All posts by Cassidy Tse

Tianzhu Mountain presents natural landscapes such as strange peaks, strange rocks, secluded caves, canyons, etc. it is famous for its masculinity, strangeness, spirituality and beauty. Geologists call it “the most beautiful granite landscape in the East”; writers call it “mountain jungle” and “stone Palace”.

Located in Qianshan, Anqing, Anhui Province, the mountain is a branch of Dabie Mountains and well known for its great number of peaks, caves and rare rocks, as well as the beautiful environment with fresh air and numerous green plants. It also features rich cultural relics such as steles carved with the calligraphies of famous people in ancient times, such as Libai, an outstanding poet of the Tang Dynasty (618~907). It is the perfect place for outdoor activities such as climbing mountains, admiring peculiar peaks and a sea of clouds, exploring mysterious caves, and splashing about in the water.

Tianzhu peak, 4887.7 feet (1989.8 meters) above sea level, is the highest peak in the scenic area. It is named “Tianzhu”, which literally means Tianzhu, because it looks like a huge pillar penetrating the sky. The mountain is famous for its steepness because it is extremely difficult to climb. So far, only two tourists have reached the top of the mountain.

Tianzhu Mountain is one of the three famous mountains in Anhui Province because of its unique natural landscape. As early as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it was named “Nanyue”. There were cultural activities in all dynasties. After the founding of the people’s Republic of China, it has been developed into a scenic spot. In 2011, the scenic spot won the title of AAAAA tourist attraction. In September 2011, it was officially approved as a World Geopark by UNESCO.

Jiuhua Mountain, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, is located in Qingyang County, Chizhou City, Anhui Province, known as the first mountain in the Southeast. From the foot of Jiuhua Mountain to Tiantai peak, there are many famous temples, many cultural relics and historic sites. There are still 78 ancient temples such as Huacheng temple, Yueshen temple, Huiju temple, Centenary palace, and more than 1500 Buddha statues. There are more than 1300 cultural relics such as imperial edicts, scriptures and other jade seals and artifacts issued by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty.

According to historical records, Buddhism was first introduced to Mount Jiuhua in the year 401. In 719, a Korean monk named Jin Qiaojue arrived and practiced Buddhism here for 75 years. Upon his Nirvana in 794, Jin Qiaojue was respected as the Earth Buddha by the locals, hence it has become the place where religious rituals were held to worship the God of Earth.

It has always been a place of attraction to the literary world. It is said that Li Bai (701-762), a famous poet of Tang Dynasty, visited Jiuhua Mountain. When he was intoxicated with the scene of lotus like the peak of Jiuhua Mountain, the poem slipped out, “from the blue sky, a jade stream, nine charming lotus flowers rose from the bottom of the mountain.”. Later, Liu Yuxi (772-784), a poet of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Anshi (1021-1086), a writer of the Northern Song Dynasty, and many other scholars, politicians and monks also went to Jiuhua Mountain for tourism, which made them famous. As a Chinese saying goes, “mountains are famous for their holiness, not for their height.”.

Visitors to Jiuhua Mountain Temple are always impressed by its exquisite architecture and magnificent structure. There are no more than 90 existing temples, most of which were restored in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Among them, the most famous ones are the reincarnation hall, Huacheng temple, Zhiyuan temple, Changshou temple, zhantanlin temple, Ganlu temple and Tiantai town top temple.

Shexian is located in the northeast of Huangshan City, at the foot of Huangshan Mountain. It is a famous historical and cultural city. Surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, there are many cultural relics, folk houses, ancestral halls and memorial archways. This is a museum of classical architectural art.

Walking across the county, you can see the architectural styles of towers, bridges, alleys and wells in Ming and Qing Dynasties everywhere. The beautiful scenery and exquisite architecture make it win the reputation of water town, mountain town and bridge town. This rich county has attracted many historical scholars to praise its beauty. There are three wonders here – ancestral temple, ancient houses and arched city. Therefore, architectural experts in China and around the world call it “the Museum of classical architectural art formed naturally”.

Shexian ancient city is the ancient city of Huizhou, which is composed of Fucheng and Xi’an city. Fucheng was built in the late Sui Dynasty (581-618), and expanded in the late Tang Dynasty (618-907). The existing walls are built along the ridge, which is about 1640 yards long. Some places of interest before the Song Dynasty (960-1279), such as HAMA well, Yinggong well, Dagu well, etc. Doushan street, Zhongshan lane, Dabei street and other old streets have basically maintained the style of Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are 16 memorial archways of Ming and Qing Dynasties in Fucheng and Xi’an city.

Historically, Shexian county was called Huizhou. It is the birthplace of Hui culture (one of the three regional cultures in China). Beautiful places carry talent. In this picturesque place, there are many celebrities who have expertise in different research fields. For example, Zhu Xi was a famous thinker in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). He was the inventor of movable type all his life. Tao Xingzhi is a great educator. Huang Binhong is a famous modern painter. Xin’an School of painting, Hui School of architecture, Hui School of drama, Xin’an medicine, Hui School of cuisine and so on all enjoy a certain reputation more or less.

Shexian also has local specialties such as jujube, Huangshan Maofeng Tea, dinggu Dafang tea, Huangshan Green Peony tea, etc., which are regarded as priceless by the local people.

Bailong elevator, located in Yuanjia street, Wulingyuan scenic spot, Zhangjiajie, is the world’s largest passenger capacity, fastest running, fully exposed outdoor double-layer sightseeing elevator. The Bailong elevator runs up and down at a high speed of 3 meters (10 feet / second) per second, and can reach a height of 326 meters (1070 feet) in 1 minute and 58 seconds. It connects the main scenic spots such as yuanjiajie, Tianzi mountain and Jinbian River, leaving more time for tourists to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Zhangjiajie.

Normally, it takes the elevator only 1 minute and 58 seconds to run from the foot to top of the mountain, and the running speed of the elevator gets to 3 meters per second. The fastest running speed can reach 5.5 meters per second (18 feet/s) and the whole riding lasts only 66 seconds. In the previous days when there was no elevator, it took tourists about 2 hours to climb up to the mountain top. Bailong elevator has three double-layer fully exposed sightseeing elevators, which is the largest one in the world. Three elevators run side by side to serve tourists. One elevator can carry up to 50 people. When the three elevators are used at the same time, Bailong elevator can provide services for 4000 tourists every hour.

The elevator connects the main scenic spots such as Yuanjia street and Tianzi mountain, which saves a lot of time for tourists to visit the scenic spot. The elevator is made of glass, transparent. During the ride, visitors can enjoy one of the magical grand events of Zhangjiajie, including the sky garden and the local residents’ cottage scattered on the opposite mountain top, so as to gain novel sightseeing experience.

Haibao Pagoda is located in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with a history of more than 1500 years. Because it is located in the northern suburb of the city, it is also called “North Tower”. I don’t know when it was first established. According to the literature, it was rebuilt in the fifth century. In the past few centuries, Haibaota has experienced several earthquakes. It collapsed and rebuilt again and again. The existing pagoda was restored in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in 1788. It is one of the eight highlights of Ningxia and listed in the list of the sixteen famous pagodas in China.

Haibao Pagoda is a pavilion like tower with nine floors and eleven stairs. The rectangular pagoda is made of bricks and is 53.9 meters (177 feet) high. It has a square base, 5.7 meters (about 18 feet) high and 19.7 meters (about 65 feet) long. On the first floor, there is an arch and a porch. From the second floor up, each floor has four arches, slightly projecting. The recesses in the walls are also built on both sides of the door to add magnificence and provide a third dimension. Every corner is hung with wind bells. On windy days, the sound of wind bells makes this place full of pleasant sounds. In a word, our pagoda is built in a rare style in ancient pagoda architecture.

Each floor has a square room surrounded by wooden stairs spiraling up from below. The mold is reduced 15 to 20 cm layer by layer from the base. The top of the pagoda has a unique shape and looks like a peach made of green glazed bricks. This color contrasts with the gray body, which helps us to call it the pagoda of civilization and vivacity. From the top of the mountain, you can see the Yellow River (Yellow River) in the East and the grandeur of Helan Mountain in the West. This scenery can be compared with any beautiful scenery in southern China in aesthetic sense.

West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo, with a history of more than 1400 years. This street is located in the center of Yangshuo County. Since 1980s, it has become the window of eastern and Western culture and the largest “foreign language center” in China. It is the most prosperous area in Yangshuo. Every year, about 100000 foreigners come here to travel or study. West Street attracts tourists with its unique cultural combination.

West Street, 517 meters long and 8 meters wide, twists and turns along its length. Made entirely of marble, this is a typical example of a street in southern China. It is popular with foreigners for its simple style and courtyard like environment. There is a saying that “half is a village, the other half is a shop”.

Because sometimes the number of foreigners exceeds the number of Chinese, this street is also known as “foreigners Street”. Don’t be surprised if you hear the English words spoken by old Chinese women, because this street is called “global village”. In addition to Yangshuo’s local accent, English has become a daily language. West Street is modern and fashionable. Almost every shop has a bilingual shop sign. More than 20 shops have been opened by foreigners who have settled here.

Chinese people who travel there may think they are in a foreign country, while foreigners come here to look for ancient Chinese civilization. However, whether you are Chinese or foreign, this is a good place to rest, physically or mentally. West Street will drive away all your pressure and burden and give you a peaceful outlook on life. It presents different faces at different times: calm and peaceful in the morning, fashionable and modern in the evening. Traveling to that place is an experience with the scenery, with people, with soul, with yourself.

Visit West Street, you will be surrounded by a series of traditional folk customs and amazing international elements. Various shops, handicraft shops, calligraphy and painting shops, backpack shops, coffee shops and China Kungfu academy are competing to attract attention. You can see a lot from embroidered silk, batik and weaving to the small shoes worn by women before liberation in 1949. In addition, in other places on the street, you may find bars and cafes, some of which are operated by foreigners, decorated with bamboo rafts, fish baskets, batik tablecloths, etc.

West Street not only gives you visual satisfaction. You will be tempted by food from all over the world: Chinese New Year cake, Yangshuo rice noodles, authentic Italian coffee, banana cake, Western food and so on. So now, choose a coffee shop and ask for a cup of coffee. Let the beautiful scenery and music take you to a wonderful world.

Yulong River is the longest tributary of Li River in Yangshuo, with a total length of 43.5km and a drainage area of 158.47km2. The water quality of Yulong River is clear and the flow is slow all year round. There are 28 weirs and dams, more than 100 scenic spots. The whole Yulong River scenic spot has no so-called modern buildings, no traces of artificial carving, no urban noise. Everything is so primitive, natural, simple and pure, which is actually the largest pure natural landscape garden in Guilin. The part of the river that stretches from Yulong Bridge in Baisha Town, to Gongnong Bridge near Big Banyan Tree along the Ten-Mile Gallery, is known as the Yulong River Scenic Area, and includes some spectacular scenic views along each river bank.

The Chinese word ‘Yulong’ refers to ‘meeting a dragon’. According to local legend, a dragon from the East China Sea wanders on the Yulong River. Deeply moved by the charming scenery, he decides to stay there forever. The villagers living on the river bank have seen the Dragon several times, so the river is named dragon.

There are many tourist attractions in yulongjiang scenic area, among which cultural relics are interspersed. This lazy river is surrounded by primitive but pure natural landscape, plus green bamboo forest and rolling hills. Tourists will enjoy the picturesque scenery of rural life in this area: Bamboo waterwheels irrigate rice fields; girls in the village wash their hands outside the cottage with smoke curling up from the chimney; old people fish in the river; flocks of ducks swim in the pond. This kind of rural scenery will let tourists forget their troubles and experience a calm and relaxed feeling.

Other natural landscapes along the river are banyan, moon mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, lion mountain, Longtan, butterfly spring, Tianping green land, baxiandong, Rhinoceros Pool, Chaoyang village, etc. historical attractions include the three most famous ancient bridges in Yangshuo: Yulong bridge, Fuli bridge, Xianggui bridge (the oldest single arch bridge in Guangxi). The tombs of the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC), the site of Guiyi County, the largest Jianshan temple and pan manor in Guangxi are also worth visiting. In order to appreciate the simplicity and elegance, visitors should visit the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) style houses in Jiuxian county.

Once upon a time, Xingping town was the largest town on the Lijiang River, 63 km (39 miles) from Guilin, 25 km (15.5 miles) from Yangshuo, and located on the East Bank of the Lijiang River. This town is really a beautiful place with beautiful scenery. Mural mountain and huangbutan both belong to this scenic spot.

The surrounding mountains greatly enhance the charm of Xingping town. The town is at the foot of Wuzhishan. The mountain in the East is sengni mountain, which looks like a fight between a monk and a nun. It is said that chaoban mountain is like a plaque of an ancient court official, and Luohan mountain is like a smiling Luohan monk with his chest exposed in the sun. The mountains in the south are carp mountain and snail mountain. The mountains to the West are Bijia mountain and Maire peak. The mountain to the north is Camel Mountain, like a camel crossing a river.

Historic sites can be found in Xingping old street and fishing village, about 2 km (1.3 miles) from Xingping town. This old street is a one kilometer long stone street, flanked by old brick houses and conference halls like many different provinces. This old banyan tree needs eight people to stretch out their arms to surround it. The Guandi temple built in the Qing Dynasty tells about the long history of Xingping town.

The fishing village has a history of nearly 500 years. It typically represents the architectural style of Northern Guangxi in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The houses in the village are the same as those in Xingping town. They have horsehead walls, cornices, painted rafters and carved windows. When former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife visited the village, they highly praised it and were deeply attracted by its residents. The villagers live on cormorants. Maybe you can go fishing on a raft instead of a boat. It’s exciting. Not far from the village is Dishui village, where there is a waterfall. Water is often used to make wine.

Three kilometers (1.9 miles) northeast of Xingping Town, there is a newly opened lotus cave. The cave is more than 600 meters long and the widest part is 2 meters wide. Different shapes of stalactites can be seen in the cave. For example, the main scenic spots are “upside down lotus petals”, “two dragons climbing out of the cave” and 108 “Lotus pods”, large and small. The diameter of the lotus seed pod ranges from 20cm to 1.5m (4.9ft), and the small stones inside look like real seeds. It’s amazing! In spring and autumn, under a layer of mist, the scenery is really lifelike. There is a stalactite that makes a pleasant sound when it is struck. Do you want to try it?