The devout monk lived in a cave and subsisted on wild fruit and spring water until his death at the age of 110. His mummified remains were later covered with paint and then gold, and ever since have been a religious icon and focal point of worship.

Since the Tang Dynasty, the corpses of 15 monks and a nun, who it was considered had attained Nirvana have been similarly preserved. At present, six of them can still be seen at Mt Jiuhua, adding a mystical touch to the religious site.

As one of the top four monasteries on the mountain, Baisui Temple is a typical example of southern Anhui architecture, with white-washed walls, black tiled roofs, elegant upward eaves and lofty gables.

Along a stone-paved lane, I descended to the bottom of the peak and visited Huacheng Temple.

Page:

1

2

3

4

5

6

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.