Peering into the distance, what secrets do these caves hold? These are the Guyaju Caves, also known as the Ancient Cliff House. The Guyaju Caves are the largest cliff dwelling site found in China.
About 92 kilometers from Beijing, the Guyaju Caves are hewn from craggy cliffs. They overlook Zhangshanying Town in Yanqing County. This intriguing house complex has more than 110 stone rooms.
The Ancient Cliff House is a significant discovery. It relates to the study of ancient Chinese people. These people inhabited the north of the country. However, no precise record of it has ever been found. No one knows its exact origins. The origins of the community are mysterious. Uncertainty surrounds the founding people. The later disappearance of the community adds to the mystery.
The settlement may have been established by a tribe. This tribe belonged to the Kumo Xi during the Liao dynasty. Some believe outlaws on the run built the complex. Others suggest it served as a military garrison during the Tang dynasty. Historical literature stresses its origins are a continuing archeological cipher.
The site covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers. The cave chiseling area is 3,931 square meters. There are stone stairs from the cave entrance to the ground. They are more than 10 meters long.
Inside, there are more than 350 rooms. Most are 1.8 meters high and 4 square meters in area. The largest is 2 meters high, 3 meters wide, and 5.2 meters long. The interior is chiseled with Kang bed-stoves and flues. You will also see window holes and lampstands. The roof has a stone slot. It was used for collecting rainwater.
Adjacent stone houses were built on each side of the cliffs. They are rectangular and square, large and small. Houses vary in size. Some are over 20 square meters. Others are 3-4 square meters. Some are interlinked perpendicularly. Some are interconnected horizontally. Some have a single room. Others have 2-3 connecting rooms. Stone steps and ladders connect the storeys.
Stone lamp-stands, hearths, closets, and mangers remain. They are traces of the ancient inhabitants. Some houses were built with kangs. These are beds heated from below on cold days.
One fascinating structure is a 2-storey stone house. Six finely engraved stone pillars prop it up. Inside, a wing contains a small room. It features a stone table, stools, and a broad stone bed. This ingeniously constructed room is at the cliff house’s highest spot. It is thought to be the residence of a chief. From its upper floor, one can see a superb panorama.
The ancient cliff dwellings of Yanqing were discovered in 1984. This happened during a cultural relics survey. The excavation date was inferred to be between 1000 and 2000 years ago. The exact date remains undetermined.
The most widely accepted speculation concerns the occupants. It suggests they were Kumo Xi people. They lived there from the Tang dynasty to the Five Dynasties period. Some argue Guyaju was actually a Han dynasty beacon.
In August 1991, the Guyaju Caves officially opened to visitors. In May 2013, they were listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site. It is protected at the National Level.
As you stand here, consider the mysteries. Imagine the lives of those who carved these rooms. They lived within these cliffs so long ago. The Ancient Cliff House waits, a testament to human ingenuity. It is a puzzle etched in stone.