Wuhu - Mountain of the Nine Blossoms (Mount Jiuhuashan) 
The Mountain of the Nine Blossoms, 150km/93mi southwest of Wuhu, is one of the Four Holy Mountains revered by Chinese Buddhists (the other three being Mounts Putuoshan in Zheijang province, Emeishan in Sichuan province and Wutaishan in Shanxi province. Its highest point is the Peak of The Ten Kings (Shiwang Feng), which is 1431m (4696ft).
The mountain's name comes from a poem written by the Tang poet Li Bai, who compared the nine most beautiful peaks to lotus blossoms.
The mountain's name comes from a poem written by the Tang poet Li Bai, who compared the nine most beautiful peaks to lotus blossoms.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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However, its fame goes back much further than that. Large numbers of monasteries were built here in the Eastern Jin period (317-420); there were some 300 in existence in the 17th C, providing accommodation for more than 5000 monks. 56 such sacred buildings still remain and house over 1300 old documents, including seals, letters, calligraphy samples, paintings and Buddhist scripts. Particularly valuable are some palm-leaves from India on which texts from the Sutra were carved 1000 years ago.
Related Attractions
Ancient Villages of Xidi and Hongcun, China
(Near Wuhu)
The ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun are listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. They are excellent representations of settlements created during the feudal period.
Huangshan Hot Spring - Mountain of the Nine Blossoms
In the Huangshan guesthouse visitors can bathe in the hot springs which maintain a temperature of 42°C (108°F) all year round. They are considered particularly good for the treatment of rheumatism and skin problems.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Cloud Dispelling Pavillion
North of the Peak of Light and the Peak Which Just Flew Here is a turn off to the west which leads to the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion (Paiyun Ting).
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Cool and Refreshing Terrace
North of the Beihai Guesthouse, with Brush Peak close by, lies Cool and Refreshing Terrace (Qingliang Tai).
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Lotus Blossom Peak
Further north towers Lotus Blossom Peak (Linhua Feng, 1880m/6170ft); it is surrounded by a number of smaller peaks, giving the whole the appearance of a lotus flower.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Mercy Light Temple
The Ciguang Ge Pavilion once formed part of a monastery; only a part of the latter has survived and now houses a restaurant.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Observe the Waterfall Pavillion
From the ''Observe the Waterfall'' (Guanpu Lou) viewing pavilion there is a fine view of the waterfall.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Palace of the Centenarian
The Palace of the Centenarian (Baisui Gong) on Mount Mokangling contains the mummy, encased in gold, of the monk Haiyu or Wuxia, who lived during the Wanli period (1573-1620) and died at the age of 126.
Baisui Gong was built in 1630 in honor of Wuxia.
Baisui Gong was built in 1630 in honor of Wuxia.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Peach Blossom Peak
Peach Blossom Peak (Taohua Feng) towers over the route north from Tangkou.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Peak of Conviction
To the east of theBeijai Guesthouse looms Peak of Conviction (Shixin Feng, 1668m/5474ft), the beauty of which is said to affect all who see it.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Peak of Light and Peak Which Just Flew Here
North of Lotus Blossom Peak lie the Peak of Light (Guangming Ding, 1840m/6040ft) and the Peak Which Just Flew Here (Feilai Feng); the latter is named after a 10m/33ft high rock (Feilai Shi) which looks as if it does not belong here.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Peak of the Heavenly Capital
When climbing the 1810m/5940ft high Peak of the Heavenly Capital (Tiandu Feng) the visitor will pass Fishback Rock (Jiyu Bei).
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Peak of the Heavenly Terrace
On the way to the Peak of the Heavenly Terrace (Tantai Feng) the visitor will pass Bamboo Lake (Zhuhai). From the peak, which is 1325m/4349ft high, Mount Huangshan can be seen to the south and the Changjiang river in the north.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Pine of Welcome
South of the Tower of the Jade Curtain (Yuping Lou) stands the mighty Pine of Welcome (Yingke Song), said to be a thousand years old and which appears in a painting hanging in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Renzi Pu Waterfall
The Renzi Pu Waterfall has branching cascades of which actually form the Chinese character ren, meaning ''mankind'', from which the waterfall gets its name.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Temple of Huacheng Si
The first Temple of Huacheng Si was built in the 8th C; however, the present buildings - with the exception of Cangjing Lou, which was built between 1426 and 1434 - are from the Qing period (1644-1911).
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Temple of Roushen Baodian
The best-known temple on Mount Jiuhuashan is the Temple of Roushen Baodian, first built in 794 and rebuilt in the second half of the 19th C. Today it houses some valuable writings from the Song and Yuan period (10th-14th C).
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Temple of Zhiyuan Si
The Temple of Zhiyuan Si (to the east of Huacheng Si) was built during the rule of Jiajing (reigned 1521-67). Special mention should be made of the three gilded statues of the Buddha in the main hall.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Tower of the Jade Curtain
The Tower of the Jade Curtain, standing at a height of 1680m/5513ft above sea-level, houses a guesthouse. In front of it lies the Wenshu Terrace. A temple once stood here, but was destroyed by fire in 1952.
Mountain of the Nine Blossoms - Zhantanlin Temple
South of the Temple of Huacheng Si stands Zhantanlin Temple (late 18th C). It contains statues of Sakyamuni, Guanyin and Dizang.
