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| Mount Emei is located in Leishan City,
about 134 Kilometers from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and
covers an area of more than 300 square kilometers. 2. Status and Reputation ~ It is one of the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China. ~ It was among the first batch of China National Key Tourist Resorts in 1982. ~ It was one of the 40 Top National Tourist Resorts in 1991. ~ It was inscribed on the List of the World Natural and Cultural Heritages by UNESCO on December 6, 1996. 3. Scenic Features The magic power of nature has endowed Mt. Emei with a distinctive beauty characterized by its grandeur, delicateness, uniqueness, steepness, and serenity, of which delicateness is the most famous. Mt. Emei is also called a "paradise of animals" and a "kingdom of plants" because of the abundance of fauna and flora resources. As a world cultural heritage, Mt. Emei is one of the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China. The place where Puxian Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence) held Samantabhadra, Buddhist rites and the profound Buddhist culture here constitute the main parts of the cultural connotation of Mt. Emei. The mountain has thus remained the holy place for Buddhist believers since ancient times. Known to seasoned tourists both at home and abroad, Mt. Emei is famous for its beautiful and delicate scenery. Tan Zhongyue , a poet in the Qing Dynasty, once summed up the ten scenic spots of Mt. Emei as follows: the Auspicious Light of the Golden Summit , the Moonlit Night at Xixiang Pool , the Fairyland of Jiulao Cave , the Morning Rain at Hongchunping, the Autumn Wind on Baishui Pool, the Double-Bridge Spray at Qingyin Pavilion , the Snow of Daping , the Verdurous Views at Lingyan , the Clouds in the Clear Sky above Luofeng, and the Night Tolls at Shengji . In addition to these, there are many more historical sites on Mt. Emei, such as: Gefeng Terrace on which Jie Yu lived in seclusion during the Spring and Autumn Period; the site of Da'e Pavilion built by Gongshu Ban during the Warring States Period; Zuo Ci Cave found in the Three Kingdoms Period; and Danzhu Cave where Sun Simiao made elixirs. In addition to all these, Emei kungfu, which has a long history as one of the three kungfu schools in China, is famous both at home and abroad. At the start of your journey you can see a great archway inscribed on the front with four characters (Tian Xia Ming Shan), which means a Famous Mountain under the Heaven, and on its back side inscribed with another four characters (Fo Jiao Sheng Di), which means a Buddhist Holy Land. The former was written by the late famous calligrapher Guo Moruo and the later was written by Zhao Puchu, the late Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China. This great and magnificent archway was first built in 1958 and then rebuilt in 1994; it still is one of the biggest archways in China today. Passing through the archway, you begin your journey to the lofty, picturesque, venerable and fascinating Mt. Emei. The majestic mountain stretches from north to south some 23 kilometers, and can be divided into four scenic areas, rising vertically from foot to top, namely: the grand Baoguo Temple Scenic Area, the beautiful Qingyin Pavilion and Jiulao Cave Scenic Area, the graceful Wannian Temple Scenic Area and the magnificent Golden Summit Scenic Area. The Baoguo Temple Scenic Area The Baoguo Temple Scenic Area is located in the lower part of the mountain, about 550-1,000 meters above sea level. The climate of this area is rather mild and refreshing with the fragrance of the luscious green vegetation. Many temples and pavilions are scattered throughout this area, including Baoguo Temple, Fengbao Bell Pavilion , Fuhu Temple , Shanjue Temple , Leiyin Temple , Chunyang Temple , Shengshui Pavilion , and Zhongfeng Temple . You will be awestruck with amazement at the sight of these buildings and also feel enchanted and humbled about the profound Buddhist culture. Baoguo Temple is the first scenic spot on Mt. Emei. It is located at the foot of the mountain, about 551 meters above sea level. As the first temple of Mt. Emei, the Temple is the office of the Buddhist Association of Mt. Emei as well as the center of all the Buddhist activities. It was first built during Wanli period of Emperor Shenzhong's reign of the Ming Dynasty and Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty named it Baoguo Temple. Built in the typical courtyard architectural style with pavilions, terraces, and towers arranged in an exquisite layout, the Temple covers an area of about 60 mu. An official by the name of Wang Fan wrote the characters Bao Guo Si (Baoguo Temple, ) on the horizontal board which bangs above the entrance. The first building you see is Mile Hall ( the Hall of Maitreya, . After walking out the back door of this hall and climbing up the stairs, you will come to the Shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha, in which a great gilded statue of Sakyamuni is enshrined. Leaving the shrine and continuing to climb, you will see the Hall of Seven Buddhas with Sakyamuni in the middle and six other Buddhas around him. Behind the Hall of Seven Buddhas lies the last hall of the temple, the Hall of Puxian (the Hall of Samantabhadra, ; and in the rooms on the second floor many Buddhist scriptures are stored. Opposite to Baoguo Temple is the Bell Pavilion located on Fenghuangbao( Phoenix Hill, ). This scenic spot is famous for the Bell King of Ba and Shu , the Shengji Bronze Bell hanging in the pavilion. The bell, first hung in Shengji Temple , was transferred to the present location because Shengji Temple was destroyed. During the Ming Dynasty, a Buddhist monk, Master Biechuan collected money to construct the large bell, which is about 2. 3 meters high and weighs 12. 5 tons. The bell always tolls 108 times each night to dispel the 10g kinds of worries by its loud and clear bell ringing. This is the famous scene of the Night Tolls at Shengji, one of the ten marvels of Mt. Emei. Leaving Baoguo Temple and turning left, you will walk about 1 kilometer along the Yujia River and across three bridges over the Huxi Brook to get to Fuhu Temple, which is surrounded by dense woods. Though the temple is located deep in the shade of tall trees, the roofs of the buildings remain leafless as wind from the mountain stirs up annular air currents here, which blow away all the leaves on the slanted roofs, leaving it as clean as a whistle. Here, you have the opportunity to see another one of the ten marvels of the mountain, that is, the Clouds in the Clear Sky above Luofeng Facing Fuhu Temple is Shanjue Temple, a small but tranquil temple shaded by trees. The temple is famous for its name and a jade seal because both were given by Emperor Kangxi. Walking about 1.5 kilometers upward from Shanjue Temple and climbing up the Jietuo Slope( Slope of Extrication, , you will see the exquisite Leiyin Temple standing in front of you. It looks quite different from other monasteries in style as it is built on a big rock against the precipitous cliff like a diaojiaolou ( a house supported by stakes over ground, After visiting this temple and climbing 2.5 more kilometers, you will find yourself in Chunyang Temple . At the very beginning, it used to be the memorial to Lu Dongbin (a Taoist immortal, and was later taken over by Buddhist monks, who changed it into a Buddhist temple that consists of Yaoshi Shrine ( Shrine of Bhaisajya, and the Shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha. Walking 3.5 kilometers from the left side of Chunyang Temple, you come to Shengshui Pavilion,which is famous for the sweet fountain that gurgles out below it. Zhongfeng Temple is situated in the dense woods between the Baozhang Peak and the Baiyun Peak , about 1 kilometer from Shengshui Pavilion. Continue to walk 2. 5 kilometers, and you will arrive at the beautiful and tranquil Qingyin Pavilion and Jiu-lao Cave Scenic Area. The Qingyin Pavilion and Jiulao Cave Scenic Area The Qingyin Pavilion and Jiulao Cave Scenic Area are located half way up Mt. Emei,about 600 to 1,900 meters above sea level. With Qingyin Pavilion as its center, the Scenic Area includes Guangfu Temple , Niuxin Pavilion , the Baiyun George , the Yixiantian Plank Path ( a Line of the Sky Plank Path), Hongchunping, Jiulao Cave Cave of Nine Immortals ), Xianfeng Temple , and the biggest ecological zone of monkeys in China. This Scenic Area, lying in the secluded valley, is an ingenious combination of the elegant natural scenery and the exquisite art of Buddhist gardening. To the fight of Guangfu Temple is Qingyin Pavilion, a temple located 710 meters above sea level and 15 kilometers from Baoguo Temple. Qingyin Pavilion, built during the Tang Dynasty, lies in the hollow below the Niuxin Ridge , facing the Wuxian Mound. Below the Temple is a building named Jiewang Pavilion, where two stone arch bridges are constructed on each side. From under the bridges rush two torrential streams, crashing down onto a big stone in the shape of an ox's heart, 4 meters high. The deafening roar from rushing streams re-echoes throughout the mountain, and the turbulent waves splash into a fine mist, leaving tourists feeling secluded and refreshed. This is the well-known scene of the Double-Bridge Spray at Qingyin Pavilion. The Baiyun Gorge, 1 kilometer from Qingyin Pavilion, winds its way between the narrow precipices that seem to have been hacked with a sharp axe. Monks in ancient times built the plank path along the cliff for the convenience of the traffic. Standing on the plank path, you can see nothing but a line of the sky above you, for the protruding cliffs on both sides block your view. Walking along the plank path, you can sense the cold waves under your feet and feel as if you were squeezing yourself through the cliffs. This is the world famous scenic spot of a Line of the Sky , which is 130 meters long and 6 meters wide in most parts, but only 3 meters wide at the narrowest place. This scenic view is one of the most attractive sights of Mt. Emei. After traveling about 5 kilometers upward along the Baiyun Gorge, you will arrive at the Hongchunping , the best summer resort in Mt. Emei, where Hongchunping Temple is located. The Temple, formerly called Qianfo Temple (Thousand-Buddha Temple, was renamed because of the Hongchun trees planted in front. The scenery here is especially beautiful after a shower in early morning, when the air is cool and moist, but not wet.The pavilions, terraces and towers are all enveloped in the morning mist, partly hidden and partly visible, like a mirage in the desert, all of which makes Hongchunping another one of the ten marvels of Mt.Emei, that is, the Morning Rain at Hongchunping. It is worthwhile to mention that tourists may encounter a living scenic view in the area close to the Yixiantian Plank Path and Hongchunping Temple. It is the biggest ecological zone of monkeys in China. The monkeys are distinguished by their amazingly short tails, and are therefore called "Short-Tail Monkeys" by the local people. They can live as long as 30 years. Here you can see a most interesting scene, that of people and animals co-existing peacefully. The monkeys here are not afraid of people at all. After a climb up the Xianhuang Terrace behind Xianfeng Temple you will come upon a natural cave with its entrance resembling a Taoist priest. This is the famous Jiulao Cave. It is said that Emperor Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor, once met nine immortals in this cave. The cave is like a maze and tourists may get lost in it. Many people have tried to walk through the maze but in vain. The futile efforts to solve the fiddle make the cave even more mysterious. This is one reason why the Fairyland of Jiulao Cave is also one of the ten marvels of Mt. Emei. After you visit Jiulao Cave, you may continue to walk upward to the Wannian Temple Scenic Area. The Wannian Temple Scenic Area The Wannian Temple Scenic Area, 800-1,900 meters above sea level, 'is also located half way up the mountains. In addition to Wannian Temple, the scenic area includes Cisheng Nunnery , Bailong Cave , Xixin Temple Chudian Temple ), and Huayanding Temple. Here, the local cottages are scattered throughout the forest of broadleaf trees mixed with conifers. The whole scenic area forms a peaceful and harmonious picture of mountain scenery. Wannian Temple, 1,020 meters above sea level, was built in the Jin Dynasty. It was originally called Puxian Temple (the Temple of Samantabhadra renamed Baishui Temple during late the Tang Dynasty, and then renamed again Baishui Puxian Temple in the Song Dynasty. Later in the Ming Dynasty Emperor Shenzong renamed it as Wannian Temple (Temple of 10,000 Years) to celebrate his mother's seventieth birthday. Stepping through the gate of the temple, you arrive at the Hall of Maitreya, behind which stands Pilu Hall, the Hall of Vairocana, on the left, and Banruo Hall on the right. Climbing up the steps to a plateau, you will come to the well-known Beamless Brick Hall of Wannian Temple. As the name suggest,the whole hall is made of bricks without a beam, imitating the architectural style of Rena
Temple in India. The hall is 18.22 meters high with a round roof and
a square floor of 16. 02 meters on each side. In the middle of The Golden Summit Scenic Area |
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