Huangshan 黄山 (Huángshān): Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Yellow Mountain, known for its dramatic peaks, deep valleys, and mystical beauty. Huangshan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has inspired countless poets and artists with its ethereal landscapes. Visitors can hike along scenic trails lined with ancient pine trees, explore hidden caves and waterfalls, and witness breathtaking views of the sea of clouds that often shroud the peaks.
Emei Mountain 峨眉山 (Éméishān): Explore one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, known for its stunning scenery, ancient temples, and diverse wildlife. Emei Mountain is home to the majestic Golden Summit, where visitors can watch the sunrise over a sea of clouds and admire the towering statue of Samantabhadra. Along the way, hikers can encounter playful monkeys, explore serene forests, and visit historic Buddhist monasteries.
Jiuhua Mountain 九华山 (Jiǔhuáshān): Discover the beauty and tranquility of Jiuhua Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. Jiuhua Mountain is renowned for its sacred temples, including the Tiantai Temple and the Huacheng Temple, which house ancient Buddhist relics and offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can hike through lush forests, meditate in serene meditation halls, and immerse themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred mountain.
Wudang Mountain 武当山 (Wǔdāngshān): Explore the birthplace of Wudang Kung Fu and the ancient Taoist culture at Wudang Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its magnificent ancient buildings, including the Golden Hall, the Purple Cloud Palace, and the Nanyan Temple. Visitors can practice Tai Chi in the peaceful surroundings, hike through scenic valleys and forests, and explore the rich cultural heritage of this historic mountain.
Mount Tai 泰山 (Tàishān): Ascend the sacred Mount Tai, known as the "Eastern Mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains." Mount Tai has been a place of worship and pilgrimage for thousands of years and is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and cultural significance. Visitors can climb the 7,000 steps to the summit, visit ancient temples and shrines, and admire panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the Jade Emperor Peak.
Mt. Hua 华山 (Huàshān): Challenge yourself with a trek up the steep and rugged trails of Mount Hua, one of China's Five Great Mountains. Known for its precipitous cliffs, narrow plank paths, and breathtaking vistas, Mount Hua offers a thrilling adventure for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can hike to the famous Chess Pavilion, brave the spine-tingling plank walk along the cliff face, and enjoy panoramic views from the mountain's five peaks.
Mount Gongga 贡嘎山 (Gònggǎshān): Explore the "King of Sichuan Mountains," known for its stunning glaciers, alpine lakes, and diverse ecosystems. Mount Gongga is one of the highest peaks in the Hengduan Mountains and offers spectacular scenery and challenging trekking opportunities. Visitors can trek through pristine wilderness, climb to high mountain passes, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including the iconic Minya Konka.
Haba Snow Mountain 哈巴雪山 (Hābā Xuěshān): Discover the rugged beauty of Haba Snow Mountain, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Haba Snow Mountain is known for its dramatic landscapes, including towering peaks, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls. Visitors can trek through alpine meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers, cross suspension bridges over rushing rivers, and summit the snow-capped peak for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山 (Yùlóng Xuěshān): Explore the stunning landscapes of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, known for its towering peaks, deep gorges, and alpine meadows. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas and is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors can take a cable car ride to the summit, hike along scenic trails, and admire the views of the famous "13 peaks."
Mt. Siguniang 四姑娘山 (Sìgūniángshān): Journey to the "Four Sisters Mountains," known for their towering peaks, alpine lakes, and pristine forests. Mount Siguniang is located in the heart of the Qionglai Mountains and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. Visitors can trek through scenic valleys, visit Tibetan villages, and admire the stunning beauty of the snow-capped mountains, including the four distinct peaks that give the mountain its name.
FanJingShan is the highest peak of the WuLing Mountains in southwestern China, at an elevation of 2,570 meters (8,430 feet). The FanJingShan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 and designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986. FanJingShan is a sacred mountain in Chinese Buddhism. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
HuaShan is located near the city of HuaYin in ShaanXi province, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Xi'An. It is the western mountain of the Five Great Mountains of China, and has a long history of religious significance.
HuaShan has five main peaks, the highest of which is the South Peak at 2,155 meters (7,070 feet).
A beautiful film ...
The LongSheng (Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces 龙胜梯田 cover an area of around 65 square kilometers (about 16,000 acres) in GuangXi province.
Construction of the terraces began during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), most extensively around 500 years ago during the Ming dynasty, and continues today. The rice terraces stand as testament to the wisdom and strength of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities who form the majority of the locals here.
LongJi (the Dragon's Backbone) Mountain is located in LongSheng County, about 100 km (2 hours drive) from GuiLin. The most famous of the rice terrace areas here are the Ping'An and JinKeng rice terraces. The terraced fields are constructed from riversides up to the mountain tops, at elevations of 300 meters (1,000 feet) to 1,100 meters (3,600 feet). A typical incline is 30 to 35 degrees.
This area is also noted for its LongJi tea and wine.
Best time to visit : May to mid-October (ideally, June to September).
Mount Hua mountain is located near the city of HuaYin in ShaanXi province, about 120 kilometers east of Xi'A, and one of the Five Great Mountains of China.
DānXiá Shān is a world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Geo-Park.
The area comprises a reddish sandstone which has been eroded over the years into a series of outcrops with spectacular cliffs and unusual rock formations.
There are a number of temples in the mountains and many scenic paths. FuYiJiang River winds through the mountains and boat trips are possible.
HuaShan, in ShaanXi province, is one of China's Five Sacred Mountains.
Our second film shows the 'Plank Walk'. This was constructed in the 13th century by Taoist monks.
HuàShān is located near the city of HuaYin in ShaanXi province, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of Xi'An. It is one of the Five Great Mountains of China, and has a long history of religious significance. The highest peak is 2,155 metres (7,070 feet).
HuangShan is well known for its beautiful scenery, sunsets and sunrises, unusually shaped granite peaks, ancient pine trees, hot springs, winter snow, and views of the clouds from above. Some of the peaks rise more than 1,800 meters (6,000 feet). HuangShan is a frequent subject in traditional Chinese paintings and literature.
HuangShan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's most popular tourist destinations. The HuangShan area is also noted for Chinese teas of high quality.
In the first film, a group of photographers spend a week on the Yellow Mountain and show that patience and dedication pays off ...
Near LuoYang, provincial capital of HeNan, central China.
There is a LaoZi Cultural Park near the foot of the mountain and a cable car is available to reach the top.
The ancient sage LaoZi (in modern PinYin though one will still also see Lao-Tse or Lao-Tzu) who started Daoism (Taoism) and authored the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), is said to have gained inspiration here around 550 BC.
The Dao (道) which roughly translates as 'the way', in the sense of how things are, is a concept that existed in Chinese thought many centuries before LaoZi, but it was LaoZi who developed the concept considerably.
Wu Wei (無爲), literally "non-action" or "not acting", is a central concept of the DaoDeJing. The concept of wu wei is multi-faceted, and reflected in the words' multiple meanings, even in English translation; it can mean "not doing anything", "not forcing", "not acting" in the theatrical sense, "creating nothingness", "acting spontaneously", and "flowing with the moment / 'here and now'". It is a concept used to explain ZiRan (自然), or harmony with the Dao. LaoZi used the term broadly with simplicity and humility as key virtues, often in contrast to selfish action. On a political level, it means avoiding such circumstances as war, harsh laws and heavy taxes. The 'ruler' can also refer to the 'self'. There is an overlap here with the Buddha's teachings that suffering stems from attachments and desires, ultimately to the notion of a separate self.
In Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang (陰陽 YīnYáng, "dark—light") describes how opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. While duality is found in many belief systems, Yin and Yang are parts of a Oneness that is also equated with the Dao. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary (rather than opposing) forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts; it is a holistic view. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, though either of the two major aspects may manifest more strongly in a particular object, depending on the criterion of the observation. Yin and Yang is a balance between two seeming opposites with a portion of the opposite element in each.
Some of LaoZi's famous sayings include:
"When goodness is lost, it is replaced by morality."
"Without Darkness, there can be no Light."
"The usefulness of a pot comes from its emptiness."
"The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it is so similar to the Way."
"When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad."
"Try to change it and you will ruin it. Try to hold it and you will lose it."
"Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know."
"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."
"Music in the soul can be heard by the universe."
"A journey of a thousand miles starts under one's feet."
"The more that laws and regulations are given prominence, the more thieves there will be."
Alan Watts - 'The Daoist Way' ...
The first Buddhist temple in China was constructed here in SiChuan province in the 1st century A.D. The addition of other temples has turned Éméi Shān into one of Buddhism's holiest sites and is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China.
All in all, there are now seventy six Buddhist temples and monasteries, most of them located near the mountain top.
The first two films focus on the most well-known - the Golden Summit and the 48 meters tall statue of Samantabhadra, known in Mandarin as PǔXián PúSà 普賢菩薩.
Emei Shan (Emei Mountain, 3,099 m / 10,167 ft) is one of the four Chinese Buddhist sacred mountains.
Emei Shan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (together with the nearby LeShan Giant Buddha) as "an area of exceptional cultural significance as it is the place where Buddhism first became established on Chinese territory ... The first Buddhist temple in China was built on the summit of Mount Emei in the 1st century CE ... Mount Emei is also notable for its exceptionally diverse vegetation, ranging from subtropical to sub-alpine pine forests. Some of the trees there are more than 1,000 years old."
Included in this beautiful film : the summit of Mount Emei, WanNian Si Temple, QingYin Ge and BaoGuo Si Temple.
YanDangShan, in a micro movie.
YanDang Mountain is known for its natural beauty, arising from its many vertical rock faces and pinnacles, lush forests and bamboo groves, streams with clear water, waterfalls and caves. The area also hosts numerous temples and shrines, many built inside caves. A good place for hiking.
YanDangShan lis near the east coast of China. The rail station here lies between WenZhou and NingBo; the journey from ShangHai is about 4 hours.
A very beautiful film ...
ChangBai Mountain, ChangBaiShan ('Ever White Mountain'), is located in the south east of JiLin province, on the border between China and North Korea.
The mountain is actually a volcano, with a height of 2,744 meters (9,000 feet), the highest mountain in north east China. ChangBai Mountain TianChi is the deepest lake in China, which was formed after a massive eruption in the year 946 and is about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) wide; technically, this is called a caldera. The origin of the name comes from the altitude - 'The Lake of Heaven'. TianChi is surrounded by 16 mountains, which makes the lake just like a gorgeous emerald among them.
The average temperature here is about −24 °C (−11 °F) in January, and 10 °C (50 °F) in July, remaining below freezing for eight months of the year.
Great films by Sticker Travel ...
JǐuHuá Shān, 'Nine Glorious Mountains', is one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism. Located in AnHui province, it is famous for its rich landscape and ancient temples.
A beautiful film ...
With rugged peaks soaring to over 1,800 meters, ancient pines and a myriad of breath-taking walkways, it is easy to see why HuangShan is perhaps the best known mountain area in China and famous in Chinese art and poetry.
Filmed in July 2011, AnHui province.
The Giant Buddha, which is around 70 meters in height, was carved out from the hill during the Tang dynasty (618–907). It took 90 years to complete.
The LeShan Giant Buddha is part of the Mount Emei Scenic Area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area has exceptionally diverse vegetation, ranging from subtropical to sub-alpine pine forests. Over time, additional temples established nearby making this an important place in Buddhism. There is a lot to see and explore.
Slideshow (with some great photos) :
Mount HuangShan was added to the World Heritage list for its magnificent landscape and significant contribution to Chinese art and culture.
"Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, is named after a legendary Chinese sovereign Huang Di, also known as the Yellow Emperor. It is said that the he became a hermit on this mountain and searched for enlightenment and immortality.
The rugged landscape combined with light and cloud creates an enchanting atmosphere. A mysterious world where hermits could live in seclusion. This is a living example of a Shanshui mountain water painting.
These stone steps took over 1500 years to construct and are said to number over 60,000 in total. They continue their way up into the clouds and are thus named the Hundred steps into the clouds.
Mount Huangshan is the name for the 72 peak mountain range. Its splendid grandeur and uniquely shaped rocks became the source of many legends. Lianhua Peak is the highest in the Mount Huangshan region. It is shaped like a lotus flower in blossom.
This small rock formation on top of the peak is known as Monkey Rock, owing to the legend of a monkey who fell in love with a human girl from a village located at the foot of the mountain. Day after day the monkey gazed upon her from the mountain top and eventually turned into a rock.
Pine trees protruding from the rock crevices are the Huangshan pine, an endemic species of Mt. Huangshan. It is an important symbol of the Shanshui landscape. Trees are rooted deep into rock crevices to resist against the strong winds of this harsh environment.
Mt. Huangshan has fascinated many intellectuals, writers and painters through the ages. Li Po, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty wrote:
Once I was on its lofty summit,Admiring Tianmu Pine below.The place is still traceable where the immortalBefore ascending to heaven made elixir out of jade.
At the foot of Mt. Huangshan, there are several villages retaining the old-time atmosphere from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Hungcun is one of those villages where traditional old buildings are perfectly preserved. This village is also inscribed as World Heritage. Walls jutting from the roofs are shaped like Huangshan mountains. A miniature Shanshui mountain-water landscape is placed in their garden. It is a Bonsai garden portraying the Huangshan mountains. The mountains are the basis and focus of everyday life for these people.
A local painter Zhu Feng has been drawing Huangshan mountains for 30 years. He believes that the ever-changing Huangshan mountains represent all elements of the universe. The mountains reveal their most mystical side in winter. A sea of cloud hangs over the Huangshan peaks. Lao Tzu, the father of Taoism said that the ideal way of human existence is to Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river. For people throughout the ages Mt. Huangshan is a tremendous source of inspiration and a place where people give thoughts about how the universe exists in this world." - UNESCO
AnHui, 安徽, lies in East China, just to the west of JiangSu province and ShangHai, and noted for its cuisine and materials related to calligraphy (paper and inkstone).
Tourist destinations include HuangShan mountain, HongCun and XiDi ancient villages, Chao Lake, TaiJi Cave, ZhenFeng Pagoda and ZuiWeng Pavilion.
HuangShan (Yellow Mountain) is a group of mountains in AnHui province, east China.
Famous for its rugged peaks, unusual rocks and tenacious pine trees, this beautiful landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mount HuaShan, 华山, lies about 75 miles east of Xi'An, 西安, in ShaanXi province, central China.
The esteem of harmony between Man and Nature is a key part of Chinese philosophy and no trip to China is quite complete without a mountain climb ...
Yellow Mountain, 黄山, in AnHui province, between ShangHai and WuHan, is one of China's most popular travel destinations. An area of outstanding natural beauty, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
SanQing Shan, 三清山, is a renowned Taoist sacred site located 25 miles (40 km) north of YuShan County in JiangXi Province.
With outstanding natural scenery, plants and wildlife, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that in all covers 230 square kilometers.
SanQing means the "Three Pure Ones" in Chinese as Mount SanQing is composed of three main summits: YuJing, YuShui, and YuHua, representing the Taoist trinity. YuJing (rising 1820 meters above sea level) is the highest.
三峰峻拔、如三清列坐其巅
A fascinating, hour plus documentary by CCTV's Travelogue (from the English language CCTV9 channel).
Dali is a four and a half hours drive from KunMing, the provincial capital of YunNan in south China, or forty minutes by air. By rail it is also connected to nearby LiJiang.
We haven't posted a Travelogue for a couple of years, but are very happy to say that it is back to its best - intelligent presenter and beautiful cinematography. Highly recommended.
Inhabited predominantly by the Bai and Yi ethnic groups.
1 : Dali Old Town
1/1 In this segment, presenter Katrina Yu tours the artistic cobblestone streets of the Old Town, meeting adventurous travelers along the way -- and shows where you can party with musical locals at night.
1/2 Katrina sails across the serenely beautiful ErHai Lake, enjoying a taste of ethnic Bai culture along the way. She also gets a lesson in an ancient handcraft and peeks inside a luxurious lakeside guesthouse.
1/3 Katrina strolls through the surrounding grounds of Dali's iconic Three Pagodas, and shows audiences the breath-taking view from the top of the soaring CangShan Mountains.
2 : The outskirts of Dali
2/1 Katrina hikes the holy paths of JiZu Mountain, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in China, and discovers the historic temples which have given the area the nickname of "scented wonderland"
2/2 Katrina visits the traditional ethnic Bai village of XinHua. Join her as she is treated to a colorful 'Eight bowl' Bai banquet and gets a lesson in an age-old handicraft from a master silver maker.
2/3 Katrina wanders through the ancient town of ShaXi. Join her as she savors the sights and tastes of the bustling weekly market, and finds out how this age-old center has succeeded in becoming a modern tourist destination while maintaining its old-world charm.
3 : The 'thousand year old' village of NuoDeng, deep in rural Dali
3/1 Katrina and the crew arrive at the hillside village. They get a taste of Nuodeng's famous salted ham and meet a local man whose character is just as interesting as the temple he guards.
3/2 Katrina visits a unique family museum, and has her pulse checked at a guesthouse where the owners offer holistic health treatments as well as accommodation.
3/3 Katrina plays teacher and student for a day, getting a lesson in local culture at Nuodeng's lively primary school.
Grab your walking boots and climb up over night (there are lights) to be ready for sunrise. Also featured is the famous 'Plank Walk'.
HuaShan is one of China's Five Sacred Mountains; it lies in ShaanXi province, about two hours from the city of Xi'An, in central China.
Hike above the clouds (at over 2,000 meters).
Sometimes people talk about 'things to do before you die' - a trip to HuaShan (or HuangShan, EmeiShan, CangShan, WuDang or TaiShan) should be one of those ...
HuangShan (Yellow Mountain) lies in AnHui province.Highly worn granite summits peak out from a sea of clouds, dotted with ancient pines, have been an inspiration to artists and philosophers for many centuries ...