Shidong (Stone Cave) Temple in Nanjian County, Dali

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Shidong Temple (石洞寺) is located in the deep canyon between the Wuliang Mountains (无量山) and the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山), in Hujie Village (虎街村), Baohua Town (宝华镇), Nanjian Yi Autonomous County (南涧彝族自治县), Yunnan Province (云南省), approximately 30 kilometers from the county seat. The temple was built during the late Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (circa 1794), and was recognized as one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Ancient Dingbian (古定边八景)” under the name “Autumn in the Stone Cave (石洞凝秋)”, as recorded in the Dingbian County Annals (定边县志) for its suspended Buddha statue carved into the cliffside.

The temple is primarily composed of grottoes carved into the mountain wall, with two pavilions built atop massive rocks spaced four meters apart. The surviving stone caves preserve cliff carvings and traditional architectural craftsmanship. Since the opening of the Nanjing Expressway (南景高速) in 2020, visitors can access the site via Baohua Toll Station and drive 5 kilometers along the old Route 214. The temple is now a county-level protected cultural relic and continues to develop its tourism infrastructure.

Location and Access

The temple is situated in the canyon where the Wuliang Mountains (无量山) and Ailao Mountains (哀牢山) meet, at coordinates 24°54′–25°10′N, 100°31′–100°41′E. To the east lies the Shidong Temple Reservoir Project (石洞寺水库工程区), and to the west is National Highway 215. It is 30 kilometers in a straight line from Nanjian County (南涧县) and 10 kilometers from the Baohua Town government office. Nearby historical sites include the Hujie Ancient Tea-Horse Road (虎街茶马古道), located 932 meters away, contributing to a scenic cluster combining canyon boat tours and ancient trail exploration.

Historical Background

According to existing stone inscriptions and local chronicles, the temple was established in the 59th year of Qianlong (1794), with Buddhist niches carved into the natural rock caves. During the Guangxu reign, the Dingbian County Annals (定边县志) recorded its unique appearance as “a stone cave on a steep cliff, with a stone Buddha seated inside,” listing it as the scenic site “Autumn in the Stone Cave (石洞凝秋)”. It is the only grotto-type cultural relic among the Eight Scenic Spots of Nanjian (南涧八景). In the Republican period, parts of the temple were destroyed by a mountain flood, and the current structure reflects restorations carried out in the 1950s.

Architectural Features

Shidong Temple follows the architectural style of a hanging temple. Key features include:

• East and West Pavilions: Constructed on top of two separate 15-meter-high boulders, spaced 4 meters apart and connected by a wooden plank walkway.
• Grotto Cluster: Comprising 12 man-made caves, the largest measuring 8 square meters, with lotus reliefs from the Qing Dynasty painted on the ceilings.
• Cliff Passage: A 1.2-meter-wide stone staircase carved along a sheer cliff, totaling 83 meters in length, with sections featuring iron chain railings.

The complex utilizes the natural rock mass as a load-bearing structure, with main hall columns embedded into mountain fissures—an embodiment of the mechanical ingenuity of Qing-era mountain architecture in southwest Yunnan.

Scenic Highlights

The core attraction, “Autumn in the Stone Cave (石洞凝秋)”, consists of three elements:

• Natural Cave: A 9-meter-deep wedge-shaped cave housing a seated Guanyin statue from the Qing Dynasty.
• Cliff Inscriptions: Four large Chinese characters “佛光普照” (“Buddha’s Radiance Shines Everywhere”) carved into the cliff face.
• Autumn Foliage: A 200-year-old maple tree at the cave entrance whose red leaves contrast beautifully with the grey-white limestone cliffs in autumn.

Current Status and Protection

In 2023, Shidong Temple (石洞寺) was designated a county-level cultural relic protection unit. Special measures include:

• Installation of 12 sets of cliff displacement monitoring equipment for real-time geological safety tracking.
• Restoration of five Qing Dynasty stone steles using digital rubbings for archival.
• Visitor capacity limited to 300 per day, with protective railings around key areas.

The site is being developed with private investment to include a 50-vehicle parking lot and a visitor center, as well as a planned canyon boat tour route.

Transportation Information

Visitors from Nanjian County (南涧县) can choose between two travel routes:

1. Expressway Route: Take the Nanjing Expressway (南景高速) to Baohua Toll Station (宝华收费站) (12-minute drive), then follow the old Route 214 for 5 kilometers.
2. National Highway Route: Drive 39 kilometers south along G214 through Xinmajie (新马街) and Akexin Village (阿克新村).

The temple is open year-round from 08:00 to 18:00, with extended hours during the Spring Festival and other holidays until 20:00.