Mount Jiuhua

Background

Mount Jiuhua lies in Qingyang County, Chizhou, Anhui Province, and its scenic area covers a planned area of about 120 square kilometres. It is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, together with Mount Wutai, Mount Emei and Mount Putuo. The mountain has 99 peaks, the highest being Shiwang Peak at 1,342 metres; ancient temples such as Huacheng Temple, Zhiyuan Temple, Ganlu Temple, Tiantai Temple and Baisui Palace are scattered across it, among ancient pines, green bamboo, odd-shaped rocks, waterfalls, streams and caves. At its Ming and Qing height there were reportedly 360 temples with four to five thousand monks and nuns. The 109.9-metre bronze statue of Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva is a recently completed landmark, and in 2019 Mount Jiuhua became a UNESCO Global Geopark. In the Han dynasty the mountain was called Mount Lingyang, and in the Liang and Chen dynasties of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period it was called Mount Jiuzi. Legend has it that a line by the Tang poet Li Bai, "the sacred mountain opens into nine blossoms", spread the name Jiuhua. In 719, the Silla prince Kim Gyo-gak came to the mountain and practised here for 75 years; after he died at 99 his body did not decay, the monastic community held him to be an incarnation of Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva, and Mount Jiuhua thus became the bodhisattva's seat. Mount Jiuhua has long been a famous pilgrimage destination in southeastern China, and it has been open to visitors since 1979.

Local customs

• With Jiuhua Street as your base, visit ancient temples such as Huacheng Temple and Zhiyuan Temple
• climb Tiantai Peak to look out over the peaks, and walk the mountain trails past ancient pines, odd-shaped rocks, waterfalls and streams
• eat vegetarian meals and stay overnight at a temple to experience the calm of a sacred Buddhist mountain.

Travel tips

• Mountain weather changes often, so bring a jacket and rain gear and wear comfortable hiking shoes
• climb within your limits, and let elderly visitors and children set a gentle pace. Ticket prices, cable cars and opening hours follow the official notices, as do temple meals and lodging.
• Buses from Chizhou city and Qingyang county town go to the Mount Jiuhua Scenic Area
• routes and schedules follow the official notices. You can visit all year: spring and autumn, with their pleasant climate, are best for climbing
• summers are cool in the mountains but rainy
• winters may bring snow, so watch for slippery paths.