Emeishan, or Mount Emei
UNESCO World Heritage Site
covering an area of 154 square kilometers, is located at the southwest of Sichuan Basin. It belongs to Emeishan City and is 6 km to the city center. The highest peak - Wanfoding of Mount Emei is 3099 meters in altitude. Mount Emei has been inscribed as a World Heritage site for its enchanting scenic beauty, and the great spiritual and cultural importance because of its role in the introduction of Buddhism into China. It is believed that the first Buddhist temple in China was built on the summit of Mount Emei in the 1st century CE. There are 30 Buddhist temples in Emei Mountain, and some of them are large and very old in traditional style and built on hillsides, including Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Wannian Temple, Hongchunping, Xianfeng Temple, Xixiangchi, Huazang Temple. Among these temples, there are 8 temples with greatest importance. Mount Emei is also famous for its stunning natural scenery, and it’s called plants kingdom, animal paradise and geological museum. Green trees can be seen all year round. The average temperature difference between the mountain top and mountain foot is about 15℃. Mount Emei is home to over 5000 kinds of plants and over 2300 kinds of wild animals. There are many monkeys in the mountain.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
covering an area of 154 square kilometers, is located at the southwest of Sichuan Basin. It belongs to Emeishan City and is 6 km to the city center. The highest peak - Wanfoding of Mount Emei is 3099 meters in altitude. Mount Emei has been inscribed as a World Heritage site for its enchanting scenic beauty, and the great spiritual and cultural importance because of its role in the introduction of Buddhism into China. It is believed that the first Buddhist temple in China was built on the summit of Mount Emei in the 1st century CE. There are 30 Buddhist temples in Emei Mountain, and some of them are large and very old in traditional style and built on hillsides, including Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Wannian Temple, Hongchunping, Xianfeng Temple, Xixiangchi, Huazang Temple. Among these temples, there are 8 temples with greatest importance. Mount Emei is also famous for its stunning natural scenery, and it’s called plants kingdom, animal paradise and geological museum. Green trees can be seen all year round. The average temperature difference between the mountain top and mountain foot is about 15℃. Mount Emei is home to over 5000 kinds of plants and over 2300 kinds of wild animals. There are many monkeys in the mountain.
Golden Summit 金顶 and Huazang Temple (华藏寺)
With an altitude of 3079 m, Golden Summit is the second highest peak of Mount Emei and the highest part that tourists can get to. It’s the symbol and essence of Mount Emei. On the summit, there is a bronze hall. When the sun shines on the bronze hall, its brightness dazzles the eyes just like the golden light, thus it is called Golden Summit. Stand on the Golden Summit and look afar, Chengdu Plain, Ming River, Qingyi River, Dadu River, Gongga Mountain and Wawu Mountain are all in view.
The Golden Buddha on the summit is the tallest Samantabhadra (Puxian Buddha) golden statue in the world. The statue is 48 m high and weighs 660 metric tons. It’s a gilded bronze statue which is designed by famous designer Li Zuyuan in Taiwan. The statue has ten heads facing ten different directions in three layers, which symbolizes those Buddhas in previous, present, future life and ten practices and wishes of Puxian Buddha.
Huazang Temple. History: over 700 years. Was originally built in 1377 during the Ming Dynasty. It is mainly composed of Maitreya Hall, Daxiong Hall and Bodhisattva Samantabhadra Hall. With an altitude of 3,077 meters, it is the highest Chinese Buddhist Temple.
With an altitude of 3079 m, Golden Summit is the second highest peak of Mount Emei and the highest part that tourists can get to. It’s the symbol and essence of Mount Emei. On the summit, there is a bronze hall. When the sun shines on the bronze hall, its brightness dazzles the eyes just like the golden light, thus it is called Golden Summit. Stand on the Golden Summit and look afar, Chengdu Plain, Ming River, Qingyi River, Dadu River, Gongga Mountain and Wawu Mountain are all in view.
The Golden Buddha on the summit is the tallest Samantabhadra (Puxian Buddha) golden statue in the world. The statue is 48 m high and weighs 660 metric tons. It’s a gilded bronze statue which is designed by famous designer Li Zuyuan in Taiwan. The statue has ten heads facing ten different directions in three layers, which symbolizes those Buddhas in previous, present, future life and ten practices and wishes of Puxian Buddha.
Huazang Temple. History: over 700 years. Was originally built in 1377 during the Ming Dynasty. It is mainly composed of Maitreya Hall, Daxiong Hall and Bodhisattva Samantabhadra Hall. With an altitude of 3,077 meters, it is the highest Chinese Buddhist Temple.
Wannian Temple 万年寺
Altitude: 1,020 meters. History: over 1,600 years. Wannian Temple is the largest temple of Mount Emei. It was first built in Eastern Jin Dynasty (397~401). Wannian Temple is featured for worshiping the bronze statue of Samantabhadra. It has many Buddhist halls, including Maitreya Hall, Hall of Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, Samantabhra Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Xingyuan Hall, etc. In Samantabhra Hall, there is the bronze statue of Samantabhra Bodhisattava. In Xingyuan Hall, there are the three treasures of Wannian Temple – tooth relic of the Buddha, Palm-leaf manuscript and the royal seal with 4 kilograms.
Altitude: 1,020 meters. History: over 1,600 years. Wannian Temple is the largest temple of Mount Emei. It was first built in Eastern Jin Dynasty (397~401). Wannian Temple is featured for worshiping the bronze statue of Samantabhadra. It has many Buddhist halls, including Maitreya Hall, Hall of Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, Samantabhra Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Xingyuan Hall, etc. In Samantabhra Hall, there is the bronze statue of Samantabhra Bodhisattava. In Xingyuan Hall, there are the three treasures of Wannian Temple – tooth relic of the Buddha, Palm-leaf manuscript and the royal seal with 4 kilograms.
Qingyin Pavilion 清音阁
Altitude: 710 meters. History: over 1000 years. Qingyin Pavilion, is located in the core area of Mount Emei. It was first called Woyun Temple, later the master Guangji in Ming Dynasty renamed and gave “Qingyin” to this pavilion. The temple is not big, however, it's very beautiful, and it's a classic garden architecture of Buddhist temple in China. There is only one hall to worship Three Saints of Hua-yen, Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle, Manjusri Bodhisattva in the left and Samantabhadra Bodhisattava in the right. Qingyin Pavilion connects Hongchunping, Xianfeng Temple in its left hand and Bailong Cave, Wannian Temple in its right hand, making it a must-visit place during your pilgrimage travel
Altitude: 710 meters. History: over 1000 years. Qingyin Pavilion, is located in the core area of Mount Emei. It was first called Woyun Temple, later the master Guangji in Ming Dynasty renamed and gave “Qingyin” to this pavilion. The temple is not big, however, it's very beautiful, and it's a classic garden architecture of Buddhist temple in China. There is only one hall to worship Three Saints of Hua-yen, Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle, Manjusri Bodhisattva in the left and Samantabhadra Bodhisattava in the right. Qingyin Pavilion connects Hongchunping, Xianfeng Temple in its left hand and Bailong Cave, Wannian Temple in its right hand, making it a must-visit place during your pilgrimage travel
Baoguo Temple 报国寺
Altitude: 533 meters. History: about 400 years. Located at the piedmont of Mount Emei, Baoguo Temple is the first temple of Mount Emei. As the portal of the whole mountain, it’s the center of various Buddhist activities, and the Emei Buddhist Association is also here. First built in Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368 ~ 1644), Baoguo Temple has five halls at present, and all of them are aligned along the central axis. The whole temple covers an area of 40,000 square meters, and the halls were built along the mountain, thus the back halls are higher than the front halls. The Depository of Buddhist Sutras of the temple has stored many cultural relics, paintings and calligraphies, biological samples in the mountain and the panoramic model of Mount Emei, which provide rich information for those who want to know Mount Emei further. source: www.chinadiscovery.com
Altitude: 533 meters. History: about 400 years. Located at the piedmont of Mount Emei, Baoguo Temple is the first temple of Mount Emei. As the portal of the whole mountain, it’s the center of various Buddhist activities, and the Emei Buddhist Association is also here. First built in Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368 ~ 1644), Baoguo Temple has five halls at present, and all of them are aligned along the central axis. The whole temple covers an area of 40,000 square meters, and the halls were built along the mountain, thus the back halls are higher than the front halls. The Depository of Buddhist Sutras of the temple has stored many cultural relics, paintings and calligraphies, biological samples in the mountain and the panoramic model of Mount Emei, which provide rich information for those who want to know Mount Emei further. source: www.chinadiscovery.com