Mount Jiuhua, Anhui | A Meticulously Built Mountain Temple - Zhiyuan Temple

Take a shuttle bus from the visitor center to Jiuhua Street, and you will soon arrive at Zhiyuan Temple, the first temple most people visit when they come to Mount Jiuhua. This ancient temple was built during the Jiaqing period of the Ming Dynasty by the eminent monk Zhixu. It was later renamed "Zhiyuan Temple" and has become an important symbol of Mount Jiuhua's Buddhist culture over the long course of history. I later learned that Zhiyuan Temple is the most important of the four major temples on Mount Jiuhua and holds a prominent position in the Buddhist world. The temple's buildings are arranged in a strict and orderly manner, with the main halls, including the majestic mountain gate, the solemn and dignified Hall of Heavenly Kings, the grand and magnificent Mahavira Hall, and the ancient and elegant Sutra Library, arranged in sequence along the central axis. Stepping out of the temple, the surrounding natural scenery is like a dream, like a fairyland. The distant mountains are layered and undulating, and the misty clouds linger like a light veil, like an ethereal ink painting. The trees on the mountain are lush and verdant, and the yellow walls and black tiles of the temple complement each other, creating an exceptionally peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. 🚶Recommended Route Visitor Center (shuttle bus) - Jiuhua Street Temple Complex (starting from Zhiyuan Temple) - Baisui Palace (hiking) - Phoenix Pine (cable car up) - Tiantai (hiking) - Huatai (cable car down) - Dayuan Cultural Park (99m Ksitigarbha Statue) - Visitor Center Practical Information 🚄Transportation: Take a high-speed train to Jiuhuashan Station, then take an 8-yuan bus directly to the Jiuhua Mountain Visitor Center; a taxi ride is about 20 km. Chizhou Station: 40 km from the scenic area, you can take a bus or public transportation from the bus station to the scenic area. 🎫Tickets: 160 yuan in peak season, 140 yuan in off-season, 50 yuan for shuttle bus tickets. 🚠Tiantai Cable Car / Huatai Cable Car: 85 yuan one way, 160 yuan round trip (65 yuan one way, 120 yuan round trip in off-season). 🍕Food: Jiuhua Street, not far from Zhiyuan Temple, is a gathering place for restaurants and accommodations. •Jiuhua Vegetarian Food: Made from vegetarian ingredients, it is delicately prepared and has a light taste, such as vegetarian chicken, vegetarian duck, vegetarian fish, etc., which are both healthy and delicious. •Local specialties: include stone ear fried eggs, dried bamboo shoots with pork, and yellow essence stewed chicken, which are made with fresh ingredients and have a delicious taste.