Tiantai Peak

Tiantai Peak

Tiantai Temple: A Jizo Temple situated atop the peak, anciently known as Tiantai Temple. Most Buddhist pilgrims to Jiuhua Mountain come here to worship, calling it the "Middle Heavenly World." It is also a must-visit spot for tourists exploring Jiuhua.

In front of Tiantai Temple, there is Dragon Head Peak to the left and Dragon Pearl Peak to the right, with Ten Kings Peak directly opposite. Below Dragon Head Peak lies the Azure Dragon’s Back, named Jade Screen Peak for its steep, screen-like rise. Dragon Pearl Peak, also called Tiantai Ridge, features a huge, round boulder known as the “Dragon Pearl Stone.” Legend says Jiuhua is a “living dragon vein,” with the Azure Dragon residing high here, and this “Dragon Pearl” is its treasured plaything.

On the rock face in front of the temple are large cliff inscriptions such as “Not of This World.” The temple gate sits beneath the Immortal Crossing Bridge between Dragon Head Peak and Dragon Pearl Peak. Ascending just over ten stone steps from under the bridge leads you into the temple. The arch bridge’s crossbeam is engraved with four large characters: “Middle Heavenly World.”

Tiantai Temple has a long history. It is said that over a thousand years ago, the Golden Jizo once resided here, and the Pure Bottle Monk often came from Arhat Mound to meet with the Jizo. The current Dizang Chan Temple was rebuilt in the late Qing and early Republican period, establishing its present scale.

The temple is built along the mountain’s contours. With the uneven height of the peak’s rocks, it is divided into one, two, and up to three levels, with the highest eaves connecting directly to the rocky summit behind the temple. The three successive halls consist of the Dizang Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower, forming an integrated structure without courtyards or atriums. Under the open hall of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower, the doorway faces the Ancient Sutra Worship Platform, with a sheer abyss beneath the threshold. Though a door is in place, it is not meant for passage—you can enjoy the mountain view from inside.

Cloud Gorge: Located at the summit of Tiantai Peak, it is the highest point on the peak. Here, two massive rocks stand facing each other like a gate, allowing only one person to pass through at a time. The right rock bears the vertically carved characters “Cloud Gorge,” while the left rock is horizontally engraved with “One-Line Sky.” Watching the sunrise and clouds from here is extraordinarily magnificent and spectacular—a scene the ancients called the “Tiantai Morning Sun” wonder.

Sun-Embracing Pavilion: At the very top of Tiantai is a platform called the “Sun-Embracing Platform,” and on the left cliff rises a pavilion named the Sun-Embracing Pavilion.

Tiantai Peak: Also called Tiantai Summit, it stands 1,306 meters above sea level and is second only to Ten Kings Peak and Seven Sages Peak among Jiuhua Mountain’s ninety-nine peaks. Tiantai is the main peak of Jiuhua. Peaks such as Incense Burner Peak, Candle Peak, Bell Peak, and Drum Peak all lie below it. Devotees flock to Tiantai Temple to worship, hence the saying that visiting Jiuhua without seeing Tiantai is “like going there for nothing.” The peak features Tiantai Temple, the Sun-Embracing Pavilion, Cloud Gorge, and more, with many temples and beautiful scenery along the way. Both travelers and pilgrims regard it as the foremost site on Jiuhua. Major attractions include Tiantai Temple, the Sun-Embracing Pavilion, and Cloud Gorge.

“Tiantai Morning Sun”: The sunrise at Tiantai is magnificently beautiful, making it one of Jiuhua’s most renowned sights. Before dawn, standing atop Cloud Gorge and gazing eastward, you can see a faint glimmer emerging. The sea of clouds stretches endlessly, and the dark mountains emerge like islands on the ocean. The eastern glow grows brighter, and golden rays burst forth along the horizon, beneath which an orange-yellow line appears. Soon the line resembles an eyebrow, gradually forming a radiant semicircle, then a full circle—like a round mirror edged with a golden halo hanging on the edge of the sky. In a blink, the brightness intensifies, and a red sun rises slowly, illuminating the boundless sea of clouds with overwhelming grandeur. Suddenly, the clouds disperse, revealing the ninety-nine peaks in their diverse and majestic forms. Beyond the mountains, fertile plains and picturesque farmland stretch as far as the eye can see, presenting a thriving, vibrant scene.