Jiuhua Mountain is a famous Buddhist holy land in China. It has a very large and rich Buddhist cultural resource. The terrain here is steep, the natural scenery is very magnificent, the air is exceptionally fresh, and it is a natural oxygen bar. Below, I will share with you the travel strategy for Jiuhua Mountain.
Jiuhua Mountain is rated as a 5A-level scenic spot.
Famous attractions in Jiuhua Mountain include Huacheng Temple, Wannian Zen Temple, and Jiyuan Temple.
Jiuhua Mountain is also known as Lingyang Mountain and Jiuzi Mountain.
The main peak of Jiuhua Mountain is Shiwang Peak, with an altitude of 1342 meters.
It is recommended to spend 2-3 days exploring Jiuhua Mountain.
Finally, I arrived at the long-awaited Jiuhua Mountain. As soon as we set off from Hefei, the sky poured down with rain. It rained on and off along the way. We encountered three showers during the 120-kilometer journey, washing the car and our hearts clean. The air was also washed exceptionally fresh by the rain, as if we had entered a natural oxygen bar.
Deep Cultural Heritage
Like all famous mountains and rivers, Jiuhua Mountain has forged a bond with famous literati and scholars throughout history. Since the Jin and Tang dynasties, literary giants such as Tao Yuanming and Li Bai have traveled here, composing timeless masterpieces, while painting masters like Zhang Daqian have wielded their brushes, leaving behind a legacy of fine art.
Li Bai ascended Jiuhua Mountain three times, writing the immortal poem “Once on the Jiujiang River, I looked up at Jiuhua Peak, the sky river hung with green water, shining out like nine lotus blossoms.” Especially the line “The miraculous has two breaths, the sacred mountain opens Jiuhua,” became the “name-giving poem” of Jiuhua Mountain.
Exquisite Natural Scenery
Within Jiuhua Mountain, peaks compete for beauty, strange rocks stand tall, fine trees cast shade, and valley breezes blow cool. Clear streams and hidden pools abound, with roaring waterfalls. Tiantai, Duxiu, Huatai, and Yunwai peaks rise up like platforms and pillars, reaching for the sky.
The heavy rain had just passed, and walking on the bluestone-paved mountain paths, mist covered the mountains, drifting and hazy, adorning the mountains, as if we were in a fairyland.
The entrance ticket is 190 yuan per person. If you re-enter the mountain, you need to register. Not far from the entrance gate after getting off the car is the hotel we booked. After settling in and taking a nap, we took the cable car to Baisuigong, costing 100 yuan per person. The cable car is a bit like the one on Hong Kong’s Peak Tram, but the distance is shorter, with only two cars running in opposite directions on a single track, meeting at a point with two tracks in the middle.
Elegant Hui-style Architectural Style
Strolling along the Jiuhua Street, holding a small umbrella, admiring the Hui-style architectural style, a strong cultural atmosphere washes over you.
The solemn golden pagodas, white walls and black tiles of the houses, and the silent inns blend seamlessly into the scenic area, nestled by mountains and rivers, lining up side by side, scattered at the foot of the mountains or among the forests. Deep green and black and white intertwine, layer upon layer, rising and falling, staggered and orderly.
Wandering through the streets and alleys, admiring the ancient and elegant artistic wares in the artistic shops, lazily strolling at your own pace by the bridges and flowing water, experiencing the charm of Jiangnan homes. “A river of smoke and water reflects the green hills, houses on both banks meet at the eaves.”
The Mysterious Lotus Buddha Realm
In 719 AD, the Prince of Silla, Jin Qiaojue, came here to practice diligently. He passed away at the age of 99 and was revered as the Manifested Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Jiuhua Mountain is known for its 99 peaks, with nine main peaks resembling nine lotus flowers, each with a unique charm.
There are currently 99 temples, nearly a thousand monks and nuns, and over ten thousand Buddhist statues. Morning bells and evening drums echo, with Buddhist chants drifting in the air.
The 99-meter-tall bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, located at the foot of the mountain, is solemn and dignified, welcoming tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.
The natural sleeping Buddha formed by the rolling mountain peaks is distinct in features and expression, making one marvel at the wonders of nature.
The natural stone Buddha in the Huatai Scenic Area is lifelike. The peaks and stones of Jiuhua Ling Mountain have all become Buddhist-infused natural wonders. Is it the work of nature, or the creation of the spirit and energy of the Buddhist mountain? Beside Baisuigong, there is a stone inscription that reads, “This stone is not a Buddha, the Buddha is formed from stone; this Buddha is not stone, the stone is formed from the Buddha. Stone or Buddha, which is true, which is false?”
Especially under the natural conditions of Jiuhua Mountain’s year-round humid climate, the discovery of 15 mummified Bodhisattvas adds a solemn and mysterious touch to Jiuhua Mountain.
Because it was a rainy day, with mist covering the mountains, I was unable to see the natural stone Buddha, which was a great pity. (Pictures from the internet)
Unique Hui Cuisine Flavors
I had long been salivating over Hui cuisine, ranked among the top eight cuisines in China.
Hui cuisine is a local specialty of ancient Huizhou. Its unique geographical and cultural environment has given Hui cuisine a unique flavor. “Snow-Winter Roast Mountain Chicken,” “Jiuhua Three Ears,” “Tiantai Twin Winter,” and “Ice Mountain Snowballs” are all mouthwatering delicacies. The natural environment with lush trees, deep ravines, and a pleasant climate provides Hui cuisine with an endless supply of ingredients.
Jiuhua Mountain’s unique conditions mean that there are wild bamboo shoots everywhere. My favorite dish is bamboo shoot noodles. It’s an unexpected combination and a very simple way to cook. First, soak the bamboo shoots until soft, then cut the soaked bamboo shoots, carrots, and dried beef into strips, add them to water and simmer together. Once the water boils, add the noodles, a little salt, and sprinkle some chopped scallions. I’ve been eating this for years, and I never knew it could be made this way. The flavor is so fresh, leaving you wanting more.
Doesn’t that sound delicious?
Awakening at Jiuhua Ling Mountain
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with the power of a thousand years of cultivation, silently enlightens all beings. As I walked, I felt the devout, sacred, and pure faith of the believers. My own soul was bathed in the divine rain and fairy wind, feeling refreshed and invigorated. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, I calmed my mind and spent some time quietly, organizing my thoughts. In the busy and mundane life, I slowed down my pace, allowing my inner turmoil to settle, filtering the impurities of my thoughts, balancing my state of mind, being indifferent to fame and fortune, becoming a pure and detached woman, experiencing the openness of flowers blooming and falling, clouds gathering and dispersing. I felt the peace and abundance of life, the infinite power of love scattered throughout the heavens and earth. In the face of life’s unavoidable hardships, I accepted things as they were, living happily and calmly.
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