SanQing Shan (12) – Too Many Steps?

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We were told that there are approximately 7,000 steps if we were to do a complete loop round the SanQing Shan mountains.

7,000 steps going up and down seem to be a lot to me.

I can walked for miles on trials without steps but was a bit worried about the mentioned number of steps before the trip.

In the end, I don’t think there are as many as 7,000 steps. I was happy that I have climbed up long – unending – flights of steps which made me panting and walked down many steps with the assistance of a walking stick. This is the first time that I have resorted to the use of walking stick.

On the right hand top part of the first photo are the seemingly endless steps ( they are not that obvious from the photo.

SanQing San (11) – Sacred Mountain

Sanqing Shan is regarded as one of the sacred mountains in Taoism.

It is difficult not to have a Taoism perspective when you are up on the mountains.

This is another spectacular view of the mountain taken during the hike.

Pine trees just appear as tiny on this picture.

Pavilion of Prince Teng and the Roof

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While in Nanchang, we have the chance of visiting the Pavilion of Prince Teng.

We were fascinated by the architecture, the art and the calligraphy writings for the pavilion.

What I found most interesting was the roof.

It was multi-colored, circular and adorned by lanterns.

Here are a few pictures showing the pavilion itself and the roof at different angles.

While the original building was not the original one, I was pleased thast in fact it reflects the architecture of the time.

According to Wikipedia:

The Pavilion of Prince Teng (滕王閣) or Tengwang Pavilion is a building in the north west of the city of Nanchang, in JiangXi province, China, on the east bank of the Gan River and is one of the Three Great Towers of southern China.

The other two are the Yueyang Tower and the Yellow Crane Pavilion. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over its history. The present building was rebuilt in 1989 on the original site. The rebuilding plan was devised by the famous architect Liang Sicheng，and now the Pavilion of Prince Teng is the landmark of Nanchang. There are nine floors in total. The main architectural structure is in Song dynasty wooden style, showing the magnificence of the Pavilion.

Nanchang at Night (2) – Musical Fountain

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In the last post, you have seen the night view of Nanchang City by the side of the River Gan.

Here are several photos which show water coming up from a musical fountain in the foreground, with the night view of Nanchang in the background.

The fountains are located in the Qiushui Square in Nanchang city, by the side of River Gan.

The water jets can reach as high as 128m, with the pattern changing according to the music.

Every night, visitors are attracted to view the colored jets, form one of the biggest fountains in China.

Some of them are in a pattern of a rainbow. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to capture those.

Please enjoy !

 

Nanchang at Night (1)

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Nanchang is where we flew in and commenced our journey to Sanqing Shan.

After dinner, we went down to the edge of the River Gan.

The rain has just stopped and we had a very good view of the cityscape on the other side of the river.

This is the older part of the city; the buildings were beautifully lit.

In the middle of the first picture, we can see an old styled Chinese building which is one of the most famous old buildings of China – The Pavilion of Prince Teng.

The following is an introduction of the city as given in Wikipedia

Nanchang (南昌) is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China As of 2010, a population of 5,042,566 live in the prefecture, in which 4,171,926 live in the built-up area made up of six urban districts in addition to urbanized counties of Nanchang and Xinjian. Located in the north-central part of the province, it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake. Because of its strategic location connecting the prosperous Eat and South China, it has become a major railway hub in Southern China in recent decades.

As the Nanchang Uprising in 1927 was distinctively recognized by the ruling Communist Party as “firing the first gunshot against the evil Nationalists”, the current regime has therefore named the city since 1949 “the City of Heroes”, “the place where the People’s Liberation Army was born”, and the most widely known “place where the military banner of the People’s Liberation Army was first raised”.

Porcelain in Jindezhen

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China is known for producing good quality ceramics ( China) since medieval times.

Jindezhen in Jianxi is known to produce the best ceramics in China.

After the trip to Sanqing Shan, we passed through Jindezhen and witnessed the production of some of the fine ceramics.

Ceramics have been produced for over 1800 years in Jingdezhen, China.

Emperor Zhenzong decreed that Changnanzhen, as the city was known then, were to produce all of the porcelain used by the imperial court during the Jingde Period (1004-1007). The industry continued to develop there during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.

Today Jingdezhen is a recognized center of porcelain production.  Although electric wheels and electric and gas kilns are used today in the factories, ancient throwing and decorating techniques and wood-fired kilns can be seen as well.

The ceramics produced in Jindezhen is of the highest quality, they are thin, glazed and artistic.

The pictures here show the different stages of their production, from throwing, painting and heating in a kiln etc.

On our trip, we visited a Ching dynasty kiln. The design of the kilns made a lot of difference to the quality of the ceramics. In olden days, the temperature of the kiln did not exceed 800 degrees Celsius, but in later dynasties, kilns heating up to 1200 or 1300 degrees were devised.

So, it was an eye opening experience too!

WuYuan – Carvings

While we were not too sure that WuYuan is the most beautiful village in China, while there, we have seen buildings of great architectural and historical value.

Here is a picture showing carvings on a building.

They are so  delicate and vividly show so much of life.

Understand in the Cultural revolution, they were covered up with mud, to prevent people damaging them.

This village was not readily accessible in older times, this has helped to preserve the carvings.Things, however, are changing – a high speed rail is being built to reach the area nearby.

SanQing Shan (10) – Pines

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Sanqing Shan is famous for its strange rocks, strangely shaped pines and the mist.

My four photos here will not do justice to the scenery there, but these are the best I have got, given the short stay there.

Many of the pines are older than 100 years.

They reach out for more sunlight, more air and moisture.

Sanqing Shan is a UNESCO site.

For those who are interested in learning more about Sanqing Shan and the pines, you are welcome to click the following Youtube link ( please note that the video is not prepared by me):

 

WuYuan – the Most Beautiful Village in China?

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Wuyuan is claimed to be the most beautiful village in China.

I don’t think I have seen enough of Wuyuan to confirm this or otherwise.

The most beautiful photo of Wuyuan I saw was taken from a hill and from afar – when the village was surrounded by yellow canola or rapeseed flowers.

What I saw on this trip was only a part of Wuyuan after it was partially flooded in the last few weeks.

My trip, at a wrong season,  concentrated more on the ancient architecture which I would share in due course.

This post gives a general view of the area.

Wikipedia introduces the place as follows:

Wuyuan, on the boundary of three provinces in Jiangxi’s northeastern corner, has a landscape dotted with strange caves, deep secluded rocks and numerous historic sites. Wuyuan County is home to some of the best-preserved ancient architecture in China. Wuyuan’s structures were built in 740 during the Tang Dynasty, its remoteness and inconvenient transportation protecting its villages from too many visitors.

SanQing Shan (9) – The Prayer

SanQing Shan has a lot of columnar shaped rocks.

The picture was taken while we laboriously made our way to the summit of the mountain.

To me, they look like fingers of palms in prayers, clinging close to the chest.

I couldn’t help thinking of Celine Dion’s The Prayer – a song which I like.

A song I will sing in my heart when I see the lyrics:

 

CELINE DION LYRICS – The Prayer

 

“The Prayer”

I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe La luce che tu hai
I pray we’ll find your light
nel cuore restera
and hold it in our hearts.
a ricordarci che
When stars go out each night,
eterna stella sei The light you have
I pray we’ll find your light
will be in the heart
and hold it in our hearts.
to remember us that
When stars go out each night,
you are eternal star
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
quanta fede c’e
when shadows fill our day How much faith there’s
Let this be our prayer
in my prayer
when shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza
un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternita

We dream a world without violence
a world of justice and faith.
Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours
Symbol of peace, of fraternity
La forza che ci da
We ask that life be kind
e il desiderio che
and watch us from above
ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
intorno e dentro se
another soul to love

The force his gives us
We ask that life be kind
is wish that
and watch us from above
everyone finds love
We hope each soul will find
around and inside
another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

E la fede che
hai acceso in noi,
sento che ci salvera

It’s the faith
you light in us
I feel it will save us