九华山

Why this place

Mount Jiuhua is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China, associated with Ksitigarbha, the bodhisattva of the underworld. It has 99 peaks and dozens of active temples, and one hall preserves the body of a Tang-dynasty Korean monk who is said to have been the bodhisattva incarnate.

What to see

• The肉身宝殿 hall with the preserved body of the monk Kim Gyo-gak
• The Tiantai Peak and its temple, at the top of a long staircase
• The Huacheng Temple and the old temple town on the mountain
• The Baisui Palace, with a Ming-dynasty preserved body

What to eat

• Jiuhua vegetarian temple cuisine — a genuine local tradition
• Anhui mountain vegetables, bamboo and the local tea

How to plan

Two days on the mountain.

Best time

April–June and September–November