The slopes of
Emei Shan have been inhabited since as early as
10,000 years ago. It was originally a Taoist retreat.
Pugong, a medicinal plant farmer, built the
Puguang Hall on the
Golden Summit in the
1st century AD. In the 3rd century, the Puxian form of Buddhism (which centers on devotion to the
Bodhisattva Puxian, or
Samantabhadra) became dominant on
Emei and the
Chinese monk Huichi built the Puxian
Temple (now the
Wannian Temple) at the foot of the Guanxinpo
Terrace.
In the mid-9th century, the
Song Emperor Zhao Kuangyin sent a
Buddhist mission headed by
Master Jiye to
India. On his return he was authorized to build temples on
Mount Emei, where he preached and translated the
Indian Buddhist texts. He was also authorized to cast a Puxian bronze statue, 62 tonnes in weight and 7.85 m high, now in the Wannian Temple.
Ever since, Mount Emei has been one of the most holy places of Buddhism. Extensive rebuilding during the
Ming dynasty finally converted most of Emei's Taoist temples to Buddhism.
The natural beauty and sacred significance of Emei Shan has been drawing pilgrims and tourists for 2,
000 years. It was designated a
World Heritage Site in
1996.
What to See at Emei Shan
Emei Shan literally means "
Delicate Eyebrow
Mountain" — it derives its name from two peaks which face each other and look like the delicate eyebrows of a
Chinese classic beauty.
Emei Shan is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring many temples, natural wonders and breathtaking scenery. The slopes incorporate several different climates and much wildlife, especially birds and trees. Some of the trees are more than
1,000 years old.
There are also monkeys, who are accustomed to tourists and assertive; they aren't dangerious but will beg for food and grab at bags as hikers walk along the trails. Many hikers carry walking sticks to shoo them away.
There are over 30
Buddhist temples on Emei Shan, 10 of which are large and very old. They are considered masterpieces of creative ingenuity in the way they adapt to the natural enviroment and beauty of the holy mountain.
At the mountain base is Baoguo Monastery, built in the
16th century. The monastery has serene gardens with rare plants, a library of sutras and a huge porcelain
Buddha. In the stone staircase of the rear hall are figures of the
Eight Immortals, betraying the temple's Taoist origins.
Further up the mountain lies the
Crouching Tiger Monastery (Fuhu Si), Emei's largest temple.
Once associated with the Taoist martial-arts master
Zhang Sanfeng, today it is a Guanyin nunnery. Notable features include the
16th-century, 7m-high bronze Huayan
Pagoda, which is engraved with
4700 Buddha images.
The Qingyin
Pavilion, built against the mountainside at the foot of the Niuxin
Ridge, is an ensemble of pavilions, towers, and platforms, the earliest dating from the early
6th century. Its location and the streams that run through it have earned it the name “
The Mountain Garden.”
A few hours' walk or a cable car ride leads to the Golden Summit(Jinding), at 3077m. There are two temples here (the friendly Woyun Nunnery and the large Huazang Si) and thousands of padlocks inscribed with couples' names to symbolize eternal love.
Huazang Si on Jinding was founded as early as the
1st century as the Puguang Hall, later becoming the Guangxiang Temple and receiving its present royal name in 1614. It was extensively rebuilt and refurnished in the
1970s, but every effort was made to preserve its original appearance.
Jinding is the best place to experience the Four
Wonders of
Mt. Emei: the Buddha's
Halo (rainbow-like rings that surround and move with your shadow), the
Sea of Clouds, the
Holy Lamp (or
Divine Lights) and the Golden Summit
Sunrise.
From the Golden Summit you can ride a monorail along the ridge to Wanfoding (
Ten Thousand Buddha
Summit), the true summit of Emei Shan.
aerial images videos on Emei mountain scene in
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- published: 25 Sep 2015
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