老(lao)(lao)君洞(dong)又(you)名“真(zhen)仙(xian)巖”、“靈巖”。位(wei)于(yu)融水(shui)苗(miao)族(zu)自(zi)治縣城南1.5公里處,整個(ge)景區占地10多(duo)公頃.有(you)溶(rong)洞(dong)2個(ge),洞(dong)口(kou)高(gao)約20米(mi),寬(kuan)約30米(mi),縱(zong)深50米(mi)。洞(dong)內原(yuan)有(you)由鐘(zhong)石(shi)(shi)自(zi)然凝(ning)成高(gao)達7米(mi)多(duo)的老(lao)(lao)君像(xiang),白發(fa)銀須,栩栩如生,老(lao)(lao)君洞(dong)因此(ci)得名。宋(song)(song)代(dai)(dai),洞(dong)中建(jian)有(you)真(zhen)仙(xian)閣(ge),此(ci)閣(ge)早已(yi)廢(fei)毀,只留存宋(song)(song),元、明、清、民國碑刻(ke)136方。這些(xie)石(shi)(shi)刻(ke)有(you)題記(ji)、詩文(wen)、詩賦、卜辭(ci)、書榜、圖像(xiang)等,字體則篆、棣、真(zhen)、草均含。形(xing)式(shi)多(duo)樣,內容豐富,為歷代(dai)(dai)學者所(suo)(suo)重視。明代(dai)(dai)地理學家(jia)、旅行家(jia)徐(xu)弘(hong)祖(徐(xu)霞客)到(dao)融水(shui),在(zai)真(zhen)仙(xian)巖住(zhu)了長達13天(tian)之久,其(qi)主要活動就拓制收集洞(dong)中的石(shi)(shi)刻(ke)作(zuo)品(pin)。清代(dai)(dai)著(zhu)名金(jin)學家(jia)王昶撰輯(ji)《金(jin)石(shi)(shi)萃編》、陸(lu)增祥(xiang)撰輯(ji)《八瓊室金(jin)石(shi)(shi)補正(zheng)》及(ji)名宦,學者謝啟昆編撰《粵(yue)西金(jin)石(shi)(shi)略》,均對真(zhen)仙(xian)巖石(shi)(shi)刻(ke)有(you)所(suo)(suo)著(zhu)錄。據嘉(jia)慶《廣西通(tong)志(zhi)》卷(juan)二百(bai)六十引明人曹學佺《輿地名勝志(zhi)》稱:“靈巖山(shan)又(you)名老(lao)(lao)君洞(dong),宋(song)(song)咸平(ping)中改(gai)名為真(zhen)仙(xian)巖,頒太宗(zong)御書百(bai)二十軸(zhou)藏(zang)于(yu)內”,今存“瑞(rui)云、西江、精忠、頤(yi)堂”八字四(si)石(shi)(shi),即為當(dang)時真(zhen)仙(xian)閣(ge)所(suo)(suo)藏(zang)作(zuo)品(pin)。
老(lao)君(jun)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)是(shi)融(rong)州(zhou)古八景(jing)之(zhi)首,堪稱“水月洞(dong)(dong)(dong)天”。清(qing)澈(che)婉蜒的(de)靈壽溪自(zi)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)背穿山而(er)過.流經洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)的(de)部分(fen)長約300米(mi)。乘小舟自(zi)后洞(dong)(dong)(dong)順(shun)流而(er)下,可(ke)一(yi)覽全洞(dong)(dong)(dong)風光(guang),觀(guan)賞洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)石壁上(shang)(shang)的(de)摩崖石刻(ke)及千姿百態的(de)鐘(zhong)乳石。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)古木參天,濃(nong)蔭蔽(bi)日,兩座宋(song)代建造的(de)古石橋在(zai)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)跨溪而(er)臥(wo),其橋造型(xing)美(mei)觀(guan),結構(gou)精(jing)巧,目前仍可(ke)通行汽車。相傳太上(shang)(shang)老(lao)君(jun)南游融(rong)嶺(ling)至此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong),竟流連忘返,對人說:“此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)乃天之(zhi)絕勝(sheng)也,山石磺石元,溪流清(qing)邃,不(bu)復西度流沙。我當(dang)隱(yin)焉”,于是(shi)化身為(wei)石,永留洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)。此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)因(yin)此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)得名,并(bing)成為(wei)全國道教圣地“三十六洞(dong)(dong)(dong)天”之(zhi)一(yi)。宋(song)紹興(xing)年間(jian),著名詩(shi)人、狀(zhuang)元張孝(xiao)祥游覽此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong),贊嘆不(bu)已,稱之(zhi)為(wei)“天下第(di)一(yi)真仙(xian)之(zhi)巖(yan)”。宋(song)太宗頒(ban)御書120軸藏于洞(dong)(dong)(dong)內,并(bing)敕修此(ci)(ci)(ci)(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)為(wei)“真仙(xian)巖(yan)”。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)內滿壁題刻(ke),僅宋(song)碑就有17塊之(zhi)多。其中(zhong)岳飛麾下獨(du)臂(bei)將軍(jun)王佐所題的(de)“真仙(xian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)”,字徑尺半(ban),筆力挺拔。而(er)北宋(song)元祜黨人沈千曾孫沈所立(li)的(de)“元祜黨籍碑”,尤為(wei)珍貴(gui)。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)之(zhi)景(jing)美(mei)不(bu)勝(sheng)收,有天柱石星(xing)、金線吊(diao)葫蘆、鶴巖(yan)旭(xu)日、群(qun)峰(feng)來秀、仙(xian)翁對弈等。有一(yi)拔地而(er)起(qi)的(de)鼓形(xing)乳石,輕拍響如鐘(zhong)聲,鐘(zhong)聲上(shang)(shang)傳,倒懸的(de)石乳會馬上(shang)(shang)回音,由近及遠,回鳴不(bu)息,深(shen)深(shen)扣動(dong)人的(de)心弦。
老君洞(dong)景(jing)區原(yuan)建有(you)規模完整的三(san)清殿(dian)、御書閣(ge)、紫薇(wei)閣(ge)、報恩寺、歲寒軒(xuan)、鴻音樓、麓石(shi)塔、清風亭(ting)、望遠亭(ting)堤(di)五(wu)百羅漢豐都(dou)山等(deng)亭(ting)臺樓閣(ge)以(yi)及老君天然(ran)鐘(zhong)乳石(shi)像等(deng)。由(you)于歷史的原(yuan)因,不少景(jing)點(dian)設施已遭毀壞(huai),目前有(you)關部門(men)已經著手進行(xing)修復,開(kai)發了隱仙洞(dong)、水月(yue)洞(dong)、羊角(jiao)洞(dong),并新建了盆景(jing)園、桃花(hua)園、荷花(hua)池、徐(xu)霞客雕像等(deng)供瀏覽觀(guan)光。
老君(jun)洞(dong)的(de)園林宗教(jiao)設施始建于唐(tang),興盛于宋(song),唐(tang)宋(song)以來,很多(duo)文(wen)人(ren)墨客在(zai)(zai)(zai)洞(dong)內留下(xia)(xia)了(le)大量的(de)詩文(wen)、游(you)(you)記、碑刻、摩巖(yan)(yan)刻一百多(duo)處,是(shi)珍(zhen)貴(gui)的(de)歷史(shi)文(wen)化遺產,宋(song)太(tai)宗親頒“御書碑”120軸藏于洞(dong)內,并敕(chi)封老君(jun)洞(dong)為“真仙(xian)巖(yan)(yan)”。明朝(chao)旅行(xing)家(jia)徐(xu)霞客曾在(zai)(zai)(zai)此洞(dong)住了(le)13天,這是(shi)他(ta)(ta)30年旅行(xing)活動(dong)(dong)中在(zai)(zai)(zai)一個(ge)洞(dong)內住得最久的(de)一次(ci),并寫下(xia)(xia)了(le)5000字游(you)(you)記,生動(dong)(dong)描(miao)述了(le)老君(jun)洞(dong)山光水(shui)(shui)色及傳(chuan)奇神話。他(ta)(ta)高(gao)舉火把進洞(dong)覽勝,遇到一條頭(tou)尾鉆到石(shi)下(xia)(xia)的(de)巨蟒攔(lan)路,他(ta)(ta)抬腳跨過(guo),蛇(she)蟒竟(jing)紋絲(si)不(bu)(bu)動(dong)(dong),可(ke)見(jian)暗洞(dong)幽深(shen)。站(zhan)在(zai)(zai)(zai)洞(dong)內溪(xi)流的(de)中段,可(ke)以看到真仙(xian)巖(yan)(yan)的(de)前門和后門,都是(shi)由山石(shi)自成方圓,陽光照耀在(zai)(zai)(zai)小溪(xi)的(de)兩頭(tou),仿佛兩輪皎月躍出水(shui)(shui)面。這“水(shui)(shui)月洞(dong)天”的(de)壯觀,使徐(xu)霞客不(bu)(bu)禁贊道(dao):“真仙(xian)為天下(xia)(xia)第一,此景真仙(xian)第一也!”宋(song)代名詩人(ren)范(fan)成大在(zai)(zai)(zai)《佳誨巖(yan)(yan)洞(dong)記》中贊曰:“融(rong)州有靈巖(yan)(yan)真仙(xian)洞(dong),世傳(chuan)不(bu)(bu)下(xia)(xia)桂(gui)林”。