Plan your Wuyi Mountains tour? Water Curtain Cave is one of the important attractions in Wuyi Mountains Scenic Area. Water Curtain Cave is not far from the site of Da Hong Pao Tea Trees which is also an interesting cultural and scenic spot in the north of the Mount Wuyi Scenic Area. So most of the visitors would combine them on a half day tour.
Two ways to visit Water Curtain Cave and Da Hong Pao tea trees for a half day trip:
1. First take a shuttle bus to visit Water Curtain Cave, then return to the bus terminal for a shuttle bus to the site of Da Hong Pao. After viewing the site Da Hong Pao, again take a shuttle bus back to your hotel.
2. The second choice is to hike from Water Curtain Cave to the site of the six original Da Hong Pao tress. It is approx. 4000 meter trail walking along the creeks and valley with stunning views.
We chose the second way of travel hiking all the way from the Bus Terminal for Water Curtain Cave to the site of Da Hong Pao. The 4270 meters trek turned out to be the highlight of our 3 day trip in Wuyi Mountains. It is a pity that no organized group tours would cover the highlight hike from Water Curtain Cave to the site of Da Hong Pao. Maybe I think too much. Those who don’t know the trail will never feel shamed about this.
Walking from Water Curtain Cave Bus Terminal to the fork leading up to Water Curtain Cave 450 meter
After buffet lunch at our lodging hotel – Yeohwa Hotel in Wuyishan National Holiday Resort, we took a trishaw for 5 Yuan and reached Wuyi Palace where we got on the shuttle bus for Water Curtain Cave.
The 450 meter walking from the entrance to the fork was very comfortable with a smooth asphalt road flanked by green arched trees.
The 450 meter walking from the entrance to the fork was very comfortable with a smooth asphalt road flanked by green arched trees.
Soon we found ourselves sandwiched by two huge rock moutains – Xiabin Rock and Zonggu Rock.
Soon we found ourselves sandwiched by two huge rock mountains – Xiabin Rock and Zonggu Rock.
Hiking up from the fork to the Site of Water 840 meters and back 840 meters At the end of the easy 450 meter walking on the main road, we discovered a stone sign appointing to the right up to Water Curtain Cave and the left down to Da Hong Pao. According to the road sign, we needed to climb over 800 meter stone steps leading to the Water Curtain Cave on our right side.
A stone sign appointing to the right up to Water Curtain Cave and the left down to Da Hong Pao.
a stone sign appointing to the right up to Water Curtain Cave and the left down to Da Hong Pao.
We clambered on the slab paved mountain road leading up to our first destination Water Curtain Cave. On the way up, we found lots of ancient tea bushes planted by different tea companies.
At the end of our 800 meter hike, we approached a flat high land with s big stele engraved with the three Chinese characters – 水帘洞 （Water Curtain Cave). We made it, close to the site Water Curtain Cave.
The Water Curtain Cave is said to be the biggest rock cave ( a shallow and open cave ) in Wuyi Mountains. It has a slanting top similar to upturned eaves. A few streams fall down from the rock cave top. The falling stream water is turned into numerous drops of water mainly due to the wind and the 100 meter hight in difference, forming a running water curtain. Summer is not the rainy season in Wuyi Mountains. It was a little disappointed that we didn’t expect much water fall from the top.
It was a little disappointed that we didn’t expect much water fall from the top.
It was a little disappointed that we didn’t expect much water fall from the top.
On the midway in the cliff cave there are several tea houses that used to the sites of the temples in the past.
In the cliff cave on the midway there are several tea houses that used to the sites of the temples in the past.
On the right side in the cave midway, there are a number of Chinese calligraphy engraving with “活源” ( Live Water Resource ) written by Mr. Yu Hongliang, one of the generals in Zhejiang in Qing Dynasty. The two characters “”活源” came from the well known scholar in Song Dynasty – Chucius.
Live Water Resource
Rippled pond under the falling water from the top in the Water Curtain Cave.
Rippled pond under the falling water from the top in the Water Curtain Cave.
Trekking from the fork to the site of Hui Yuan Temple 780 meters We returned to the fork along the same road. Here you are reminded not to take a wrong way if you are going to hike further to Da Hong Pao. The road sign points to a small mountain road down to the ravine off the main asphalt road.
So we forked from the main road and started our adventure in the ravine. Actually later we found all the way we hiked different ravines, like walking in a landscape corridor where everything was green, pure and fresh.
We first hiked along Zhangtang Brooklet nestled in the valley. The ravine was rich with vegetation and tea trees.
The ravine was rich with vegetation and tea trees.
The Zhangtang Stream was clean, cool and fresh.
The Zhangtang Stream was clean, cool and fresh.
On the south bank of Zhangtang Booklet stands the Danxia Peak. In the caves of various sizes in the cliff there are several ancient cave dwellings of wooden structures. They were made by the local landlords who had employed people to build the hanging cave houses to avoid the civil war waged by Taiping Army in Qing Dynasty.
Ancient cave dwellings of wooden structures
ancient cave dwellings of wooden structures
The huge rock road sign reminded us that the famous Eagle’ Beak Rock was in sight.
The huge rock road sign reminded us that the famous Eagle’ Beak Rock was in sight.
The slab paved road paralleled the Zgangtang Booklet, shady, clean and quite.
The slab paved road paralleled the Zgangtang Booklet, shady, clean and quite.
Soon we found the Hui Yuan Temple high on the hillside on our left.
Soon we found the Hui Yuan Temple high on the hillside on our left.
Hui Yuan Temple was built in Song dynasty, and rebuilt in late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. The temple is a local style house structure and comprises three religions into one – Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
The temple has a Confucian style entrance hall and main Confucian atmosphere in the temple and Taoist style pavilion. Chucius stayed one night and wrote the words ” Be Quite My God” on the horizontal inscribed board which is well preserved now. On the pillars there are two lines of Chucian poem – Guests don’t hate to take tea for wine while regard bamboo as neighbourhood“.
The main entrance to Hui Yuan Temple
The main entrance to Hui Yuan Temple
Wandering from Hui Yuan Temple to Liuxiang Brooklet (Fragrance Brooklet) 570 meters After having a short break at Hui Yuan Temple, we continued our walk to Da Hong Pao. We then turned south and walked along the Fragrance Booklet in a ravine flanked by large rock mountains.
Accompanied by the running creek, we moved on along the bushy mountain road.
Accompanied by the running creek, we moved on along the bushy mountain road.
Three Chinese characters “流香涧” ( Fragrance Booklet ) are engraved on the huge rock.
The Fragrance Booklet is a paradise in the heaven, quite, cool…
The Fragrance Booklet is a paradise in the heaven, quite, cool…
Hiking from Fragrance Brooklet to the Site of Da Hong Pao 320 meters
Out of the Fragrance Booklet in the narrow valley, suddenly we entered an open place, we could either go right (West) and left (east). Again a signboard showed us the left side road to Da Hong Pao. The last 320 meter hike was a little treacherous and steep, continuously hiked up the mountain.
The last 320 meter hike was a little treacherous and steep
Now we were in the Jiulongke Valley flanked by 9 Jiulongke peaks. In the valley grows the best rock tea – Da Hong Pao. The six mother Da Hong Pao tea Trees grow on the rock of the last Jiulongke Peak.
we were in the Jiulongke Valley
We went along the Jiulongke Valley and soon we spotted the six original Da Hong Pao Tea Trees growing on the rock of the 9th peak of Jiulong Peaks.
we spotted the six original Da Hong Pao Tea Trees
Walking from the Site of Da Hong Pao to the Bus Terminal of Da Hong Pao 380 meters
Some travelers had a break by taking the Da Hong Pao tea by the site of Da Hong Pao.
As a green tea addict, we had no interest in the king of oolong Tea and continued to move on in the valley of Jiulongke. It is said that the best rock tea or Da Hong Pao grows here in the valley, like the brands of “Rou Gui”…
It is said that the best rock tea or Da Hong Pao grows here in the valley
Plentiful engraved Chinese characters on the rock left by known and unknown writers.
Plentiful engraved Chinese characters on the rock left by known and unknown writers.
Goodbye Da Hong Pao, and thanks for the wonderful scenery and rich Chinese culture.
Tip: Hassle-free Wuyishan Guided Tours If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Wuyishan Guided Tours:
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Wuyishan Guided Tours: