Tea, Temples and Tropical Forests – Mount Wuyi’s Simplest Treasures
In the Fujian Province of China, nature has beautifully arranged thirty six striking peaks with vibrant red sandstone cliffs, and entwined it in a winding stream to create the spectacular Mount Wuyi. Populated with plant species that are centuries old and animals that are unique to the Chinese region, Mount Wuyi has become an area infamous for its ancient and cultural aspects of Chinese civilisation.
Mount Wuyi rises 650 metres above sea level and has been called an extraordinary zone for biodiversity conservation. Human activity in the area dates back over four thousand years, making it as culturally affluent, as it is naturally prosperous. Its many visitors find floating on a bamboo raft along the Nine Bend River and almost surreal experience.
These nine watery bends through the valleys of Wuyi Mountain are each gifted with its own unique natural landscape. From turbulent waters to shallow streams, Mount Wuyi’s Nine Bend River takes its travellers though colourful peaks, fantastic canyons, past splendid waterfalls and ancient folk structures. Many of these are the ruins of the ancient Minyue Ethnic Group; palaces and residences of kings and aristocrats, pavilions and towers once covered the slopes, and today these remnants remind us of a once glorious era.
The ancestors of the Minyue Ethnic Group used Mount Wuyi to lay there dead to to rest in caves and crevices, in the cliff faces. The coffins were shaped like boats, for the gods to take the souls to paradise. A mystery lies in how the ancient Min peoples raised these coffins to such heights. Such are the wonders of Mount Wuyi.
Taoist monks have called Mount Wuyi the dwelling place of immortals. This rich Taoist history has given many scenic areas names after the habits of immortals. ‘Xian’ is the word for immortals and it is referred to in place names such as Xianyiting, the Pavilion for Immortals to Play Chess and Yanxiantan, the Altar for Immortals to Feast.
In the 11th century, there was more Buddhist in the area. They have left us with the Temple of Eternal Happiness, where pilgrims have trekked for thousands of years.
Mount Wuyi has also been known as the cradle of neo-Confucianism, as it was dissected and rethought, by Zhu Xi, who founded the school of philosophy on the mountain.
These three belief systems have for centuries existed in perfect harmony on Mount Wuyi, making it even more of a paradise.
Although the region where Mount Wuyi is located is typically a barren desert, it has defied all laws of nature to remain a phenomenal subtropical forest. Its preservation has made it a natural shelter for extraordinary animals, birds and insects, such as tigers, deer and countless species of butterflies. The area is known for its wonderful plant species and even more famous for its varieties of tea. Wuyi Yancha tea is the most popular, a tea highly regarded in imperial times. The Dahongpao or Big Red Gown is a well known type of Yancha tea. The etiquette surrounding the drinking of tea in Mount Wuyi is ancient, sacred and formal. The Oolong, Bohea and Lansang Souchong Tea are other fine examples that are grown on Mount Wuyi and form an integral part of the Chinese Tea Drinking Ceremony.
There are many tours of mount Wuyi, including tours of the temples, tea tasting areas, and local cuisine indulgences. The tours are centred around the rock formations, caves, waterfalls and forested areas, with emphasis on the religious and folk culture of the majestic Mount Wuyi.
Mount Wuyi may not be as imposing as most of China’s mountains, but in its simplicity it has inspired many peoples and become an icon of the Chinese culture, beliefs and civilisation. Nature has taken millennia to forge its landscapes and for many millennia to come, it will be a source of outstanding beauty.
