Most Classic Mount Jiuhua Hiking
Welcome to where authentic Buddhist culture and stunning nature beauty live in perfect harmony! Mount Jiuhua is a beautiful sacred Buddhist mountain in Anhui Province, only about 1 hr’s bullet train from Shanghai. Scenic mountain walks snakes among spectacular rock peaks and green hills to connect ancient traditional Buddhist temples. Getting to the top of Mount Jiuhua, you will immerse yourself in the fresh air, picturesque scenery of floating clouds, towering peaks and blue sky. Whether you want to stretch your legs, or get inspired by Buddhist culture, you will find yourself in Mount Jiuhua.
Our 2 Days Mount Jiuhua hiking starts with airport/train station pick up, then take you to hike to the highest summit, then take the most beautiful trail among Heavenly Terrace and Flower Terrace. You won’t miss out the most highlighting temples and cultural sites of Mount Jiuhua too. Cable cars are reasonably used to help you save time and energy.
Highlights of this tour
Welcome to Mount Jiuhua. Upon arrival, your tour guide and driver will meet you at the Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport or Chizhou Railway Station, and then escort you to Mount Jiuhua directly.
First, you will take a tourist bus to witness the 99-meter Golden Statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a new pilgrimage landmark of Mount Jiuhua and the tallest outdoor bronze Buddhist statue in the world. Beyond the spacious square, archways, bridges, clear ponds, the most impressive sight is the giant Buddhist statue standing before layered majestic green mountains.
Then transfer to Jiuhua Street, the core scenic area where most Buddhist temples locate. Take a cable car up to Longevity Palace, a Ming Dynasty (1368~1644) five-storey ancient Buddhist temple on a hilltop (elevation: 871m), which is most famed for consecrating the intact saint corporeal body of monk Haiyu who once spent over 20 years copying the Avatamsaka Sutra with his blood of tongue and gold powder here. Another must-see is the 500 life-like statues of Arhats in different gestures and looks in the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, a unique sight that can only be seen in Mount Jiuhua. Then walk to the observation deck to view the undulating mountains of Flower Terrace Scenic Area perfectly forming a splendid view of a natural sleeping Buddha.
Later, take a cable car down to Jiuhua Street and continue to visit Huacheng Temple, the first and leading temple of Mount Jiuhua. The temple was built in Eastern Jin Dynasty more than 1,600 years ago and most existing buildings are from Qing Dynasty. Now the temple has been changed to the Jiuhuashan Museum of Historical Relics, exhibiting thousands of cultural treasures, like Buddhist sutras, ritual instruments, imperial decree, jade seal, ancient paintings and calligraphy.
Next, visit Incarnation Grand Hall where enshrines the flesh body of monk Kim Qiaojue who came to Mount Jiuhua to practice Buddhism. After 75-year assiduous practice with devout conviction, he died at the age of 99 in Mount Jihua in 794 AD. His remain keeps intact and unrotten after three years of his death, and he was very similar in appearance to Dizang Buddhisattva. Thus, he was sanctified as the sacred reincarnation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva by followers. Afterwards, get to Zhiyuan Temple, the largest Buddhist temple and the only palatial temple on Mount Jiuhua. Beyond the most complete architectures, the temple preserves the precious Tripitaka, the only official Tripitaka of Qing Dynasty, over 100 Buddha sculptures and huge cooper pots.
Stay overnight in Jiuhua Street on Mount Jiuhua.
After breakfast, go to take a 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 (618~907) temple siting on a 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. Then walk about 15 minutes to Shiwang Peak (1344m) which is a wonderful location to catch a panoramic view of the breathtaking natural scenery of Mount Jiuhua, including thin mist floating among gently rolling hills, grotesque pine trees growing on monstrous rocks.
After that, hike about 2~3 hours along the beautiful trail full of towering peaks, fresh air, moist and lush trees to Flower Terrace. At there, you will walk the most highlighting Hanging Plank Road which is 1.4km long, and was constructed along the side of the mountain with high drop-offs and full of surprisingly beautiful landscape of rugged rock peaks and bizarre pine trees, then follow the well-paved stone steps to descend to the cable car station. Enjoy the 20-min pleasant cable car ride going over peak after peak to the mountain foot, then hop on a sightseeing bus to the tourist center. Your driver is ready to escort you to Jiuhuashan Airport or ChiZhou Railway Station to catch your flight/train to next destination. Tour ends.
Useful tips: 1) Recommended packing list: comfortable and breathable clothes, hiking shoes, alpenstock, sunblock, raincoat (May to Oct), small bag and some cashes. 2) Lunch is not provided today. You can bring some snacks and waters with you.
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Mount Jiuhua
Shanghai / Jiuhuashan / Huangshan
Huangshan / Mount Jiuhua
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“Very good experience”
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