It says in the Sui Dynasty an eminent monk, named "Wisdom," founded China's first Buddhist clique -Tiantai clique on Tiantai Mountain. Afterwards, the doctrines of Tiantai clique were gradually spread to Japan and Korea. During the most prosperous period, there were more than 1000 Buddhism rites took place on Tiantai Mountain. At present, the existing ancient temples such as Guoqing Temple, Fangguang Temple and Gaoming Temple are listed as the National Key Buddhist Temples. Wannian literally meaning ten thousand years' Temple is listed as the famous "Ten Buddhist Temples" on five holy Buddhist Mountains.

Guoqing Temple was set up in 598 A. D., and was refurbished in Qing Dynasty. With a total area of 23 thousand square meters, it is one of the most important temples in Tiantai Mountain. There erect many ancient buildings such as Sui Pagoda, Seven Buddha Pagoda and Memorial of Monk Yixing.

With an elevation of 800-1000 meters above sea level, Tiantai Mountain enjoys ever- green forest, and the pleasant climate. It is an ideal place to escape the frantic city life and find not only the recreation but also inspiration from the grace of nature. So no wonder that Li Bai, a renowned poet in Tang Dynasty, had his study build on Tiantai Mountain; thus, leaving tourists of today to pay their homage.

In the southeast of Taizhou, only 60 kilometers away from Taizhou's Airport is the famous Yandang Mountain, a wonder of Nature in Zhejiang Province.

Yandang Mountain rises 1,150 meters above the sea level. In Chinese, Yandang means "reed marsh for wild geese" and in autumn wild geese do gather in the marshes around the lake at the top of the mountain. The mountain became known in the early Tang Dynasty and enjoyed greater fame during the northern Song Dynasty, when many temples, pavilions, and other buildings chose to be built over here. The Yandang scenery is dominated by crags, valleys, and waterfalls, and there are about four hundred scenic spots spreading over some four hundred square kilometers of the Yandang Range. The Peak of Spirits, Crag of Spirits and Great Dragon Pond on the southeast side of the mountain are considered the "three wonders of Yandang.

To wrap up the trip around Taizhou, you may go to Shitang Fishing Village where the beautiful ocean and peaceful life of the locals are integrated into a harmonious picture. You can ease up the tension of busy life and spend sumptuously a day fishing or enjoying a nature cruise. 

(CRIENGLISH.com)

More audio tours in Zhejiang
Ningbo     A Gourmet Tour to Zhejiang     Tea Culture in Zhejiang
Shaoxing, Hometown of Celebrities     A Walk around Shaoxing     Zhoushan: Buddha & Beach

Back to "CRI Travel"                More audio tours at "Easy Travel"