Wutai Shan,the Five Peaks of Serenity        6/22/2008 2:28:50 PM

Once a remote outpost reached only by the most pious of pilgrims who traveled for months with wills steeled by devotion, Wutai Shan remains a hidden treasure for those seeking true contemplation,
Wutai Shan's name means "five terraces," which accurately describes the five flat peaks of this sacred spot - north, east, south, west and central peak. In the quiet valleys between the peaks lay a smattering of ancient temples, twisting trails and awe-inspiring views.

The major sights at Wutal Shan are rather spread out, forcing one to indulge in the gorgeous scenery that surrounds the five terraces. This also means that no one sight is overwhelmed with tour groups. Wutal Shan's temples are an eclectic mix of Hen Buddhist and Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaist traditions, making the mountain one of the best places in China to view Buddhist architecture.

The shrines on Wutai Shan date back to the Eastern Han dynasty, the second Buddhist temple in China was built here at a time when Taoism dominated the area. A legend goes that a Buddhist monk beseeched the emperor to construct the Xiantong Temple on the mountain and suggested that a Taoist and Buddhist book be put into a fire to test which religion was true.

The Taoist book was burned to ashes, but miraculously the Buddhist scroll remained undamaged, the temple was built. Later, Wutai Shan became a popular pilgrimage

Wutai Shan is one of China's most important centres of Buddhism

destination as more monasteries and temples were built in succeeding dynasties.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, when Buddhism held imperial favor, over 360 temples were built. The mountain also became an international destination point for Buddhists from other countries as they were drawn to the many temples as centers of learning. Lama Buddhists began to settle on the mountain during the Qing dynasty. Today there are 47 temples and monasteries and they continue to draw devotees and curious sightseers.

Most of the temples are located around Taihuai, a small temple inundated town nestling in the valleys 1,700m above sea level. The temples on Wutai Shan are dedicated to Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Virtue. A visiting Indian monk had a vision of Wenshu in the 1st century AD and concluded Wutai Shan to be the mystical abode of Buddha's most important assistant. Numerous legends speak of how apparitions of Wenshu riding on the back of a blue lion have been sighted high above the monasteries. 

Tours normally begin at Taihuai; one daylong trip south of town allows you to visit several stylistically different temples. All temples share a transcendental aura, so if you're looking to get away from the generic grab grey pillars of urban life, any temple will do.

108 carved granite steps (the same number of beads on a Buddhist rosary) lead to Dailuo Ding (, the temple that houses statues of five different forms of Wenshu Pusa, each of whom supposedly live on a different peak. Legend has it that a young monk suggested statues representing the five

Giant sticks of incense for the truly devout

incarnations of Wenshu be built here to save visiting emperors from a grueling trek. For those who want to visit the bodhisattvas but don't have the time to make a house call; this is the place to ask Wutai Shan's guardians for a blessing. To make things even easier, there's now a cable car from the foot of Wutai Shan to the temple. Piety with convenience - if only the early pilgrims had it this easy.

Xiantong Temple is the largest and oldest temple on the mountain and is also conveniently located in the heart of town. It houses the amazing Beamless Pavilion which contains no beams and is supported through a complex set of interlocking pins. The impressive Bronze Pavilion is made from 50,000kg of bronze; it's a perfect replica of a wooden pavilion, the interior houses thousands of tiny Buddhas. Continuing on the bronze theme, the Youming Bell is the largest bronze bell in the region. The 2.5m high bell was built in 1620, weighs 9999.5jin and has a diameter of 1.6m. A Buddhist sutra
of over 10,000 Chinese characters decorates the body of the bell.

Behind the Xiantong Temple is the largest Lama temple on the mountain, the Pusa Ding . Climb the 108 stairs to this temple and gaze out on the expansive views of Taihual and the surrounding countryside. Tibetan and Mongolian Lamas stayed here during the Ming and Qing dynasties, believing that Wenshu Pusa once lived in the same place. The Wenshu Pavilion has an interesting feature: water is stored on the roof when it rains and on sunny days it drips down the roof,

The 50m high Tibetan styled White Pagoda , designed by a Nepali in 1301, has become a symbol of Wutai Shan. It stands on the grounds of Tayuan Temple, also in Taihuai. A marketplace forms around it with vendors selling incense, prayer bead