After breakfast, take cable car to Heavenly Terrace Peak (Tiantai Peak, elevation: 1,306 meters), the main peak of Mount Jiuhua. An old saying goes “you never reach Mount Jiuhua without a visit to Heavenly Terrace Peak”. First, take a short hike to visit Ancient Lecture Temple, a small Tang Dynasty temple sitting steep hillside, where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is said to once chant Avatamsaka Sutra.
Next, hike upward to visit Tiantai Temple on the summit, the highest temple of Mount Jiuhua that has been visited by Kim Qiaojue and many famous monks. Take your time to visit Wanfo Hall (Ten-Thousand Buddha Hall), Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Hall and Avalokitesvara Hall, trace footprints of master monks and absorb the strong Buddhist culture. The maintain top is still a wonderful location to catch a panoramic view of breathtaking natural scenery of Mount Jiuhua, including thin mist floating among gently rolling hills, grotesque pine trees growing on monstrous rocks and nearby Shiwang Peak - the highest peak of Mount Jiuhua (elevation: 1344.4 meters).
After that, take cable car down to visit the Phoenix Ancient Pine with an old age of over 1,400 years. This 7.68-meter-tall pine tree is named after its vivid shape of a flying phoenix spreading its wings and has been inspiration for lots of poems, photography and paintings.
Last, visit Zhantanlin Temple, one of the four most important Buddhist temples of Mount Jiuhua. Continue your holy Buddhist pilgrimage to the 19-meter-high statue of Thousand Armed and Eyed Avalokitesvara and 84 Buddha statues enshrined in the elegant Dabei Hall (Great Compassion Hall), giant statues of the Three Saints of Hua-yan in Huayan Hall and 9.9-meter-tall tetrahedral statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in Dayuan Grand Hall. Exquisitly carved ridgepoles, beams, doors, windows and brackets are outstanding features you should see.
After the tour, you will be escorted to the airport or train station to catch your flight or train to next destination.
Tips of Main Buddhist Festivals & Temple Fairs of Mount Jiuhua: Many Buddhist ceremonies are held in main Buddhist temples of Mount Jiuhua in different months each year. Buddhist pilgrims can check the date and select a best time to go. 1.) Land-water Dharma Assembly: held from July 30 of the lunar calendar every year and lasts 7 days; the biggest one takes place in Tiantai Temple. 2. Bon Festival: held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month; famous rite is in Shangchantang Temple from July 8th to 15th of lunar calendar. 3.) Ksitigarbha Temple Fair (Dizang Temple Fair): from July 30th to August 6th of lunar calendar for the birth and enlightenment of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. 4.) Buddha Bathing Ceremony: celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th Lunar Month annually for the birth of Buddha.
Departure Ideas: 1. Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport has flights connecting with Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Hangzhou,
Shenzhen, Kunming, Jinan, and Nanjing, etc. 2. Chizhou Railway Station has high
speed trains to Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, etc.