Elephant Hill

Looking like a huge elephant drinking Lijiang River's water, so it is called the elephant hill. It is mysterious, grand and marvelous. Between the elephant's trunk and the body is a big round tunnel. Its reflection in the water and the cave itself form a full moon to become the unique scene of “Water Moon of Elephant Hill”. The other attractions include Water Moon Cave, Buddhist Pagoda and dagoba.

The hill got its name because of its appearance resembling a huge elephant drinking at the riverside with its long trunk. With an elevation of about 200 meters (660 feet), the hill was the result of limestone deposits left around 3.6 million years ago. Between the trunk and the legs of the elephant, there is a round cave running through the hill from north to south. It looks like a moon floating on the water, hence the name Water-Moon Cave. On a fine evening, the cave with the waving waters gleaming under the moonlight creates a spectacular scene of 'three moons': the water-moon cave, the moon in the sky and the moon reflected on the water. A pavilion was built in the cave where poets gathered and now on the cliff in and around the cave are numerous poets' inscriptions from past dynasties.

Walking out of Water-Moon Cave, you will find a flight of steps ascending to the elephant's 'eye' at the southern hillside. The 'eye' is actually a 2-meter-high (7 feet) , 20-meter-long (66 feet) cave that goes through the hill from south to north. It is called 'Elephant Eyes Cave'. The 'eye' on the northern hillside is inaccessible. The cave offers excellent views of the Li River. Leaving the 'eye', the steps continue to the top of the hill where a Tibetan-style stupa stands. It dates from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and is called Puxian Pagoda.

Publishes at : 07-06-20 20:46

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