Mountain of the Eyebrows
Emei, meaning “Delicate Eyebrows” in Chinese, got its name from two peaks facing each other and looking like the delicate eyebrows of a Chinese classic beauty.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve known that Mount Emei was reputed as one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China, which have been important destinations for pilgrimage. In fact, at 3,099 meters, Mount Emei is the highest of the four. In 1996, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for it breathtaking scenery, mysterious natural wonders, and historical Buddhist sites. The truth is, I was not aware of this until I was on the mountain – one of the benefits of following a tour.
After a dinner at the little town adjacent to the mountain, we checked into Hongzhushan Hotel, which is located right at the foot of Mount Emei. Surrounded by nature, it was hard to refrain from checking out the night market and snack food streets within walking distance of the hotel. But, we knew very well that we had “homework” to do before the group meets again the next day. Option is Not a Good Thing
We had two alternative ways to spend the next day - either half a day visiting Wannian Temple (with the rest of the day at leisure), or a whole day at the summit of the mountain. Not knowing either option well enough, picking one seems to turn down the other great opportunity. Well, for those that know me from my first post, I’m a visual person. Undoubtedly, I resorted to the photo books in the hotel room. After all, it’s the history and the visual appeal that I seek wherever I travel to.
