Taohuayuan (桃花源, Peach Blossom Land), inspired by Tao Yuanming’s famous poem “Peach Blossom Spring,” depicts a picturesque, blissful paradise untouched by the outside world. Located in Youyang, Taohuayuan seems to embody the legendary utopia described in the poem. This national 5A-level tourist attraction consists of several key components: the Ancient Peach Blossom Spring, Fuxi Cave, Taohuayuan Square, Taohuayuan National Forest Park, Youzhou Ancient City, Taohuayuan Cultural Town, and the Eryou Mountain Cultural Theme Park.
The area beautifully integrates the historical cultures of the Qin and Jin dynasties, folk traditions, natural ecological culture, and the stunning geological wonders of karst topography, including sinkholes and underground rivers.
At the entrance, a grand stone archway bears couplets inscribed by renowned poets. Upon entering the Peach Blossom Creek and venturing into the cave, visitors are greeted by magnificent stalactites that resemble various forms, such as the Bodhisattva seated on a lotus or animals in motion, captivating all who behold them. The sound of dripping water echoes in the cave, reminiscent of a copper pot dripping, creating a melodious tone as it strikes the stone bell and drum—this is one of the cave’s eight scenic wonders known as “Stone Bell and Drum.”
The cave walls are adorned with numerous stone carvings, though many have become indistinct over the ages. However, at the end of the cave, the bold and ancient characters “太古藏书” remain clearly visible, inviting visitors to ponder the rich history contained within this enchanting paradise.
Travel Information about Taohuayuan
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: 100 yuan
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Getting to the Scenic Area
Location: 232 Taohuayuan Road, Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing.
Transportation: Take a bus to Youyang from the Sigongli Transportation Hub, then walk approximately 10 minutes from Youyang City North Station to reach the scenic area.
Attraction Ratings
- Beauty: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Special Features: ★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Cultural Significance: ★★
- Adventure: ★★
Highlights of Taohuayuan
Dayou Cave
Dayou Cave is enveloped by peach orchards, with falling petals creating a picturesque scene. Inside the cave, the land is flat and well-organized, featuring an intricate network of paths, fertile fields, and charming villages. Visitors can enjoy the “Eight Scenic Wonders of the Peach Blossom Land,” which include the verdant pine peaks, stone rooms filled with ancient texts, cascading springs, traces of celestial beings, and the longevity symbols of tortoises and cranes, all accompanied by the flowing red waters of the peach creek and ethereal mists.
Historically, it has been said that “the Miao do not leave the cave, and the Han do not enter the borders,” making it a dream destination for scholars and poets. Dayou Cave is an exceptional spot for relaxation, exploration, and immersing oneself in history.
According to the “General Gazetteer of Youyang,” the cave’s shape aligns precisely with the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming. The “Sichuan Provincial Gazetteer” records that Youyang, once part of Wuling County, is where the fisherman sought refuge. Experts unanimously agree that this area is the prototype for the Peach Blossom Spring depicted in Tao Yuanming’s writings.
Fuxi Cave
Fuxi Cave is located beneath the sheer cliffs of Jinyin Mountain, extending approximately 3,000 meters. This expansive cave features a grand layout, complete with spacious halls, winding corridors, steep gorges, and deep underground rivers, all adorned with colorful stalactites, creating a stunning landscape.
Inside, the stalagmites rise majestically, clusters of stone pillars stand tall, stone curtains hang low, and waterfalls cascade, while the underground river flows silently. The cave’s immense scale, diverse formations, brilliant colors, and multiple periods of formation, along with the varying sizes of sediment, and the dense development of stalactites and stalagmites, make it a rare gem among China’s caves. Fuxi Cave is truly an “underground paradise,” showcasing the grandeur of karst cave landscapes.
Taohuayuan National Forest Park
Taohuayuan National Forest Park is located in the Taohuayuan community of Youyang County, serving as a natural barrier to the west of the ancient Taohuayuan scenic area, also known as Jinyin Mountain. The park is renowned for its “strange, beautiful, perilous, graceful, majestic, and picturesque” mountain landscapes. Its vegetation is characterized by “rich diversity and primitive rarity,” while the water bodies are “crystal clear and sweet.” Visitors can enjoy lush green grass, vast forests, melodious bird songs, and playful wild birds, making it a significant natural repository of biodiversity.
The park features several major attractions, including the Pengyou Ancient Road, One Bowl Spring, Lotus Wonder Cave, Fortresses, Stone Pillars Supporting the Sky, Stone Pillar Village, Husband and Wife Tree, Secondary Reservoir, Shouting Water Spring, Forest Bathing Area, Woodland Lawns, Shaded Willow Forest, Natural Seedlings, Skyward Nest, Forest Edge Autumn Colors, and Silver Mountain Mist Sea, among others.
Youyang Ancient City
Taohuayuan Scenic Area is located in a region inhabited by the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities, preserving a wealth of original ecological ethnic customs. Youyang Ancient City, originally named Youzhou Ancient City, features a primary attraction—a 1.3-kilometer-long street showcasing ethnic cultural themes. This street serves as a window for visitors to appreciate the architectural styles and folk customs of the Tujia and Miao cultures, providing a unique glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of southeastern Chongqing.
Taohuayuan Square
Taohuayuan Square covers over 86,000 square meters and features a multi-level, tiered design. It is the largest and most comprehensive cultural square in the Wuling Mountain area, comprising a fitness activity area, leisure zone, Taohua Creek, and a musical fountain. This square serves as the main venue for Tujia hand-waving dance performances and is an essential part of the Taohuayuan Scenic Area.
Visitor Guide for Taohuayuan
Accommodation Options
The Taohuayuan Scenic Area offers convenient accommodation with a variety of hotel options.
Liskar Hotel (酉阳利斯卡尔酒店): This comprehensive hotel combines guest rooms, dining, leisure, entertainment, vacation, and conference facilities. Located at 116 Zhongling Mountain Avenue West, Taohuayuan Town, it is adjacent to Taohuayuan, set in a beautiful environment with mountains and water, backed by a primitive vegetation park and facing the city moat.
Joyful Secret Hotel (酉阳喜悦秘境酒店): Situated at 36 Jinshanyuan Avenue North, Youyang, this hotel is nestled in green forests with beautiful natural scenery. The Chinese-style architecture exudes a sense of Zen and antiquity. Guests enjoy complimentary daily fruit, and drinks and snacks in the refrigerator are free. The rooms are equipped with dehumidifiers, ensuring comfort even at the foot of the mountain, making it a great value for money.
Youzhou Hotel (酉州会馆): Located at 34 Youzhou Ancient City, Taohuayuan, this hotel features an authentic Tujia-style courtyard with a retro charm. It is just a 2-minute walk from the main entrance of the Taohuayuan Scenic Area, providing very convenient transportation.
Things to Do
Youyang Yangxi: Also known as Mask Yangxi or Face Shell Drama, this folk drama combines ritual ceremonies and theatrical art. It is a local theatrical genre unique to Youyang and is recognized by experts as a “cultural geographical marker” of Xiyang. Yangxi employs a singing style that combines both true and false voices, colloquially referred to as “money hanging gourd,” where each phrase is sung in a higher octave. In 2007, it was included in the Chongqing Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Baishou Dance: This is the most significant cultural manifestation of the Tujia ethnic group. Baishou is a ritualistic dance characterized by hand-swaying movements and serves as an important form of worship for the Tujia people, honoring deities and ancestors while passing down their cultural heritage. The dance primarily reflects various aspects of social life, including human origins, mythology, ethnic migrations, ancient wars, hunting and fishing, slash-and-burn agriculture, production labor, and daily living. A complete series of Tujia Baiyu dances essentially represents a living history of the Tujia ethnic group’s development.