Taoist Park Heavenly Grottoes
Heavenly Grottoes Taoist Park or, as it is also called, Dong Tian Park is located at the foot of the Southern Mountain near the city of Sanya, a world-famous resort in Hainan Province. This ancient place combined the beauty of natural nature and the sanctity of Taoist teachings. The park covers an area of approximately 23 square kilometers.
The history of the Taoist Park Heavenly Grottoes
This place is rich in caves and famous for the grottos in which the gods lived, as it is written in the sacred texts of the teachings of Taoism. There were about fifty such grottos and 70 caves called Dongtian. During the reign of the Song Dynasty Emperor in the 900s, two sacred caves were discovered called the Big Dongtian and the Little Dongtian. Today, the location of only the second object is known. And the location of the Large Grotto is lost and remains a mystery to this day.
The main areas of the park territory
The Dongtian Caves are the very place where the caves are located. In them, you can touch the otherworld and hear the voice of immortal souls. The teachings of Taoism originated here. A sacred place for the followers of this religion. The southern mountain is surrounded by greenery. Longevity pines, which are more than six thousand years old, grow here. Therefore, this zone is called the mountain of longevity.
Sea wonders are the most popular place for beautiful photos. The seashore is decorated with stone blocks, which look as amazing as possible in the rays of the setting sun. Dragon King Temple of the South China Sea is the place where the Dragon King statue is located. There is a legend that this mythical creature brings good luck to everyone's home. Believers come to the temple to worship him.
The Wall of Records is one of the most interesting areas in the Taoist Heavenly Grottoes Park. The wall depicts sacred texts inscribed on the stone surface many centuries ago. There is a statue of the Divine Turtle nearby. On the back of this turtle, the Taoists painted the image of the god of writing, Kuixing. It is believed that this god celebrates those who have talent in writing. The Museum of Natural History has collected dinosaur remains and rare fossils, unique exhibits for the whole of China. Also in the museum you can see what our planet Earth looked like 140 million years ago.
Other attractions of the park
Walking through the Heavenly Grottoes Taoist Park, every visitor will be surprised by the beauty of the landscapes, which have their own peculiarities at every turn. You can walk on foot, slowly examining every corner, or you can use the services of an electric car. There are many alleys, sculptures and plants on the territory of the Taoist Heavenly Grottoes Park, whose age is estimated in thousands of years. Every place here has its own story.
This place is also notable for the fact that it contains the largest number of negatively charged ions, which has a beneficial effect on human health. During the second lunar day in February, celebrations are held here in honor of an important event: there is a belief that on this day the Dragon raises its head. On the holiday, prayers are said here and celebrations are held. On the shore, local residents have organized small outdoor restaurants and hotels where you can eat and stay overnight, so that you can take your time and explore the entire territory of the Taoist Heavenly Grottoes Park.
