Monday, September 15, 2008

Hua Shan

Hua Shan is one of the most sacred mountains in China and is located in the Qinling Range which stretches across the south of Shaanxi Province. It is particularly revered by Daoists who have several monasteries and grottos built on and around the mountain. In Chinese, 'pilgrimage' translates literally as 'pay one's respects to the mountain.' Hua Shan is visited by Daoist pilgrims and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Many Chinese like to start the hike at midnight in order to see the sunrise. We chose to climb during the day to check out the scenery. Although less famous than Shaolin and Wu Tang, Hua Shan has a local style of martial arts called Hua Boxing which developed in the region. It's diverse plant life and sheer cliffs are breathtaking. We most appreciated the clean air and water since Xi'an has been incredibly smoggy lately. Hua Shan truly exceeded our imagination and left us feeling awe-struck and blessed.

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