A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

 

Jiuhuashan is the bodhimanda of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Along with Mount Putuo (Guanyin Bodhisattva) in Zhejiang, Mount Emei (Samantabhadra Bodhisattva) in Sichuan, and Mount Wutai (Manjusri Bodhisattva) in Shanxi, it is ranked as one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China. Located in Chizhou City, Anhui Province, it enjoys the reputation of the "Lotus Buddhist Land".

To experience the great vow spirit of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the magical beauty of the Buddhist land, accompanied by the bright sunshine, I drove for more than ten hours to the fairyland on earth—the Buddhist land of Jiuhuashan. Without further ado, here are the photos.

 

Strange stone: Immortal Drying Boots

After visiting the Huatai Scenic Area, our group started to drive to the Jiuhua Street Scenic Area (to be continued).

Xiaohuatai - Strange Stones Chapter

Strange stone: Divine Mouse Returning to the Mountain

Strange stone: Human Face Stone

Strange stone: Buddha

Strange stone: Dragon Spine

Xiaohuatai - Strange Stones Chapter

Xiaohuatai - Peculiar Pines Chapter

    Sea of azaleas (From April to May every year, the azaleas in Huatai bloom competitively, resembling an ocean of flowers; flowers blooming for the Buddha is a magical creation of nature).

Elephant Stone

    Elephant Stone: Legend has it that the Buddha was the reincarnation of an elephant (It is said that the Dayuan Stone absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, witnessing Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's cultivation into Buddhahood, making it the most efficacious place for making wishes and praying for blessings in Jiuhuashan.

Pious believers and fresh flowers offered to the Buddha

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    The highest open-air Ksitigarbha Buddha statue in Jiuhuashan and the landmark of Huatai, located at the lower jaw of the "Natural Sleeping Buddha" in Jiuhuashan (the highest peak position in the picture).

    Reaching the peak, seeing all other mountains as small.

The Bodhisattva's Great Vow

Looking at Baisui Palace from afar.

Map of attractions in the scenic area, very thoughtfully featuring photos of each attraction; following the pictures ensures you won't get lost.

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    There are interpretation boards like this all along the way, telling you stories about Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Huatai one by one, very considerate.

Beautiful scenery everywhere and unpredictable high mountain weather.

    "Divine Dog Wangcai" (the stone on the upper right): It is said that Lord Min kept a dog named "Wangcai". Ever since "Wangcai" entered Lord Min's house, his family's businesses thrived, and everything went smoothly. When Lord Min went out, "Wangcai" always followed him closely, inseparable, and Lord Min liked it very much. After Lord Min converted to Buddhism, "Wangcai" waited every day at the door of the temple hall where Lord Min frequented, eating vegetarian food and listening to the chanting of sutras for decades, never leaving, until it finally died of old age at the door of the hall. Seeing that "Wangcai" had followed him for many years and eventually died at the hall door, Lord Min believed it had an affinity with Buddha, and buried it among the green pines and cypresses next to the "Buddhist Gate". Later, people discovered a giant stone bulging at the burial site of "Wangcai", which looked exactly like "Wangcai", and believed it was the manifestation of "Wangcai".

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    Entering the private forbidden land of the God of Wealth Lord Min, will I bump into the venerable Lord Min and have him reward me with a few treasures?

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    Ascending the steps, retracing the path of Kim Gyo-gak's cultivation to Buddhahood back then.

    Auspicious Pine: According to research, it has been growing among these rocks for more than a thousand years. It was brought from Silla (now the Korean Peninsula) by Jin Dizang back then, originally named "Silla Pine".

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    Dizang Cave, also known as the Waist-Supporting Stone. It represents the repentance and prayer of people with guilt in their hearts, trying to support the Precept Stone from falling.

    Heavenly Clock Stone: The highest peak of the Huatai Scenic Area -- Central Peak. To the right front of the Central Peak, a giant rock hangs there. The hour hand, minute hand, second hand, and the exact time on the rock are clearly visible, just like a running clock, showing 10:20 in the morning and 4:50 in the afternoon. It implies that from 10:20 AM to 4:50 PM is the best time for touring and viewing in the Huatai Scenic Area. Even more magically, its other side also has the image of the hour, minute, and second hands, which can be clearly seen from the direction of Xiaohuatai.

    Precept Stone. A giant stone hangs high above the Buddhist Gate, constantly warning passers-by to do good deeds, accumulate virtue, and watch their words and actions, otherwise it will fall and put them in danger, serving as a warning to future generations. This is also the true intention of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva pointing the stone high above the Buddhist Gate.

Stone carvings

    Buddhist Gate, supposedly the place where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva borrowed land with his cassock.

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

    Monkeys Holding Milk (the pair of stones on the left): Looks like a little monkey snuggling in its mother's arms and suckling breast milk, but many young people always see it as a pair of lovers in love, so it is also called "A Kiss of a Thousand Years".

    This canyon is called "Minyuan Grand Canyon", which is a main geological feature of Jiuhuashan Global Geopark.

         Dagu Peak: It is said to be the ancient battlefield where Chang Yuchun and Chen Youliang fought against each other. To boost morale before the battle, Chang's army carried war drums to Daguling to beat the drums and cheer, hence this peak was named Dagu Peak.

      Seeing a large expanse of bamboo sea, feels a bit like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

      Looking down along the ropeway, there is a glacial relic within Jiuhuashan Global Geopark. It is said that Jiuhuashan had large-scale glacial activities in the Quaternary period, 2 million years ago. The glaciers carried these stones and moved slowly down the valley. These stones were transported by glaciers, a situation geologically called "erratic boulders", which are marks of glacial activity.

      Huatai Ropeway is the most advanced circulating detachable gondola ropeway in China. The complete set of equipment is imported from Austria. The ropeway has a total length of 2,908 meters and a height difference of 824 meters. Each cabin can seat 8 people, and the maximum operating speed can reach 6 m/s. It takes about 15 minutes by ropeway to reach the Huatai Scenic Area.

 

               Tourist waiting hall. Buy the ropeway tickets and handle the entrance registration (Jiuhuashan implements a one-ticket pass, but entering Huatai and Jiuhua Street at the same time requires a second mountain entry registration).

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan

       Lower station of Huatai Ropeway. The ropeway has a total length of 2,908 meters, and we decided to choose taking the ropeway up the mountain.

The air at the foot of the mountain is very good, and the scenery is also beautiful.

      Driving up along the winding mountain road for about two kilometers, we finally arrived.

      Self-driving tour service point. After parking and inquiring, we learned that going up from the left entrance leads directly to the Huatai Scenic Area, and the right leads to Jiuhua Street. According to the hall staff, Huatai Scenic Area is the location of the "Natural Sleeping Buddha" in Jiuhuashan, and is known as "the most beautiful place in Jiuhuashan." We decided to go to Huatai first.

Entrance of Huatai Scenic Area, fleets of self-driving cars coming towards us.

Jiuhuashan ticket office, looks a bit like a highway toll station.

      This is the Jiuhuashan Tourist Reception and Service Center. According to the scenic area staff, self-driving cars cannot drive straight up the mountain on weekends and holidays. Today is not a weekend, so we can drive up ourselves. The staff in the hall are quite enthusiastic.

A Journey of Praying and Meditation in Huatai Scenic Area of Jiuhuashan