Hua Shan
Mountain, Shaanxi Province, China. One of the five holy mountains of
Taoism in China, located in the range of Qin Ling. It is famous for
picturesque rocks and a difficult and dangerous ascent on the top. The
path in the mountains connects many tops till the highest one of 2100m, it's a unique route. On the way there are a lot of Taoist monasteries,
pagodas, temples, gates and bridges. In China they say: "If you have
visited the five holy mountains of China, you may not go to the others,
but if you have visited Hua Shan, even those four are not necessary".
The Hua Mountains used to be called Si Yue - "Western Mountains". The
name "Hua Shan" - "Blossoming Mountan" they got due to the resemblance
of five peaks of theirs: the Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern and
Central - with a lotus flower.
The Hua Shan Mountains are closely connected with Taoism and are
mentioned in its early texts as one of the places suitable for Taoist
religious practices and alchemy lessons. They say that Lao Zi himself
lived here. The most part of the constructions were built here in the
period of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Up to date the
well preserved are Yuquan (the XI century), Dongdao temple (1714) and
Zhenyue palace of the Yuan dynasty. In December 1990 UNESCO included Hua
Shan in the list of the objects of the world nature heritage. Now this
place is rather popular among tourists. You may climb the mountain
either on foot or by funicular. 5 hours
up along the path from the town of the same name. Traditionally
pilgrims have climbed only along the path and slept under one of the
mountains to go around all five peaks the next morning.
Tourists
Strange combination indeed: cucumbers and soda water.
The rocks with lots of small temples, caves, stairs...
On the top at last.
Very narrow stairs
It's really the place of calmness - all temples, caves, stairs are in full harmony with the landscape.
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