Introduction to Jiuhuashan Global Geopark Scenic Area

Introduction to Jiuhuashan Global Geopark Scenic Area

Jiuhuashan Global Geopark is located in Chizhou City, Anhui Province, with a straight-line distance of 20km from the Yangtze River and a total area of 139.7km². Its geographical coordinates are 117°44′-117°54′ east longitude, 30°25′-30°36′ north latitude, and an altitude of 50-1344.4 meters.

Jiuhuashan is magically created by nature, fresh and free from vulgarity, a masterpiece of nature's creation, and is known as the "Lotus Buddhist Land". The peaks in the territory compete in beauty, and strange rocks stand in great numbers. The nine main peaks are like nine lotus flowers, in different poses and with their own charm. The natural sleeping Buddha formed by rolling peaks has become a model of the organic integration of natural landscape and Buddhist culture. Everywhere in the scenic area, there are clear streams, deep pools, flying waterfalls, and flowing springs, forming fresh and natural landscape scrolls. There are also natural wonders such as the sea of clouds, sunrise, rime, and Buddha's light, with myriad meteorologies and unparalleled beauty, which has always been known as "the most beautiful in Jiangnan". Jiuhuashan Global Geopark includes the following scenic areas.

1. Tiantai Scenic Area

Tiantai Scenic Area is the high-mountain tourist area of Jiuhuashan and a traditional essence scenic area. In the area, strange peaks stand out, steep cliffs cascade, and strange rocks are jagged. It is mainly characterized by being "majestic, strange, special, and divine". With an altitude of 1306 meters, it is only lower than Shiwang Peak and Qixian Peak among the ninety-nine peaks of Jiuhuashan. The Dizang Temple located at the top of the peak was formerly named Tiantai Temple. Most Buddhists who come to Jiuhuashan come here to worship, calling it the "Middle Heaven World". This is a must-visit place for tourists visiting Jiuhua, and since ancient times there has been a saying that "if you haven't been to Tiantai, you haven't been here."

The ancients praised Tiantai: "Looking at the peaks from Tiantai, they are like children and grandchildren surrounding the knees. .... The weather, snow, and moon, morning and evening present different views, appearing and disappearing in the clouds and mist, changing in a myriad of shapes. All the wonders of the various peaks of Jiuhua can only be fully seen after climbing Tiantai." Therefore, "Touring Jiuhua without climbing Tiantai is like not reaching Jiuhua." "If you haven't been to Tiantai, you haven't been here", people who come to Jiuhuashan always want to climb Tiantai Peak to fulfill their wish to reach the pinnacle and see for thousands of miles. Standing in front of Tiantai Temple, there is Longtou Peak on the left, Longzhu Peak on the right, and Shiwang Peak opposite. Below Longtou Peak is Qinglong Bei, and because it stands proudly like a screen, it is also called Yuping Peak. Longzhu Peak, also known as Tiantai Gang, has a huge round rock on it named "Longzhu Stone". Legend has it that Jiuhua is a "living dragon vein", and the blue dragon lives in this high place, while this "dragon pearl" is its plaything. Shiwang Peak comes face to face, called "Ten Kings Worshipping Dizang".  The temple gate is under the Duxian Bridge between Longtou Peak and Longzhu Peak; ascend more than ten stone steps from the bottom of the bridge to enter the temple.

Main attractions: Shiwang Peak, Candle Peak, Tiantai Peak, Yixiantian, Roc Hearing Sutras Stone, Daoseng Cave, Diaoqiao Temple, Upper Courtyard of Guanyin Peak, Baijingtai, Tiantai Temple, and the "Dawn at Tiantai" scenic spot which is one of the "Ten Sceneries of Jiuhua". At the top of the peak are Wanfo Temple, Pengri Pavilion, and Yunxia; there are many temples and good scenery along the way, and tourists and pilgrims all respect it as the head of Jiuhua.

Transportation: You can take the cableway from Ancient Phoenix Pine to Tiantai Temple, the whole journey takes about 10 minutes; or walk up the mountain along the climbing steps, the whole journey takes about 4 hours.

2. Huatai Scenic Area

As one of the core scenic areas of Jiuhuashan, Huatai Scenic Area is also the core section of Jiuhuashan Global Geopark, located in the middle of Jiuhuashan, covering an area of 10 square kilometers. The scenic area has magnificent scenery and beautiful views, famous for its strange peaks and rocks, sea of clouds and rime, and sea of flowers, and is known as "Spiritual Mountain Jiuhua, Beauty lies in Huatai". From April to October every year, the scenic area has the most concentrated rare alpine azaleas in China; red, yellow, white, and purple flowers bloom and compete in beauty, embedded in the cliffs of the wilderness, just like a "heavenly street flower market", presenting a gorgeous landscape painting. The peculiar geological landforms magically form the most famous "natural sleeping Buddha" spectacle of Jiuhuashan. Climbing to the top of Huatai, you can see the panoramic view of Jiuhua, and you can "get close to the sleeping Buddha and listen to the voice of Buddha", having zero-distance contact with the magical "sleeping Buddha", receiving the protection of the giant Buddha, and feeling a lot of spiritual energy.

The scenery of Huatai changes in the four seasons, presenting different seasonal views for you along with the changes in the weather. In spring, birds sing and flowers give forth fragrance, full of vitality; "birds sing accompanied by bells and drums, clouds and mist reveal strange pines". In summer, the dreamy sea of clouds after the rain is sometimes like an angry sea, surging and majestic, and sometimes like a wisp of light gauze, gently stroking the mountainside at will. In autumn, the mountains are covered with red leaves, and the layers of woods are dyed, making people suddenly feel the passage of time. Winter is a silver glazed world, pure and solemn, as if stepping into a fairy tale world.

3.  Minyuan Scenic Area

Minyuan Scenic Area: It is said that in the Tang Dynasty, there was a family surnamed Min here with abundant property, and the radius of a hundred miles belonged to Lord Min. When Kim Gyo-gak first came to Jiuhuashan, he borrowed land from Lord Min, and the story of "one cassock's land" has been passed down to this day. Later, Lord Min and his son converted to Buddhism, the Min family had no descendants, and today there is not a single family surnamed Min in Jiuhuashan. Minyuan Scenic Area is located at the western foot of Tiantai Scenic Area, confronting Jiuhua Street across the peaks. It is a large canyon running north and south with an area of about several square kilometers, and is a comprehensive tourist area integrating natural and cultural landscapes. The pastoral villas here are beautiful, the environment is quiet, and the four seasons are pleasant, making it an ideal place for recuperation and vacation.

Cableway from Minyuan to Baijingtai: Now we are at the lower station of the cableway from Minyuan to Baijingtai; I will introduce the cableway to you. The cableway started construction in 1993 and officially operated in October 1994. The lower station is located above the Ancient Phoenix Pine, and the upper station is set at Baijingtai. It has a total length of 1350 meters and a height difference of 476 meters, being a single-line pulsating circulating cabin type, with 6 groups of 18 cabins, and a one-way transportation capacity of 340 people/hour. It was originally domestic equipment. In 1999, it introduced the world-class Austrian famous brand product, replaced the steel rope and cabins, featuring advanced performance, safety and reliability. The company implemented standardized management and has won honorary titles such as the "National Youth Civilization Number" jointly named by the National Tourism Administration and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, a provincial civilized unit, a provincial safety and civilized production and living area demonstration point, and an advanced collective of "Women's Meritorious Service" awarded by the Provincial Women's Federation. The cableway connects two key scenic areas of Jiuhuashan; above are the national and provincial key temples Tiantai Temple and Baijingtai, and below is the renowned Ancient Phoenix Pine, surrounded by peaks and verdant greenery. Riding the cableway, the scenery of Tiantai and Minyuan can be fully enjoyed.

Minyuan Bamboo Sea: The Minyuan area is overgrown with beautiful bamboos, covering the ridges and hills, with an area of 160 hectares, known as the Bamboo Sea of Minyuan. The bamboo forest undulates with the mountains, rippling in green waves. When the breeze blows, the whole mountain resonates, which is not the sea but better than the sea. The houses in the forest, with white walls and brown tiles, are like jewels in the sea, appearing and disappearing. The trails in the bamboo forest crisscross, birds sing and flowers are fragrant, the air is sweet, and it is extremely quiet. Friends, most of you live in the city, busy every day among tall buildings, heavy traffic and crowds; I hope you have the opportunity to take a walk in the bamboo sea and experience the poetic flavor of this bamboo sea. The whole body of bamboo is a treasure. The Minyuan Bamboo Sea of Jiuhuashan has a long-standing reputation; it creates wealth for mountain people and brings vitality to tourism, and is the best destination for eco-tourism and green tourism in Jiuhuashan.

Ancient Phoenix Pine: The "Phoenix spreading its wings" among the green hills and clear waters is a major natural wonder in the Buddhist land of Jiuhua. The pine is 7.8 meters high and 1 meter in DBH. The main trunk is flat and looks up like a phoenix crown; the two branches, one high and one low, look like a phoenix tail. The grass around the roots is green, and under the pine tail is a large round stone known as the "Phoenix Egg". It is said that the ancient pine has a history of more than 1400 years, and today its trunk is straight, branches are flourishing, and leaves are lush. The master of traditional Chinese painting Li Kun praised this pine as the "Number One Pine in the World". After Jiuhuashan opened to the outside world, the management department strengthened the protection of the ancient pine, set up a fence to protect the pine, opened up the Ancient Phoenix Pine Square, and built a new high-grade tourist public toilet, improving the grade of the scenic spot. The Ancient Phoenix Pine is famous for its antiquity and wins by its shape; after thousands of years of wind and rain vicissitudes, its charm still remains, symbolizing that the Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua is both ancient and young. The ancient pine and the phoenix protect the famous Buddhist mountain, and many beautiful and moving stories have been spread. Li Kun's poem "Phoenix Pine" says: "After all, it is the number one pine in the human world, its demeanor is different from other pines. The feathery leaves are like a soaring phoenix, the short scaly branches are like a dragon in a royal robe. After several times of wind and frost, it is still luxuriant; after a thousand years of wind and rain, it is even more verdant. Just look at the ancient pine's ambition to reach the clouds, flapping its wings sparsely looking into space." Today, the Ancient Phoenix Pine is spreading its wings to welcome tourists from all over.

Residential Houses in Minyuan: In the Minyuan Valley, there are upper, middle, and lower residential areas. The combination of scattered living and concentrated living features distinctive local characteristics. Just now, we saw more than a dozen households in Upper Minyuan from the car, scattered along the Jiuhua-Minyuan Highway. They are built on the mountain in the style of southern Anhui residential houses, with white walls and brown tiles, all of which are newly built single-story houses or two-story buildings. They embellish the green hills and valleys, giving people a refreshing, harmonious, and vigorous feeling. Nearly a hundred households in Middle Minyuan live concentratedly in two places bounded by a hill. Look: the buildings and single-story houses are arranged in a row, shops line up, alleys are connected, and the residential houses and nunneries are integrated into one. This place looks like a street but is not a street, it is a village but also looks like a city. With the Ancient Phoenix Pine Square as the center, every household is engaged in business, and everyone is engaged in the tourism industry. A family surnamed Wu writes such a couplet every year: "Half is a village and half is a town, both merchants and farmers." This couplet tells the development direction of the villagers of Jiuhuashan running businesses to get rich, leaving people with a lingering aftertaste. More than 20 households in Lower Minyuan live concentratedly in the valley slope of Lower Minyuan, built on the mountain with different orientations. Tall buildings stand tall and single-story houses embellish the area; the whole village is hidden among the jungle and bamboo sea, full of vitality. Currently, Jiuhua Town is constructing an eco-sightseeing battery car road from Middle Minyuan to Lower Minyuan, which is several kilometers long, the roadbed and concrete pavement are widened, with two passing bays in the middle. Battery cars have been prepared, each with 15 seats, and a speed of 20 km/h. This creates favorable conditions for opening up the unique vacation resources of Lower Minyuan and establishing a high-grade leisure resort area. By then, every resident here will have a family inn and a farmhouse sanatorium.

Nunneries in Minyuan: There are more than 20 nunneries in Minyuan, where nuns are concentrated, and the architectural features are distinct. Small nunneries have only one or two courtyards, single-door alone, integrating the temple and residence. The middle is the Buddhist hall, and the two wings are bedrooms. Medium-sized ones are generally two-courtyard hall-style buildings, with a patio in the middle for internal drainage. Some increase their depth and height, but the style remains unchanged. These nunneries all have white walls and brown tiles, small exterior windows, and horse-head walls, integrating Buddhist halls and bedrooms, making life very convenient. Nunneries generally have courtyards with greenhouses or vegetable plots inside, surrounded by greenery, and the environment is quiet. The nunneries in Minyuan are representatives of the southern Anhui residential-style temple buildings in Jiuhuashan. The architectural features can be summarized in four sentences: "White walls and brown tiles, horse-head walls, patios, courtyards, and corridors. Floorboards, ceiling boards, and partition boards, the main hall worships Buddha and the two wings are for living." Each nunnery generally consists of a master and a disciple; they chant sutras and worship Buddha in the morning and evening, and occasionally plant vegetables and pick tea, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to protecting the Buddha, leading a comfortable life. Next, we will visit a few representative nunneries.

Xiangshan Thatched Hut: A key temple in Anhui Province, located in the southeast of Middle Minyuan. It is a three-bay civilian house. The hall enshrines a jade Buddha statue of Sakyamuni. There are medicinal herbs and exotic flowers inside and outside the courtyard walls. There are two ancient peonies in the courtyard, with flourishing branches and leaves, blooming hundreds of flowers every year, which are especially precious. There is a mountain spring that converges into a square spring well; the courtyard wall is built on the horizontal stone block at the mouth of the well, hence the name "Well Spring". There is a couplet in the hall of the Thatched Hut: "Burning incense in a small building to pass on sutra words, birds calling in the green forest to hear Xiangshan." The abbess Xingmiao lived in Xiangshan Thatched Hut in 1937, specializing in the Pure Land sect and strictly observing the precepts; she had not gone down Jiuhuashan for more than 60 years. When she passed away at the age of 96 in 2003, many sariras appeared after her cremation; she is an acknowledged great virtue of the Pure Land Sect in the Buddhist circles of Jiuhuashan today.

Shengman Teaching House: It is said that the daughter of King Prasenajit of India, Queen of King Ayodhya, relied on the Buddha's prestige to teach the "Srimala Sutra" (abbreviated as "Lion's Roar Sutra"), preaching the Mahayana Buddhism "One Vehicle Reality" and "Tathagata-garbha Dharmakaya". "Shengman" originates from this. This teaching house is a key temple in Anhui Province, located in the west of Middle Minyuan, also known as the Hall of Peaceful Pleasure. The hall faces west with its back to the east, has a wooden structure and small stone walls. There is a large tea plantation in front of the door, and vegetable plots and greenhouses in the courtyard; it is quiet, comfortable, and has a beautiful environment.

Jiuhua Lotus Temple: Located on the south side of Ancient Phoenix Pine, a key temple in Anhui Province. Residential style, small stone walls, wooden structure, two courtyards, four bays, and several meditation rooms. It is a Buddhist reception society in Jiuhuashan; nuns in Minyuan often gather here to discuss matters, and pilgrims sometimes stay overnight. There is a couplet in the hall: "The four elements are void, sitting for a moment without distinguishing you and me; there are roads at both ends, drinking a cup and each going their own way." It turns out that Buddhism's communication with people is also "the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water," and this couplet is full of charm.

Jiulian Teaching House: Located in the southeast of Middle Minyuan. The main hall enshrines a seated Burmese jade Buddha statue, presented by 7 lay Buddhists from Shantou, Guangdong. The three great Buddhas, four major Bodhisattvas, and eighteen Arhats are complete, and there is a wooden statue of Guanyin on the island behind the jade Buddha. The hall is a two-story building with a construction area of 400 square meters, making it the largest nunnery in the Minyuan area.

Jieyin Nunnery: Located in the east of Huayan Ridge and the west of Middle Minyuan, it is a must-pass place to walk from Jiuhua Street to Tiantai. It is a four-bay single-story house with vegetable plots and flower beds inside; the Longxi River passes to the east of the nunnery, with gurgling water. The nunnery is located at a crossroads, receiving pilgrims and tourists; the door couplet in the hall is: "Connecting from the path of practice, opening the door of convenience," which is quite interesting.

There are some other nunneries, which are also very distinctive, and I won't take everyone to see them one by one. People can't help but ask: Why are nunneries all concentrated in Minyuan. This requires talking a bit about the Buddhist history of Jiuhuashan. According to historical records, when Kim Gyo-gak established the bodhimanda, there were nuns living in Jiuhuashan. For more than a thousand years since then, there has been no written record of nuns living in the mountain to practice. Jiuhuashan is a famous Buddhist mountain with many rules and precepts, and at that time, women were not allowed to go to Jiuhua Street. During the Republic of China period, Monk Xinjian served as the president of the Jiuhuashan Buddhist Association; he was very insightful and advocated that Jiuhuashan should also accept nuns. It wasn't until the early years of the Republic of China that nuns lived in Jiuhuashan. The large temples in the Jiuhua Street area were all managed by monks, so nunneries were built in Minyuan. Minyuan is conducive to Zen meditation and is undisturbed, so more and more nunneries were built, becoming a nunnery residential complex. But there is also a large temple in Minyuan, which is the national key temple "Huiju Temple" beside the stone steps path up to Tiantai. Now let me accompany you to take a look.

Huiju Temple: Located at the western foot of Tiantai to the east of Middle Minyuan, it is a national key temple. It consists of the Weituo Hall, Maitreya Hall, Dizang Hall, etc., initially forming the scale of a monastery. During the Anti-Japanese War, Qingyang Middle School moved here. The seated statues of the eighteen Arhats in the hall have exquisite craftsmanship and vivid shapes, and are key protected cultural relics in Anhui Province. The couplets in the temple are well-known far and wide and extraordinary. They are neatly matched and literary, complementing the golden Buddhas filling the hall. In 1997, the Sutra Library and the Mountain Gate Hall were built on the south hillside of the main hall, featuring palatial buildings with magnificent momentum. Under the Sutra Library is the Hall of the Holy Mother of the Nine Heavens, which is unique in the whole mountain. The Holy Mother of the Nine Heavens is said to be an empress in heaven, originally a Taoist legend, and the integration of Buddhism and Taoism also reflects the cultural characteristics of Jiuhuashan.

Huayan Cave: Going down to the north from Huiju Temple, walking through the path in the woods, you will reach Huayan Cave in a moment. It is a key temple in Anhui Province, consisting of Haihui Temple, Pilu Nunnery, and Huayan Cave. Huayan Cave is one of the famous caves in Jiuhuashan. The natural stone cave faces north with its back to the south, shaped like a nest and palm, with an area of 35 square meters. There is a gate tower in front, and the plaque on the gate reads "Ancient Cave of Huayan". Inside, Buddhist statues are enshrined, and incense smoke curls up. On the east side is the meditation room, with a pavilion above, bright windows and clean tables. Haihui Temple and Pilu Nunnery were built in the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, and were partially destroyed due to wars later; they are now buildings from the Republic of China period, with residential styles, primitive and elegant. The two temples and the ancient cave depend on each other, surrounded by pines and bamboos, verdant and shady, with gurgling streams and the sound of wooden fish, conveying the great interest of "a hidden ancient temple in the deep mountains." "The boundless affairs of the Huayan Buddhist land, amid the sighs of the smoke and rosy clouds of the ancient cave." The scenery of the ancient cave here is indeed moving.

Mingdiyuan Tea: Produced in Middle and Lower Minyuan. Minyuan was known as "Mingdiyuan" in ancient times, and the tea is named after it. Between spring and summer, the buds begin to sprout, and the flag and spear are not unfolded; also because it grows in the canyon at an altitude of about 600 meters. There is often mist lingering, fully absorbing the orchid fragrance, and the quality is pure and beautiful. After brewing, the aroma is clear and mellow, the soup color is yellow-green and clear, the taste is clear, mellow and sweet, and the leaf bottom is fresh, tender and thick, just like blooming orchids. Mingdiyuan Tea has a long history, and Jiuhua Maofeng was one of the top quality tea varieties in ancient times. "Anhui General History • Plant Investigation" records: "Mingdiyuan tea is produced in the shady valley of Minyuan in Jiuhuashan; it begins to sprout between spring and summer, so the flag and spear are not fully unfolded, and it is also hard to come by." Minyuan is rich in tea leaves; when the tea season comes, men, women, young and old all pick tea, and the monks and nuns in the temples are also busy picking tea. Shi Zhiquan's "Tea Picking Song" writes: "Bright rosy clouds gorgeously meet the light of the ridges, stepping out of the Zen gate with great interest. Up and down the fragrant grass path of Minyuan, every household smells the fragrance of baking tea." After Jiuhuashan opened to the outside world, the management of tea gardens was strengthened, and the trial production of famous tea was resumed; Mingdiyuan tea and other varieties have won many international and domestic awards, and the supply falls short of demand. It has now been included in the Jiuhua Buddha tea series.

Longxi: Originating from the north side of the watershed of Jiuhuashan, also known as Jiuhua Stream, it is formed by the convergence of various streams on the east and west hills, being the main stream of Jiuhuashan. It crosses the Minyuan Canyon, flows through Middle and Lower Minyuan, and flows through more than ten large and small bridges such as Qixian, Quexian, Dajue, Diaolan, and Huilong, forming a landscape scroll composed of strange peaks and steep ridges, jagged strange rocks, crisscrossing deep ravines, and flying silver waterfalls. Whenever mountain torrents erupt, the stream water surges and roars, the canyon rumbles, and the spray flies, making it very spectacular. Generations of residents on both sides have lived with Longxi, survived on Longxi, and praised Longxi. Longxi is a stream of life and a stream of sightseeing.

4. Dayuan Culture Park Scenic Area

Located in the lion-shaped mountain area between Liuchong and Shechong, 1 kilometer southeast of Ke Village. Master Rende, the former president of the Jiuhuashan Buddhist Association, made a vow to build a 99-meter open-air bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the "Lotus Buddhist Land" to carry forward the spirit of Ksitigarbha and solemnize the bodhimanda. This image project to build Jiuhuashan into an international bodhimanda has received the care and support of the vast number of monks and all sectors of society. In 1998, the Ministry of Construction and the Religious Affairs Bureau of the State approved the Jiuhuashan Buddhist Association to prepare for construction. Over the past few years, after many investigations and demonstrations by relevant experts and eminent monks, the lion-shaped mountain section in Ke Village was determined as the best site for the bronze statue! Now the construction project has started. The open-air large bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva faces west with its back to the east, standing upright on a mound in the lion-shaped mountain section, at an altitude of 143 meters. To the northeast, Bijia Peak and Shizi Peak stand majestically, forming a barrier and constituting the natural background of the large bronze statue. To the west, across the Jiuhua River surrounded by a "jade belt", stretches the undulating Shuiman Mountain, Toutuo Ridge, etc., which form the facing mountains relative to the base, and their misty and pleasing distant views seem to lead to the highest realm of the Buddhist Mount Sumeru. Shutou Mountain and Shuiquankou Mountain guard the east and west sides of the bronze statue base. The two streams of Liuchong and Shechong serve as the Left Blue Dragon and Right White Tiger, forming a water mouth, just like a natural portal. The east side of the water mouth is the Inner Mingtang, about 1.3 square kilometers, endowed with spiritual energy and full of vitality. On the southern bank is a giant bell-shaped rock named Dayin Stone, said to be transformed from Kim Gyo-gak's precious seal of benefiting all living beings, which is an important cultural landscape. The west side of the water mouth is the Outer Mingtang, about 5.30 square kilometers, which is a flat and open square. The shape of the large bronze statue for viewing here is the standing figure of a Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva bhikshu, holding a tin staff in his right hand to show his care for all living beings; holding a precious pearl in his left hand to show fulfilling the wishes of all living beings; stepping on a lotus flower. The bronze statue together with the lotus seat is 99 meters high, which is consistent with the meaning of 99 peaks of Jiuhuashan and Kim Gyo-gak passing away at the age of 99. The auspicious appearance faces the west, solemn and kind, showing "manifesting to all living beings, national peace and prosperity, and world peace." The open-air bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the image symbol of the "Lotus Buddhist Land" and the brilliant landscape of the Jiuhua sacred realm. It will have boundless merit and shine through the ages for the construction of the international bodhimanda and the development of the tourism industry in Jiuhuashan!