Jiuhuashan (Mount Jiuhua)
 Mount Jiuhua is located in the Qingyang County of the Anhui Province and covers more than 100 square kilometers in area. The Shiwang Mountain, the main peak, is 1342 meters above sea level. Mount Jiuhua is full of waterfalls, streams, exotic-looking boulders, ancient caves, old pines and exuberant bamboo. With the richly variegated landscape, the ancient temples are tucked away amid the dense woods, and the air reverberates with the tolling of the bells at dawn and dusk. With 99 peaks, 16 ridges, 14 overhanging cliffs, 18 gurgling spring, many caves, deep pools rare stones, and waterfalls, the mountain has attracted since ancient times numerous men of letters, who have written poems and articles praising its Southeast China, only the Jiuhua Mountain incorporates both grandeur and wonder. "on poem reads. The mountain is thus famed as the "No.1 Mountain in Southeast China". In addition to its popularity as a tourist destination, it is a holy site where Buddhists assemble-- it has been established as one of the four sacred Buddhist shrines, along with Mt. Wutai in Shanxi, Mt. Emei in Sichuan, and Mt. Putuoshan in Zhejiang.
According to historical records, Buddhism was first introduced to Mt. Jiuhua in the year 401. In 719, a Korean monk named Jin Qiaojue arrived and practiced Buddhism here for 75 years. Upon his Nirvana in 794, Jin Qiaojue was respected as the Earth Buddha by the locals, hence Mt. Jiuhua has become the place where religious rituals were held to worship the God of Earth.
The great variety of the beauty of Mount Jiuhua ranges from the hair-raising to the gracefully tranquil. And the scenery keeps varying with the seasonal changes. For instance, the Sea of Bamboo at Minyuan covers 1000 acres (mu), and when the wind blows, the bamboo leaves sibilate with an ear-pleasing cadence while the streams are gurgling and the springs gushing in the background. Standing by a mountain path that threads its way through the Sea of Bamboo is the renowned Phoenix Pine, the so-called "Number One Pine in the Land Under Heaven", which was planted during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, around 1,400 years ago. The tree's verdant foliage, together with its flat, scaly twin trunks form what looks like a green phoenix craning it's neck and flying towards the Heavenly Terrace.
Popular for its spectacular peaks and perilous cliffs, Jiuhuashan is endowed with myriad of springs, streams, waterfalls, grotesque rocks and ancient caves. Covered with luxuriantly green pines and bamboo groves, and gleaming with crystal-clear waters, it offers enchanting scenery. It's also famous for the grand scale of temples and nunneries, which are unique in style and magnificent in architecture. At present, still exist 79 well-preserved temples, over 1500 Buddha statues and more than 1300 pieces of cultural relics like Buddhist scriptures, musical instruments etc. Huacheng Temple lies in mid Jiuhuashan, it's enclosed by the mountains, with Furong Peak to the south, Shenguang Ridge to the west, White Clouds Mountain to the north, and cliffs to the east. The Temple, consisting of four rows of houses, was built on the mountainside..
Huacheng Temple is the oldest and holiest temple on the mountain. It is located in the center of Jiuhua Street. Though it first appears simple and solemn, the structure and decoration of the building are truly artistic. The engravings on lintels, brackets and roofs reinforce the brightness and liveliness of the building. The picture, 'Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls' on a panel in the Main Shrine Hall is a consummate piece of ancient Chinese art.
Precious sutras and other cultural relics in the temples are displayed in the Historical Relics Museum of the Jiuhua Mountain. The most valuable are the Buddhist canonical literature left from the Tang Dynasty, the Tripitaka left from the Ming Dynasty, and Emperor Kang Xi and Emperor Qian Long's handwritings left from the Qing Dynasty.
 Chinese workers started construction on September 9, 2001 of the world's largest statue of Bodhistattva at Mount Jiuhua. The copper statue is a 15.5-metre-tall likeness of the Buddha god of wisdom. The archetype of the statue is Jin Qiaojue, a prince from the Xinluo Kingdom (former name for the Korean Peninsular), who, according to historical records, went to Mount Jiuhua to become a monk in 719 ane spent 75 years there until his death at 99. The Luoyang Copper Processing Conglomerate using imitauon gold copper built the statue.
The Precious Hall of the Bodhisattva Incarnate
It is located on Shenguang Ridge west of Huachengsi Monastery. In the hall there is an incarnation pagoda housing Bodhisattva Dizang. Buddhism has it that in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Korean prince Kim Qiaojue came to China across the sea. He meditated for 75 years at Mount Jiuhua and passed away, or achieved nirvana at the age of 99. Because he looked very much like Bodhisattva Dizang described in Buddhist legends after his death, he was believed to be the incarnation of Bodhisattva Dizang, and was called gold Bodhisattva Dizang by the people of later generations. An incarnation pagoda (Dizang Pagoda) was built for worship. The place holding the pagoda was then called the Hall of the Incarnation. Crossing the Jiuhua Street, visitors see a flight of straight, precipitous steps leading directly to the Precious Hall. In front of the hall there is a horizontal board hanging above, carrying the words "First Mountain in the Southeast" At the centre of the hall stands a seven-storey pagoda made of red wood. Top of the pagoda is decorated with a golden parasol, and inside the pagoda are eight small chambers on every storey with over 100 statues of Dizang in the chambers. Big statues of Dizang can also be seen in front and behind the pagoda. On both sides in the hall stand gilded status of ten Hell-kings in different gestures? The floor of the hall is paved with white marble, its roof is covered with iron tiles, and the hall is surrounded by exquisite stone pillars, carved, and painted corridors. Another horizontal board at the back of the hall carries the pledge of Dizang. Aceording to the monks, onks, on the anniversary of Dizang's nirvana, Chinese and foreign pilgrims come to worship and give alms.
 Mount Jiuhua was originally known as Jiuzi (Nine-Peak) Mountain. But ever since Li Bai, the celebrated poet in the Tang Dynasty wrote of the mountain: "Sailing down the Jiujiang River the other day, I saw the Jiuhua Peaks in the distance. Looking like a heavenly river hanging in heaven, Its green water embroidering cottonrose hibiscuses.", the mountain was renamed as Mount Jiuhua.The 10 major sights of Jiuhua are as follows: 1. The mountain scenery by the Five Streams; 2. The waterfall at Taoyan; 3. The moon mirrored in the Shutan Pool; 4. The serene form of the East Cliff; 5. The snow mantle over the Flat Terrace; 6. Evening Bell Tolls at Huacheng; 7. The Sea of Clouds around the Lotus Peak; 8.The Singing Stream at Jiuzi; 9. Cellestial Presence at the Heavenly Pillar; 10. Sunrise at the Heavenly Terrace.
Accommodating 5,000 people, the Centenarian Palace was built at the edge of a precipice on the East Peak and visitors can witness the incarnation of Monk Wuxia, which has existed for over 400 yeats but is not yet decayed. Monk Wuxia copied Huangyangjin Buddhist Scripture into 81 volumes in 38 years with the blood of his tongue and fingers mixed with gold powder. Buddhism has it that Manjusri or the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, or Wenshu in Chinese, is the left attendant of Sakyamuni. His birth place is said to be on Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, North China. As the left attendant of Sakyamuni, he is in charge of wisdom, usually shown riding a lion. Standing side by side with Wenshu, Samantabhdra or Puxian / the Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence is the right attendant of Sakyamuni, Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, has been known as the place where he gained enlightenment. He is often shown riding an elephant. Guanyin or Avalokitesvara is the left attendant of Amitabha Buddha. She appears as one of the Three Western Sages headed by Amitabha Buddha. Guanyin is described as a Bodhisattva of Great Mercy, who helps the needy and relieves the distressed, cures the disabled and saves a sinking vessel whenever they call her title Bodhisattva Guanyin. Guanyin, usually standing or sitting on a lotus flower with a treasure vase full of dew held in her right hand, was introduced into China with Mahayana Buddhism and was first known as "Guanshiyin." In the Tang Dynasty the Chinese character "shi' was left out because it happened to be part of the name of the reigning emperor -- Li Shimin (599-649, ruled 626-649). Thus  Guanyin became the usual name. Buddhism has it that Guanyin has 31 different images with 32 incarnations. Many of the images are female ones. As early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the female image of Guanyin appeared, and became quite popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Guanyin has many names: the White-Robed Guanyin, Dragon-Head Guanyin, Fish-Basket Guanyin, Water and Moon Guanyin, Medicine-Bestowing Guanyin, etc. Sometimes Guanyin stands on a lotus flower, godhisattva Guanyin gained enlightenment on Mount Putuo, on Zhoushan Island, Zhejiang Province, East China. Guanyin in female image is often depicted holding a tiny chinaware flask in her hand. In the Hall of Guanyin, these goddess images sometimes sit amidst burning red candles. On her three birthdays, lots of aged pilgrims come in and kowtow before them with offerings of incense. Her birthdays fall on the 19th day of the 2nd, the 6th and 9th lunar months, said to be the time for the Bodhisattva to achieve Nirvana or ascend to the Buddhist Western Happy Region. At Mount Jiuhua, there are now over 600 monks and nuns in 94 temples.
| Admission Fee: |
CNY 200 |
| Cable Car: (two-way) |
Longevity Hall:
CNY 105 (Mar. 1-Nov.30)
CNY 75 (Dec.1-Feb.28);
Tiantai: CNY 75 (Mar. 1-Nov.30) |
| Opening Hours: |
08:10 to 18:00 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: |
one or two nights |
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