Check in at Tiantai Peak for Buddha's Light

Today, let's climb the secret "Little Emei" of central Yunnan — Mu Ding Hua Fo Mountain! 📍Located in the northwest of Mouding County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, just 12 kilometers from the county seat, with an elevation of 2,493 meters, it is a Buddhist sacred mountain and ecological treasure nurtured by the Ailao Mountain range. Here, there is no noisy incense, but a thousand years of Zen: the mountain shape layers like lotus petals, the main peak "Tiantai Peak" is often shrouded in clouds and mist, and you can see the "Buddha's Light illusion" in the morning; ancient temples are built along the mountain — Longquan Temple on Hua Fo Mountain, founded in the Tang Dynasty and flourishing in the Ming Dynasty, is hidden among green pines and cypresses, with temple bells hanging from the eaves ringing clearly in the wind; even more remarkable is the symphony of geology and life: the mountainside is full of volcanic karst caves (such as "Guanyin Cave" and "Arhat Cave"), with stalactites hanging like lotus flowers inside; ancient trees tower in the forest, Yunnan cherry blossoms, wild rhododendrons, and alpine dove trees bloom in succession, painting the mountain pink and white in spring and golden red in autumn; at the foot of the mountain, the Longchuan River tributary winds clearly, reflecting the peaks, called "Hua Fo Mirror Lake" by locals. Itinerary: 1-day Zen forest and mountain water tour | Worship Buddha + Explore caves + Enjoy cherry blossoms + Yi family fire pit feast Total budget: within 400 yuan (about 392 yuan per person) Transportation | ¥30 Taxi round trip from Mouding County to Hua Fo Mountain ¥30 (25 minutes one way | carpooling saves more) Hua Fo Mountain Scenic Area entrance ticket ¥30 (includes Longquan Temple, Tiantai Peak, Mirror Lake area | half price for students/seniors) Highlights | Be a mountain hermit for a day! ✅ Early morning entry: Walk up the stone steps to the top of Tiantai Peak, passing the ancient "Eighteen Bends" trail, overlooking thousands of peaks like waves at "Wangfo Terrace" 🌊 ✅ Visit Longquan Temple: Strike the ancient bell three times, spin the century-old prayer wheel, sit quietly for 5 minutes in front of the Ming Dynasty bronze incense burner, and listen to the pine waves chanting 🎵 ✅ Afternoon walk around Mirror Lake loop: See the dawn redwood reflections, feed the koi, explore Guanyin Cave (wear a headlamp, cave walls moss marks look like Buddha's hand) 🪔 ✅ Evening visit to Yi village at the mountain foot: Learn the left-foot dance, taste freshly pounded buckwheat cakes, listen to Bimo chanting the ancient tune "Meige" 🎶 Meals | ¥332 Lunch: Longquan Temple vegetarian hall — Matsutake mushroom stewed tofu + wild vegetable buckwheat pancake + ginkgo tea ¥48 Afternoon tea: Grandma’s stall by Mirror Lake — roasted potatoes + Sichuan pepper honey dipping sauce ¥15 Dinner: Yi village fire pit feast — pork stew + pickled fish + buckwheat wine (non-alcoholic optional) + bitter buckwheat cake ¥86 Snacks and extras: Hua Fo Mountain cherry blossom cake ¥22 | wild mushroom jerky ¥35 | perilla plum candy ¥18 | walnut milk ¥12 | rose roasted milk fan ¥26 | spring water brewed Pu'er tea ¥6 | Yi embroidery sachet ¥20 Drinks: Bring your own thermos to fill spring water ¥0 | camellia honey drink sold in the scenic area ¥14 ✅ Total cost breakdown: Transportation ¥30 + Tickets ¥30 + Meals ¥332 = ¥392 (remaining ¥8 can buy a handmade ginkgo leaf bookmark) Best season: March–April (cherry blossoms in full bloom), September–October (clear autumn colors, pleasant climate) | Avoid rainy season landslide areas Essentials: Non-slip hiking shoes, light down jacket (big temperature difference at the peak), headlamp (must for cave exploring), cash (limited mobile payment in the village) Off-the-beaten-path tip: Bring a copy of the Diamond Sutra excerpt, quietly read a passage under the ancient ginkgo tree behind Longquan Temple, and listen to the wind flipping the sutra pages When the bell chimes and breaks the mountain mist, I suddenly understand — the Buddha of Hua Fo Mountain is not inside the temple, but in every falling cherry blossom.