Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area is located in Qingyang County, Chizhou City, Anhui Province. It is a national natural and cultural heritage site, a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national geological park and forest park, a national civilized scenic tourist area, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, and a world-famous Taoist temple for the manifestation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It is a national key scenic spot of mountain type featuring Buddhist culture and natural and humanistic holy sites. The scenic area covers a planned area of 120 square kilometers and a protected area of 174 square kilometers, consisting of 11 major scenic spots. Jiuhua Mountain has a total of 99 peaks, with the nine peaks such as Tiantai, Shiwang, Lianhua, and Tianzhu being the most majestic. The highest peak, Shiwang Peak, has an altitude of 1,344.4 meters. There are currently 99 temples, nearly a thousand monks and nuns, and more than ten thousand Buddha statues in Jiuhua Mountain.
Historical Culture
Jiuhua Mountain has a long history of Buddhism. In the fifth year of Long'an in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (401), the Indian Buddhist master Beidu came to Jiuhua to spread Buddhist doctrines and established a thatched cottage, marking the beginning of Buddhism in the area. At the end of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty (741), the Korean Buddhist monk Dizang (also known as Jin Qiaojue) came to Jiuhua Mountain. He passed away peacefully in the tenth year of Zhenyuan (794), and later generations believed that he was the reincarnation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, thus establishing Jiuhua Mountain as the Taoist temple for the manifestation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Buddhism in Jiuhua Mountain thrived in the Tang Dynasty, developed in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the number of temples in the mountain had increased from more than twenty in the late Tang Dynasty to more than one hundred and fifty. The practice of preserving the incorruptible bodies of Buddhist masters in Jiuhua Mountain is a unique phenomenon in Chinese Buddhism, known as "incarnated bodhisattvas" or "complete body relics." After the passing of Master Dizang in the Tang Dynasty, his body became the first incorruptible body, and there are currently six such bodies preserved in Jiuhua Mountain.
Jiuhua Mountain not only has profound Buddhist culture but also rich mountain and water culture. In the winter of the thirteenth year of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty (754), Li Bai was invited by friends to gather at the foot of Jiuhua Mountain. Upon seeing the magnificent peaks, they chanted poems to each other, and Li Bai wrote the poem "Changing Jiuhua Mountain from Jiuzhi Mountain," in which the line "The mysterious qi divides into two, and the spiritual mountain opens nine flowers" became the defining poem for Jiuhua Mountain. Since then, many literati and celebrities have been attracted to the area, using their aesthetic eye and artistic talents to add luster to the scenic spots and legends of Jiuhua Mountain.
Main Attractions
Roushen Baodian - Corpse Hall
The core temple of Jiuhua Mountain, dedicated to the Corpse of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Inside the hall, there are five wooden pagodas arranged in the directions of east, south, west, north, and center, hiding mysterious meanings. Making wishes here is said to be particularly effective. After burning incense and worshiping, remember to walk around the main hall three times clockwise.
Huacheng Temple
The founding temple of Jiuhua Mountain with a history of over a thousand years, resembling a Buddhist cultural museum. The temple houses three precious relics that protect the mountain. The crescent moon pond in front of the temple is a release pool where touching the koi carp is believed to bring good luck.
Qiyuan Temple
One of the largest temples in Jiuhua Mountain and the first of the "Four Great Forests" in Jiuhua Mountain. Here, you can make wishes for good fortune. Light three sticks of incense, hold them with your right hand while your left hand holds your right hand, bow at a 45-degree angle, first silently make your wish in the direction of the main hall, and then bow three times in each of the four directions clockwise.
Baisui Palace
Houses the incorruptible body of Monk Wuxia from the Ming Dynasty. Praying here for peace and good health is said to be extremely effective. Along the way, you can also see a natural reclining Buddha. If you have limited physical strength, you can take a cable car up and down.
Tiantai Temple
Located at an altitude of 1,306 meters, it is the highest temple in Jiuhua Mountain. After taking the cable car up the mountain, you need to climb more than 800 steps to reach the temple. Making wishes here is particularly effective, and the atmosphere is super ethereal amidst the clouds and mist.
Cuisine
Vegetarian Cuisine
The vegetarian meal at Qiyuan Temple costs 20 yuan per person. The "braised meat" is actually made of tofu, which is delicious and nutritious. It is an important way to experience Buddhist culture.
Stir-Fried Stone Ear with Eggs
A mountain delicacy of Jiuhua Mountain. Stone ear is a type of fungus that grows on rocks, with a tender texture. Stir-fried with eggs, it has a delicate fragrance and is rich in nutrients.
Three Delicacies of Jiuhua
Composed of bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and ferns, all of which are local specialty ingredients of Jiuhua Mountain. It has a fresh and delicious taste and is rich in nutrients, making it a traditional famous dish in Jiuhua Mountain.
Guanyin Tofu
A green jelly-like snack with a minty flavor and a cool taste. It is a specialty snack of Jiuhua Mountain, which can relieve heat and has a unique taste.
Tickets
The entrance ticket is 160 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "九华山风景区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open all day, but the opening hours of each attraction may vary slightly.
Itinerary
If you have enough time, it is recommended to spend two days exploring Jiuhua Mountain in depth.
Day 1: Corpse Hall - Huacheng Temple - Qiyuan Temple - Baisui Palace (by cable car). Head straight to the Corpse Hall in the morning to avoid the crowd. The cable car to Baisui Palace stops operating at 4 pm.
Day 2: Tiantai Scenic Area (Tiantai Peak + Ancient Pilgrimage Platform) - Phoenix Pine - Minyuan Bamboo Sea. It is recommended to start at 7 am, which takes about 4 hours for a round trip. Bring enough water and snacks.
Transportation
- High-speed Rail: Arrive at Jiuhua Mountain Station, where there is a free shuttle bus directly to the scenic area.
- Self-driving: On weekdays, vehicles with seven seats or less can drive directly to Jiuhua Street. On weekends and holidays, you need to park your car in the ground parking lot and purchase a 50-yuan round-trip scenic area bus ticket to go up the mountain.
Must-visit Attractions
- Corpse Hall: The core temple of Jiuhua Mountain, dedicated to the Corpse of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It is solemn and making wishes here is said to be effective.
- Huacheng Temple: The founding temple with a long history. It houses three precious relics that protect the mountain, and the crescent moon pond in front is a release pool.
- Baisui Palace: Holds the incorruptible body of Monk Wuxia. You can see a natural reclining Buddha here, and praying for peace and good health is said to be effective.
- Tiantai Temple: The highest temple in Jiuhua Mountain. Making wishes amidst the clouds and mist creates a super ethereal atmosphere, and you can also enjoy the spectacular sunrise and sea of clouds.
Travel Tips
- Hire a professional tour guide to learn about the temple stories and Buddhist culture.
- Choose accommodation in Jiuhua Street for convenient access to attractions.
- Bring some small change for making donations if you wish.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring enough water and snacks if you plan to climb Tiantai Peak.
Precautions
- Dress appropriately and avoid revealing clothing to show respect for Buddhism.
- Maintain silence, avoid discussing worldly matters, and refrain from speaking disrespectful words.
- Do not step on the threshold, turn your back to the Buddha statues, point at the Buddha statues, or take photos without permission.
- Follow the relevant etiquette when taking incense and performing rituals in the temples.