Retreats - April 2025 (Huang Mountain / Jiu Hua Mountain)
Trip 1 : Huang Mountain (April 9-17, 2025)
Qigong HunHua Trip – HuangShan, WangXian Valley, DongLin Temple
Huangshan: It combines the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, World Geopark, World Biosphere Reserve, National Scenic Area, National Civilized Scenic Tourist Area, and National 5A Tourist Attraction into one.
It is famous for its "Five Wonders"—the bizarre pines, unusual rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow. The region is home to numerous peaks, with 88 mountains over 1,000 meters high. The three main peaks—Lotus Peak, Bright Summit, and Tiandu Peak—each exceed an elevation of 1,800 meters.
The Ming dynasty traveler Xu Xiake visited Huangshan twice and praised it, saying, "There is no mountain like Huangshan, once you've climbed Huangshan, no other mountain compares, it is the ultimate!" Later generations summarized this with the saying, "After seeing the Five Great Mountains, you won't want to see other mountains; after seeing Huangshan, you won't want to see the Five Great Mountains."
WangXian Valley : The forest coverage rate reached 81%, and its "air ions, plant essence, and microbial content in the air all exceed the standards of a 'natural oxygen bar.'" During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Hu Zhao declined Cao Cao's invitation and, along with his wife, crossed the river heading south. After arriving in this area, Hu Zhao chose to live alone in seclusion in the mountains. His son built the Wangqin Platform at the foot of the mountain to observe his father's well-being. On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, as well as during festivals, they would ascend the platform to pay respects. On ordinary days, they would also stand on the platform and gaze towards Bugufeng. After Hu Zhao passed away peacefully, the local people believed he had achieved immortality and became a celestial being, so they built a temple and erected a statue in his honor. After his death, Hu Zhao was repeatedly posthumously honored by emperors and was regarded as the founder of Ling Mountain Taoism. This place was subsequently named "Wangxian" (Gazing at Immortals).
The Dong Lin Great Buddha of Lushan, Jiangxi: A Sacred Site of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism. The Dong Lin Great Buddha is located in Wenquan Town, Lushan City, Jiangxi Province, within the Lushan Scenic Area. The overall design of the Buddha statue draws inspiration from the Lu Shena Buddha of the Longmen Grottoes, the Dunhuang Buddha, the Great Buddha of Kamakura in Japan, as well as Buddhist statues from ancient India and the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The Dong Lin Great Buddha is the iconic structure of Donglin Temple, the birthplace of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism.
The statue is magnificent and towering, standing at a height of 48 meters, symbolizing the 48 great vows of Amitabha Buddha. From the base of the statue to the apex of the flame-like canopy, the total height reaches 81 meters, representing the arduous and challenging journey to enlightenment. The statue rises majestically in mid-air, with winding staircases leading upwards, a rainbow bridge arching across, and a platform from which visitors can gaze into the distance. This gradual unveiling of Amitabha Buddha’s mystery, compassion, and solemnity is intended to bring the faithful closer to the divine.
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Trip 2 : JiuHua Mountain / TianZhu Mountain (April 18-26, 2025)
Qigong HunHua Trip – TianZhu Mountain, JiuHua Mountain, SanHe Ancient Town
Jiuhua Mountain, is a sacred site for the worship of Ká¹£itigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the four great bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism. It is said that Ká¹£itigarbha Bodhisattva’s place of teaching was in Jiuhua Mountain. According to the Biography of Eminent Monks of the Song Dynasty (Volume 20) and other historical records, Ká¹£itigarbha Bodhisattva was born into the royal family of the Kingdom of Silla (in present-day Korea), with the surname Jin and the name Qiao Jue. After becoming a monk, he traveled to China during the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Xuanzong, and after dwelling in Jiuhua Mountain for several decades, he passed away, his body remaining incorrupt, and was enshrined in a pagoda.
Tianzhu Mountain, with its main peak standing at an elevation of 1,488.4 meters, is renowned for its natural landscapes, including famous cliffs, unique rocks, exotic caves, ravines, waterfalls, and seas of clouds. It is one of the three famous mountains in Anhui Province (along with Huangshan and Jiuhua Mountain). In 106 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Tianzhushan was officially named "Nanyue" (Southern Mountain).
The World's Most Extraordinary Flower — The White Peony of Yinping Mountain, Chaohu. Every year, during the Grain Rain (Guyu) season when the flowers bloom, thousands of visitors come to admire its breathtaking beauty, all in awe of its exceptional charm.The first wonder is the origin of the peony. It grows on a steep cliff, emerging unexpectedly from the cracks in barren stones, with lush green branches and leaves. It is visible but unreachable, creating an air of mystery. The second wonder is the age of the peony. According to a poem by the Northern Song Dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu, "Watching Flowers at the Immortal’s Cave", the Yinping Peony has endured for over a thousand years. The exact year of its birth is unknown. The third wonder is its "thousand-year appearance." The flower maintains its majestic form and beauty across the centuries, symbolizing the timelessness and resilience of nature. The fourth wonder is its spiritual significance. The blooming and withering of the flower are believed to serve as omens for the harvest of the year, predicting whether the crops will be abundant or scarce.