There are near three thousand grottoes along the Jushui River, Yichang, while traditionally it is said more than ten thousand grottoes once existing there. Grottoes are distributed with a high density in Baibaozhai, Baijiadong, Yanwumiao, Jiuxianzhen,Mingfengshan, and Luyuansi. Two surveys conducted by the author in 2002 reveal that the grottoes could be divided into two categories, Daoism grottoes of theMing and Qing dynasties and shelters, mainly dated to the Xianfeng reign of the Qing dynasty except that some traced back as early as the end of the Ming dynasty.
