Shuiliandong Cave Introduction
The Shuilien Cave Trail is located next to the Shishan Visitor Center. The trail is short and gentle, and offers exquisite scenery, making it perfect for all age groups to enjoy the mountain forest views. As you enter the Shuilien Cave Trail, it feels like stepping into a different world, with the sounds of insects and birds and the lush greenery contrasting sharply with the adjacent road. Walking down the steps, a massive cave comes into view, which is the largest natural cave in Shitoushan, known as Shuilien Cave. The name comes from the mountain spring water flowing down the rock walls above, creating a curtain of water at the cave's entrance. Inside Shuilien Cave, there is a century-old temple called Fanyin Temple, which was established in 1902 by Master Wei Kai, who discovered Shuilien Cave and built a temple there primarily for the worship of Siddhartha Gautama. The nearby babbling sound of flowing water, reminiscent of the sounds of chanting, inspired the name Fanyin Temple. It is the northernmost and lowest temple among the many temples in Shitoushan and is also the only temple that is not built in the typical temple architectural style. On the other side of the Shuilien Cave fence, you can see schools of fish such as the horse-mackerel and Taiwan stone loach swimming in the clear pebble stream, along with dragonflies and birds, making it a truly idyllic retreat. In such a short distance, one can enjoy a rich feast for the body, mind, and spirit. It’s a good idea to plan a leisurely trip to Shishan, combining it with the nearby Shuilien Bridge Trail and the Tengping Ancient Trail.