Put Your Heart in Hua Shan and Relax Your Soul

Posted by Yuka as Hot Cities

In April, spring was coming. Every corner of the city was filled with activity and people began their busy work. With stressful and speedy pace, people eager to find something about nature. One of my friends gave us a good idea which was to visit Hua Shan. It was raining in the weekend, but we thought that rainy day must have its own particularity.

There were many people in Hua Shan though it was raining. Enquiring, we knew that the next day there would held sacrificial ceremony which had begun in Qing dynasty. Standing in the foot of the mountain we could see the whole outline of Hua Shan which was very grand and great. We could not see the top of the mountain but cloud an fog in the mountainside. I thought that the next day I would stand on the top of the mountain and the whole world would be under my feet.

Getting everything settled, we went to Yu Quan Yuan which is the first scenery spot of Hua Shan, also the starting point to climb the mountain on foot. In it, there are many small temples and all kinds of buddha. Going into every temple, we payed homage to them. Getting through a small train tunnel, we saw the Hua Shan Gate. Below one side, there is a small rivulet and we could hear the sound of flowing water. The water is lmpid and flows among the odd stones slowly. It was very quiet in the valley.

At about 4 o’clock in the next morning, we prepared for departure. There had been many people who were going to make wishes. It is said that the person who is the first to make a wish will be the most lucky person in the year. Before dawn, the sky was gray and all the stones, pines and roads were black. The world was full of mystery and we looked forward to the surprise and shock.

The smooth slooping road was instead by endless stone steps. We met a stone which called “Hui Xin Shi”. In Chinese , it means that the odd road ahead is more and more dengerous, if you don’t get ready or don’t have the courage,you’d better go back from here.
Then we came to Qian Chi Zhuang which are very high, steep and narrow steps. It is like climbing the steps of a skyscraper. Iron chains have been set up along the path. When you climb it courage and an adventurous spirit are necessary. When we climbed to the middle of the steps I looked back to see the people behind me. It seemed that they were under my feet and I was in the sky. On the top of the steps, looking down, we saw fog and cloud which were travellng slowly, looking up, we saw the peak of mountain stand in the high sky. Smetimes the mountain was clear and sometimes the mountain was dim, just like a thin layer of fog curtain covering the mountain.

Bai Chi Xia, Qun Xian Guan and Lao Jun Li Gou are also high,steep and narrow steps. We met many visitors who had finished their journey and got back, they encouraged us happily.
The North Peak is 1614.9 meters above sea level. The wind is very strong and the rain is very heavy. Stand on it, we couldn’t see the bottom of the mountain but cloud and fog. There is a stone on which we can see a Chinese map which is naturally formed.
The stones, water, pines and clouds are unusual features of Hua Shan. The sight they give us is changing and moving. The words on the stones are also a character in Hua Shan, they were carved by the bookmen in ancient times and had artistic style and educational meaning.
Back to the foot of mountain, there had been many people, many kinds of snacks and souvenirs such as paper-cut, embroidery.

This journey gave us unforgetable impression. Our soul got together and integrated with nature and got thorough baptism.