Print

    Mount Huaguo: The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits


    Posted on: March 08, 2017 | | 中文

    Huaguo Mountain is widely known as the hometown of the Monkey King in the classic novel 'The Journey to the West' (source - huaguoshan.gov.cn)

    "Here I come, the Monkey King!" This is Sun Wukong’s classic line in the TV series, The Journey to the West. So where did Sun Wukong come from, and where is his homeland? In this article, Youlin will give you an introduction to Sun Wukong's hometown – the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit (Huaguo Mountain).

    The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, as described in Monkey King’s homeland in The Journey to the West, is famous at home and abroad. Upon opening the book The Journey to the West, you’ll find it easy to have a picture of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits (Huaguo Mountain), as it is described: “Purvavideha has a neighbor country named Aolai. The country is close to the sea, in which lies a famous mountain called Huaguo Mountain…” in Chapter 1 of the book. Huaguo Mountain Scenic Area is a national key scenic spot and 4A-class scenic attraction in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, which enjoys its scenery of rocks, seaside, ancient sites and myth, and has a high value of view, visit and scientific research. Those who travel there are amazed by its natural landscape.

    Since ancient times, the scenic spot has been enjoying people’s compliments as a "Top Scenic Spot of East Sea" and "One of the Top Four Buddhist Holy Mountains”. And after reading the masterpiece, The Journey to the West, many people yearn to pay a visit there. Up to the door of Huaguo Mountain, the atmosphere as it is described in "The Journey to the West" will be blowing. The door is a type of traditional ancient city gate, using modern techniques to render the head statue of Sun Wukong, the Golden Monkey King. Through the middle of the door, it is not difficult to see the statue of Wu Chengen (the author of the novel, The Journey to the West) in the pines.

    Mount Huaguo: The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits in China: Sun Wukong, the Monkey King

    Sun Wukong, the Monkey King (source - comicvine.gamespot.com)

    Entering the gate and walking through the "Fairy Bridge", it is a stretch into the scenic area. In the novel, the Monkey King was born from the crevice of a huge stone. During your visit, you will be accompanied by the beauty of not only his birth place – the magic stone left by Nv Wa, the Goddess in the ancient myth of China – but also all the rocks along the path. On the way are “Monk Tang Stone”, “Zhu Bajie Stone”, and “Monk Sha Stone”, which are all vivid and lifelike; from the “Monk Tang Stone” in the east of the scenic park is a stone path leading to a terrace where people can overlook “Shen” character king – a huge stone inscription of a Chinese character(Shen) on the rock. Along the path are all kinds of stone inscriptions of Chinese characters (Shen), differing widely in type, size, and style of calligraphy by many famous calligraphers just on the cliffs.

    After crossing the “18 Twists” and “Fengmen Pavilion”, around a corner is a path leading to an exquisite pagoda standing halfway to the mountain. Looking down from the pagoda, it is faintly visible to the “Zhu Bajie Stone”, full of wit and humour. Over the “Path with Ink Fragrance” and across “Sanyuan Palace” is the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion leading to the Water Curtain Cave.

    Water Curtain Cave, Sun Wukong’s shelter cave, is the most distinctive and representative scenic spot in Huaguo Mountain. As far back as when The Journey to the West came into being, Water Curtain Cave had become well-known. It is also the most attractive place for tourists at home and abroad. Inspired by the cave, Wu Chengen, the author of the masterpiece “The Journey to the West”, depicted this place full of myths for Sun Wukong in his book.

    Mount Huaguo: The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits in China: Huaguo Mountain is a national key scenic spot and a national 5A-class scenic attraction

    Huaguo Mountain is a national key scenic spot and a national 5A-class scenic attraction (source - huaguoshan.gov.cn)

    Coming to the front of the cave, it is amazing to see a splendid waterfall straight down the hill. Along the stone path is a stretch into the cave. The cave is very spacious, and some big and small stone tables and chairs in lights are in partly hidden and partly visible. In addition to Water Curtain Cave, there are many other caves in Huaguo Mountain generally called "72 Caves”, which were formed hundreds of thousands of years ago out of an organic movement. These famous caves include “Sea and Heaven Cave”, “Twin Fairy Cave”, “Ten-Thousand-Buddha Cave”, “Chaoyang Cave”, “Xiaoyun Cave”, “Huayan Cave” and “Lotus Cave”, etc.

    It is the climax of Huaguo Mountain tour to climb Yunwu Peak (Cloud-Fog Peak). The Jade Emperor Pavilion is just standing at the foot of the peak over the cliff, spectacular and splendid. Those octagonal caves ring the bell with melodious sounds in all directions.

    When you keep climbing the mountain, it is lovely to catch Yunwu Peak in sight. The peak, an altitude of 624.4 meters, is the highest one in Jiangsu Province, with many spectacular cliffs. In the distance, the mountain range, hillside surrounded by fog and a wild profusion of vegetation is very beautiful. If you’re lucky enough, it is possible to catch the top two spectacular sceneries – sunrise over the sea of clouds, and the terrace above the sea of clouds, which are rolling like the sea waves. Those exposed peaks seem like a celestial island of Penglai, a fairy land in Chinese myth, fairy feeling with mountains and criss-cross paths.

    Wandering on Yunwu Peak, from time to time it is possible to come across a few monkeys. Amidst the woods on the Peak of Huaguo Mountain live more than 300 lovely wild macaques. These wild monkeys not only enjoy harmony with visitors across the summer and become an interesting “landscape”, but also add some Reiki here.

    A visit to Huaguo Mountain is worthwhile in any season, with birds singing and flowers in spring, waterfalls in the summer, picturesque views in autumn, and snow in the winter. Mount Huaguo is rich in natural landscape, splendid in history and culture, and exotic in myths and legends. These qualities, combined with the wonderful description in the classic story, The Journey to the West, make Huaguo Mountain a place full of charm and magic.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021