing the steps upward, as the path hangs steep and the slope rises, hundreds of steps wind upward until reaching the picturesque, colorful "Heaven."
"Heaven" is splendid and dazzling, too beautiful to take in all at once, with 32 large scenic spots. Soluble carbonate rock, over the long ages, has transformed into numerous varied and richly charming forms, creating a peerlessly wonderful artistic conception for "Heaven." "South Heavenly Gate" towers into the clouds, "Fairy Bathing" is full of charm, "Imperial Brush Heavenly Book" is strikingly lifelike, "Lingxiao Hall" is ethereal and misty, "Jade Trees and Crystal Flowers" are lush and splendid, "Free and Easy Palace" is like poetry and painting, "Jade Pool" ripples with silver waves, "Zixiao Palace" has three majestic gates, "A Hundred Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix" is enchanting, and "Guanghan Palace" is broad and empty. "Heaven" covers more than 5,000 square meters. Besides 32 large scenic spots, there are also countless small scenic spots like stars in the sky. Together they form the boundless beauty of "Heaven," with winding paths, dazzling lights and colors, broad and secluded yet majestic and solemn, and magnificent and wondrous.
In the "Ten-Mile Gallery" there is the "Forest Sea and Snow Plain," with vast seas of forest, ancient towering trees, dense shade blocking the sun, and snow-white stones; the "Ice Mountain Snow Lotus," with towering snow mountains and budding snow lotuses, full of northern scenery; the "Southwest Jungle," with ancient trees growing in clusters, vines climbing and clinging, and thorns all around; the "Huashan Dangerous Path," perilously steep, towering and wall-like, a work of supernatural craftsmanship; the "Farming Peach Blossom Spring," with murmuring streams, thousands of fertile fields, and faintly visible farmhouses, just like men plowing and women weaving; the "West Lake Miniature Scenes," composed of realistically rendered Zhaogong Bridge, Su Causeway, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and more; a magnificent hall with transparent karst rock, tall and majestic, connecting heaven and earth, with crystal jade pillars, in which stands a group of stone walls that can play seven musical notes—the "Hall of Qin Music"; and the "Dunhuang Caves," with 8 murals of Buddhas, immortals, and figures in a hundred poses and thousand postures, vividly lifelike.
Sitting in the boat, one sees the river water clear and crystalline, strange rocks jagged in the stream, with a thousand atmospheres—some like dragons, some like soft-shelled turtles, some like tortoises, some like birds, some like elephants. Under the colorful lights, they are brilliantly colored and remarkably true to form. There is also the special underwater world of dragons dancing and serpents soaring, purple lightning flying through the air, and golden clouds glowing, stirring people's imagination and longing.
Legend has it that in the late Song Dynasty, the native leader He Che gathered people to rise up against the government, attacking cities and seizing strongholds with irresistible force. The imperial court sent the "Three Yang Brothers" to command troops in suppression, but they were defeated by He Che using three magic treasures: the "Life-Chasing Drum," the "Soul-Bewildering Gong," and the "Lotus Umbrella." Later, because a traitor informed on them, the magic treasures were broken, and they retreated to defend themselves in Qiliang Cave, where all officers and soldiers died in battle. A folk story still circulates to this day: "Thirty-six men killed nine thousand, died in front of Qiliang Cave." On the rock wall on the right bank of the small stream hangs a "Lotus Umbrella," with the sound of flowing water. It is said to be He Che's protective magic treasure.
