EXTRA: Road to Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 2, 2015.)

This gateway (牌楼) leads to an ancient castle (古堡​) off the road to Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 24, 2012 - Wutai Mountain is one of China's "Four Buddhist Mountains," and the third that I have visited. From Datong, the road led south, causing me to retrace some of my steps from two days prior. I actually saw the Wooden Pagoda from the bus window! We then sped across a plain and started climbing, with views of even more remnant towers from (one of) the Great Wall(s).

No. 120: Jinge Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 9, 2015.)

500 Arhats (五百罗汉) sit in the rafters over the main hall at
Jinge Temple (金阁寺), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 25, 2012 - It has long been my practice first to try to reach the most remote temples in any area I visit. Jinge ("Golden Pavilion") Temple fit the bill perfectly.

No. 121: Guanyin Cave, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 16, 2015.)

This small Guanyin Cave (观音洞) is on the side of a mountain on Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 25, 2012 - The driver who brought me back from Jinge Temple dropped me directly in front of my next destination, a temple named Guanyin Cave, on a road that was torn up for the repair of its drainage. Though summer is high tourist season, it's also the time to make repairs in areas heavily snowed-in in winter.

No. 122: Bishan Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 2, 2015.)

Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛) and attendants in the main hall
at Bishan Temple (碧山寺), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山)

August 25, 2012 - Boarding the bus near Mt. Wutai's Guanyin Cave--the most southerly point I visited on the main road through Taihuai--I rode all the way to Bishan Temple, the northernmost temple on my itinerary.

No. 123: Dailuo Peak, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 9, 2015.)

The main hall is in a shady courtyard at Dailuo Peak (黛螺顶), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 26, 2012 - Dailuo Ding ("Black Snail Peak") is the name both of a mountain height and of a temple located on its side. The place is also sometimes called Daluo ("Big Snail") as one part of the peak resembles a snail's shell (they say).

No. 124: Shifang Hall, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 16, 2015.)

The front gate of Shifang Hall (十方堂) on Wutai Shan,
Shanxi (山西, 五台山) has Tibet-style decorations.

August 27, 2012 - Making up for the day before, when I had only visited one temple on my list, the next day I visited SIX!

No. 125: Luohou Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 23, 2015.)

Luohou Temple (罗喉寺) on Wutai Shan in Shanxi (山西, 五台山) is
famed for this Buddha in a mechanical lotus that opens and closes.

August 27, 2012 - The lower gate of Luohou Temple is located immediately next to Shifang Tang, which I described in a previous article.

EXTRA: Yuanzhao Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 30, 2015.)

Summer flowers in front of the first hall, Yuanzhao Temple (圆照寺), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山)

August 27, 2012 - After toiling up numerous stairs from Luohou Temple, I reached the grounds of Yuanzhao (perhaps something like "Full Illumination") Temple. Though it was not on my list, it was between two temples that were, and it was charming in its own right.

No. 126: Guangzong Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 6, 2015.)

The pretty little main hall at Guangzong Temple (广宗寺), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山)

August 27, 2012 - The next stopping-place reached on my ascent was Guangzong ("Wide Sect" or perhaps "Spreading the Teachings") Temple. Passing between the stone lions and through the usual heavenly Kings' Hall, I enter a courtyard which was fairly small by Wutai's standards.

No. 127: Pusa Ding, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 13, 2015.)

These steles stand in the courtyard at Pusa Peak (菩萨顶), Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 27, 2012 - At last, the summit! The path linking the temples I visited earlier in the day (Shifang Tang, Luohou Temple, Yuanzhao Temple, and Guangzong Temple) climbs up a mountainside until it reaches "Pusa Ding" (Bodhisattva's Peak), which sits on top of Vulture Peak.

No. 128: Xiantong Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 20, 2015.)

The Bronze Hall is near the rear of Xiantong Temple (显通寺), Wutai Shan,
Shanxi (山西, 五台山). The inside is lined with small bronze Buddhas.

August 27, 2012 - It had been a long day already, with visits to five temples finished but two to go, both of them down the hill from Pusa Ding.

No. 129: Tayuan Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 27, 2015.)

The Stupa at Tayuan Temple (塔院寺) is the symbol of Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 27, 2012 - For a small temple, Wutai Shan's Tayuan ("Pagoda Compound") really has a lot to see.

No. 130: Shuxiang Temple, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 4, 2015.)

Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山), is dedicated to Manjushri
Bodhisattva (Wenshu Pusa=文殊菩萨). This figure at Shuxiang
Temple (殊像寺) is Wutai Shan's most magnificent one.

August 28, 2012 - As it is my custom to visit the farthest-out temples first, so the last temple I saw on Wutai Shan was right across the street from my hotel.