芦笛岩位於桂林市西北桃花江畔,在光明山的南側山腰。洞口原長有一種芦葦草,傳說可以做笛子,吹出悅耳動聽的聲音,芦笛岩因此得名。芦笛岩的形成經歷了漫長的年代,100萬年前這裡原是一個古地下湖,由於地殼運動山體抬升,地下水位下降,地下湖變成了山洞。後來,雨水形成的地下水沿著山體中許許多多的破碎帶流動,溶解了岩石中的碳酸鈣,變成了含有碳酸根與鈣離子的溶液。當地下水從岩石縫隙流到洞中時,二氧化碳溢出,鈣離子就沉澱結晶,經過長年的積累形成千姿百態的鐘乳石,人們稱讚芦笛岩是一座大自然的藝術之宮。
The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into flutes. Reed Flute Cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang dynasty. These aged inscriptions tell us that it has been an attraction in Guilin since ancient times.