China Popular Itineraries |
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Natural Scenic Spot-Mount Hua |
With the Yellow River to the north and Qin Mountain Range at the back to the south, HuaShan Mountain stands in the north of Huayang County, Shaanxi Province, with an altitude of over 2,000 meters. It is known as West Mount among Five Sacred Mountains.
There are five peaks of Mount Hua. The East Peak, which is also called the Morning Sun Peak, is the best place to watch sunrise. The South Peak is also known as Wild Goose-Resting Peak. It is situated at an elevation of 2,200 meters and towers over all other peaks on the mountain. The West Peak is also called Lotus Flower Peak for the huge lotus flower-shaped rock standing in front of Cuiyun Temple (Jade Green Cloudy Terrace Temple) at the top. Close to Cuiyun Temple lies a huge rock named "Rock Split with an Axe. " It is said in a fairy tale to be the place where little Chen Xiang, son of Holy Mother III, split the mountain to rescue his mother. The North Peak is also called Cloudy Terrace Peak. On the Central Peak are historical sites named after Jade Lady, the daughter of King Mu of the Spring and Autumn Period, so it is also named the Jade Lady Peak. From a distance, these five peaks look like a lotus flower at the top of the mountain, hence, the name of Mount Hua. "Hua" means "flower" in ancient China.
Mount Hua is known for its precipitous topography. There is an old saying:"There has been only one road up Mount Hua since ancient times. " The mad runs for 20 kilometers, from the north to the south, around five prominent peaks:
Yuquan Garden (Jade Spring Garden) is a place one will certainly pass while climbing up Mount Huashan. It is located at the entrance of the valley. Inside the garden there is a cool, sweet spring, hence the name of "Jade Spring Garden. " The spring is said to come from an underground flow that runs from the jade well at the top of the mountain. On the way up from Jade Spring Garden, there is a zigzag trail flanked by steep cliffs and paved with stone slabs. Qingke Terrance is in the middle of the journey to the top. There is a huge rock on the east part of Qingke Terrance. Standing there and looking up at the mountain, one can see peculiar peaks, precipitous cliffs and other towering climbing trails from Qingke Terrance. Those who are hesitant, timid or unsure of their ability can turn back from this point.
The trail, from the start of the rock, becomes so steep that it is impossible for a climber to ascend without the help of the railing. The trail includes a number of perilous places, such as the Thousand-Foot Precipice, the Hun-dred-Foot Crevice, Laojun's Furrow, the Ear-Touching Cliff, the Heaven-ward Ladder and the Blue Dragon Ridge, etc.
The Thousand-Foot Precipice is known as the vital passage of Mount Hua. This precipice is cut into the face of a nearly perpendicular cliff. The step is wide enough for only one man to climb up and down. After the Thousand-Foot Precipice appears the Hundred-Foot Crevice. After climbing across Xianren Bridge (Immortal Bridge) and Black Dragon Ridge, one ascends to Laojun's Furrow. On the east of the furrow stands a steep cliff and on the west a deep valley. Nearly 570 steps are hewn from the bottom part of the furrow. The climber must grasp the iron chains for support. Legend has it that Lao Zi, the founder of Taoism, once built a road here. Having found it so difficult to cut a trail into the mountain, he drove his ox to this place and ploughed the furrow in only one night.
The trail of the Ear-Touching Cliff is especially steep, so that in facing the precipice, the climber must grasp the iron chains. The place is known as Ear-Touching Cliff, for while climbing, one' s ears can' t avoid touching the cliff. At the end of the cliff, one must climb up with the help of the iron chains. This trail is called the Heavenward Ladder. Not far from there is the Canglong Ridge (Blue Dragon Ridge). It is 1,500 meters long and only one meter wide. The ridge winds up and down irregularly with its central part protruding upwards into the air. On each side of the ridge, cliffs fall off into deep valleys. This is the most precipitous trail in Mount Hua.
In addition, other places such as the Cliffside Road and the Sparrow Hawk Cliff are comparatively more dangerous. |
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