宋(song)代蔣之(zhi)奇建亭于巖上,明徐霞客(ke)游此后寫(xie)道:“其巖后通(tong)前(qian)(qian)豁(huo),上覆重崖,下(xia)臨絕壑,中可憩(qi)可依(yi),云帆遠近,縱送其前(qian)(qian)......。崖北(bei)有石磴,直下(xia)緣(yuan)江(jiang)(jiang),亟從之(zhi)登。西倚危崖,東逼澄江(jiang)(jiang),盡處忽(hu)有洞(dong)(dong)岈(ya)然,高二丈,闊亦(yi)如之(zhi),亦(yi)東面臨江(jiang)(jiang),溪流自中噴玉(yu)而出,蓋(gai)水(shui)洞(dong)(dong)也......"。明萬歷(li)年間,永(yong)州知府(fu)丁 儒,將朝陽(yang)巖亭榭修葺一新(xin)。他認為(wei)“凡零陵對江(jiang)(jiang)西巖一里(li)之(zhi)內,下(xia)皆崆(kong)峒,山(shan)澤(ze)通(tong)氣,匪虛(xu)(xu)而何(he)?便將朝陽(yang)巖西山(shan)命名為(wei)零虛(xu)(xu)山(shan)。
由巖頂循石級而(er)下至入口(kou)為上(shang)洞。洞口(kou)巖壁鐫“何須大(da)樹“四個大(da)字(zi),系民國(guo)四年(nian)零(ling)陵(ling)鎮守使(shi)望云亭(ting)(ting)題(ti)。洞口(kou)有(you)清湖南巡(xun)撫吳大(da) 題(ti)刻(ke)石碑一(yi)(yi)塊,右(you)側石壁有(you)廣西(xi)巡(xun)扶林紹年(nian)詩(shi)刻(ke)。清咸豐、同(tong)治(zhi)年(nian)間(jian),楊翰任(ren)永州(zhou)知府時,于其東側石上(shang)補刻(ke)元(yuan)結《朝(chao)(chao)陽巖銘》及(ji)(ji)《游朝(chao)(chao)陽巖詩(shi)》,字(zi)為篆(zhuan)體,由當時書(shu)法家鄧(deng)守之(zhi)所書(shu)。又(you)于西(xi)壁補刻(ke)宋黃庭堅《游朝(chao)(chao)陽巖》詩(shi)及(ji)(ji)其畫像(xiang)(均保(bao)存完好(hao)),并(bing)建”篆(zhuan)石亭(ting)(ting)“一(yi)(yi)座,站(zhan)在亭(ting)(ting)前(qian)南望遠山如列翠(cui)屏(ping),瀟水(shui)(shui)從翠(cui)屏(ping)中百折而(er)來,別有(you)一(yi)(yi)番(fan)風趣(qu)。“篆(zhuan)石亭(ting)(ting)”因年(nian)久失修(xiu),一(yi)(yi)柱歪(wai)斜,大(da)部瓦片失落,行將(jiang)(jiang)倒塌。1957年(nian)省(sheng)文(wen)化部門(men)撥款,由零(ling)陵(ling)縣文(wen)化科主持委(wei)托零(ling)陵(ling)縣建筑(zhu)公司修(xiu)繕,并(bing)增設樓梯走(zou)欄。1981年(nian)又(you)由省(sheng)文(wen)化廳撥款,永州(zhou)市文(wen)化局(ju)主持委(wei)托朝(chao)(chao)陽公園修(xiu)繕,此次將(jiang)(jiang)亭(ting)(ting)頂的黑灰色(se)瓦換成黃色(se)琉璃瓦,使(shi)這座高十米的重檐(yan)山頂游亭(ting)(ting),映于青山綠水(shui)(shui)間(jian),更為幽(you)美。
又上(shang)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)出(chu),沿崖(ya)而下,有(you)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)磴數十(shi)級,至盡(jin)處即中洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)。此(ci)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)又名(ming)“流香洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)”,左(zuo)右(you)石(shi)壁(bi)如半(ban)環(huan),有(you)泉自巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)腹(fu)出(chu),水(shui)色清冽(lie),水(shui)聲淙淙,瀉(xie)入瀟水(shui),冬夏(xia)不涸。前(qian)人仿曲水(shui)流觴遺意,就巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)右(you)澗底鑿石(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)回曲,用以泛觴。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)壁(bi)鐫“朝(chao)陽(yang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”三(san)字(zi),為(wei)(wei)(wei)宋嘉祐五年(1060)張子諒書(shu),題(ti)(ti)記。還有(you)“朝(chao)陽(yang)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)”三(san)字(zi)及宋書(shu)法家(jia)米芾(fei)“秀巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”題(ti)(ti)刻(ke)。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)內(nei)左(zuo)右(you)壁(bi)刻(ke)有(you)元(yuan)次山(shan)(shan)的《游(you)(you)朝(chao)陽(yang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)》及柳(liu)(liu)宗(zong)元(yuan)的《游(you)(you)朝(chao)陽(yang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)遂(sui)登西亭二十(shi)韻》詩(shi)(shi),與其傍(bang)明(ming)嘉靖(jing)間通判肖干詩(shi)(shi)刻(ke)相仿,前(qian)人斷為(wei)(wei)(wei)模(mo)刻(ke)。還有(you)程灝、周敦(dun)頤等題(ti)(ti)名(ming),及清同治元(yuan)年(1862)何紹基詩(shi)(shi)刻(ke)等。由洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)內(nei)往后山(shan)(shan)出(chu)口名(ming)“陰潛(qian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)”,明(ming)丁 儒(ru)在巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)背(bei)建有(you)“聽泉亭”,已早圮。中洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)左(zuo)稍上(shang)有(you)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)側(ce)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)。巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)壁(bi)有(you)明(ming)代(dai)人補刻(ke)柳(liu)(liu)宗(zong)元(yuan)《漁翁(weng)》詩(shi)(shi):“漁翁(weng)夜傍(bang)西巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)宿,曉汲清湘燃(ran)楚竹(zhu),煙銷日出(chu)不見人,唉乃一聲山(shan)(shan)水(shui)綠,回看天際(ji)下中流,巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)上(shang)無(wu)心云相逐。”字(zi)跡(ji)清晰(xi)可辨。
巖背山(shan)上有明嘉靖年(nian)(1543)建(jian),清咸豐(feng)八年(nian)(1858)和民國八年(nian)曾修的寓賢祠(ci)(ci),祀唐(tang)宋謫官(guan)元結、黃庭堅(jian)、蘇軾、蘇轍、鄒浩(hao)、范純(chun)仁、范祖(zu)禹(yu)、張浚、胡銓、蔡元定講賢。此(ci)祠(ci)(ci)建(jian)國后曾為(wei)(wei)零陵縣二(er)中(zhong)教工(gong)宿舍,直到“文革”期間(jian)(jian)二(er)中(zhong)校址改(gai)(gai)為(wei)(wei)水泥廠后,教工(gong)隨校搬走,此(ci)祠(ci)(ci)先后改(gai)(gai)為(wei)(wei)朝陽中(zhong)學及養豬場(chang)等。1979年(nian)永州鎮建(jian)立后,曾多次組織(zhi)機(ji)關干(gan)部(bu)、工(gong)廠職工(gong)、學校師生、城鎮居民在附近(jin)山(shan)上植樹造(zao)林,1980年(nian)建(jian)立朝陽公署后,寓賢祠(ci)(ci)及祠(ci)(ci)側(ce)民國年(nian)間(jian)(jian)唐(tang)鴻烈建(jian)的二(er)層(ceng)西式房屋,經維修改(gai)(gai)為(wei)(wei)公園用(yong)房。
朝(chao)陽(yang)巖山(shan)水(shui)秀麗(li),古(gu)木(mu)(mu)青(qing)郁濃蔭(yin),風光(guang)旖旎,每當“朝(chao)暾(tun)初升,煙光(guang)石氣,激射成彩”,故稱“朝(chao)陽(yang)旭日”。因(yin)巖內(nei)尚存(cun)自唐以(yi)來歷代名人石刻114處(chu),1957年(nian)被(bei)列為省級文物保護單位。八(ba)十年(nian)代辟為公園后,在周(zhou)圍(wei)山(shan)上種植(zhi)大片樹木(mu)(mu)外,還增添了花圃、水(shui)湖,經過裝點(dian)后更顯絢(xuan)麗(li)多姿。
目前(qian)朝陽園(yuan)內有燒烤場,可以(yi)在(zai)園(yuan)內吃(chi)中餐(can)或(huo)晚(wan)餐(can).另外,公園(yuan)地(di)處(chu)城郊,也可在(zai)城區或(huo)者附(fu)近的水(shui)上餐(can)廳用餐(can)。比如說湖南科(ke)技學院附(fu)近,這里大多以(yi)便餐(can)為主,價(jia)格便宜。再往前(qian)走,在(zai)愚溪橋附(fu)近有水(shui)上餐(can)廳,有當地(di)口味的河(he)魚(yu)吃(chi),非常鮮(xian)美,吃(chi)一餐(can)大約在(zai)50-200不等。
朝(chao)陽巖附近(jin)有(you)(you)一所湖南科技學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan),那里(li)有(you)(you)很(hen)多私人的小(xiao)(xiao)旅館(guan)(guan),價格非常實惠,因(yin)為(wei)有(you)(you)很(hen)多學(xue)生(sheng)租用,且比(bi)較(jiao)安全。因(yin)為(wei)這(zhe)區(qu)域有(you)(you)比(bi)較(jiao)多旅游景點及學(xue)院(yuan)(yuan),當地政府比(bi)較(jiao)重視。當然,出(chu)門在外(wai),在哪(na)里(li)都應(ying)小(xiao)(xiao)心。如果(guo)你不(bu)想在小(xiao)(xiao)旅館(guan)(guan)住,那么只有(you)(you)到區(qu)中心了,反(fan)正地方不(bu)大.區(qu)中心上檔次的有(you)(you)紅太陽大酒店,友誼大酒店,柳子(zi)大酒店及瀟(xiao)湘賓館(guan)(guan)等。
離柳子(zi)廟只有(you)2站(zhan)路。13路公(gong)共汽車(che)穿行于柳子(zi)廟、愚(yu)溪橋(qiao)、朝陽巖(yan)公(gong)園之間。朝陽巖(yan)門票10元 。