Four Buddhist Holy Mountains in China
It is autumn officially, but summer continues at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Today we want to take you to China to find out which are the four Buddhist Holy Mountains in the country.
Buddhism and mountains have always gone hand-in-hand. Buddhists considered is at heights where people find inner peace. Which mountains are considered by Buddhists as sacred ones? Keep reading!
Wutai-shan. Wutai is located in Shanxi Province; it is the highest mountain in the province. It is one of the most famous Buddhist pilgrimage spots in the world. Its name comes from the disposition of its five mountains (Wutai means five platforms) in a rough circle. The mount is the home of Wen-shu, the Bodhisattva of wisdom. Butai has 42 temples; the most famous one is Xiantong, and also the biggest and oldest temple.
Emei-shan. Mount Emei is located in the outskirts of Emei, in Sichuan Province. It is considered the highest Buddhist mountain in China. It is the “home” of Pu-xian, the Bodhisattva of benevolent actions and practice. Its highest peak, the Golden Peak, is 3,099 metres high. Emei includes over 30 temples, but Baoguo Temple is the oldest and best ketp one. In the eastern area of the mountain, we find the Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-metre tall stone statue, built during the Tang Dynasty.
Jiuhua-shan. Mount Jiuhua is located 20 kilometres away from Chizhou, in Anhui Province. Jiuhua is known as Mountain of Nine Lotuses, due to the shape of nine peaks like lotus, we fin on the top of the mount (it has 99 peaks). Most of its sanctuaries were built in honour of Di-zanng, the Bodhisattva of salvation from suffering in the afterlife. The most famous temple is called Guoqing. This Buddhist temple is also the oldest one; it was built in 598, during the Sui Dynasty.
Putuo-shan. Also known as the “Heaven of the Sea and Kingdom of the Buddhists”, this is a small island, Putuo Island, located in the archipelago of Zhoushan, in Zhejiang Province. It is one Chinese people´s favourite destinations; it gathers some of the most symbolic sceneries in the country: nature, temples, monks, fishermen and peace. All the temples were built in honour of Guan-yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. One of the most important elements in the island is a 33-metres statue of the Bodhisattva.
Forget long-haul flights to get to Asia, paradise is closer than you thought. Enjoy an autumn getaway to Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean at the 5 stars hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Are you joining us?
