Emeishan Golden Summit

Postcards from:

Big Bear Lake California
Bangkok Thailand
Kathmandu Nepal
Lumbini Nepal
Bhutan
Xi'an China
Mt. Huashan China
Guoliang Tunnel China
Chengdu China
Leshan China
Emeishan China
Emeishan Monastery
Emeishan Summit
Kangding China
Xining China
Shenzhen China
California Home

Emeishan: Crowds gather around the Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn.

Emeishan: Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn.

Emeishan: A couple young Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn being watched over by an older male, possibly the Alpha male.

Emeishan: Sign warning people about the Tibetan macaques that will be seen along the trail.

Emeishan: This is some sort of food that looks like Styrofoam and is widely sold around here.

Emeishan: Several venders display collections of fungi for sale to pilgrims. I can't imagine why!

Emeishan: Sign warning people to be careful with fire.

Emeishan: Sign with background information about the Golden Summit Scenic Area.

Emeishan: Looking through the elephant legs down the entry stairs the fog is clearly visible and never did fully clear up.

Emeishan: Three Buddhas in one of the temples near the golden Samantabhadra tower. See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil came to mind while watching the monkeys on the way down. Actually, these three are reminders to be virtuous, compassionate and wise.

Emeishan: Sign describing the Four Wonders Around the Golden Summit.

Emeishan: Another one of the inspirational messages found all over the mountain.

Emeishan: Closeup of one of the four white elephants holding up the golden tower.

Emeishan: View of the still nearly invisible golden Samantabhadra tower from the temple balcony above the monument. Little by little more of it peaked out.

Emeishan: View of the not fully visible golden Samantabhadra tower from the temple balcony above the monument. Little by little more of it peaked out. I kept snapping pictures hoping to catch a crystal moment.

Emeishan: I kept snapping pictures hoping to catch at least one crystal moment.

Emeishan: Tourists lighting incense sticks in the plaza below the summit.

Emeishan: Looking down the entry stairs between the legs of one of the white elephants. The people pointing at me insisted on taking my picture as part of their group.

Emeishan: I kept snapping pictures hoping to catch at least one crystal moment.

Emeishan: Many monks are among the visitors, often accompanied by their "civilian" family members.

Emeishan: The top of the structure never really breaks free of the fog.

Emeishan: After playing with a group wanting me in their photographs I realized I didn't get a picture myself. So, I shot this as proof I actually made it to the summit.

Emeishan: Another monk with his family. The monument is a popular backdrop for photos.

6 September 2008

The Golden Summit of Emeishan,

The Golden Summit is the principal destination for pilgrims visiting Emeishan. Like a ghostly apparition the spectacular golden Samantabhadra statue slowly emerges from the dense fog. Here at the 3100 meter high summit I am spellbound by the immense golden pagoda supported on the backs of four six tusked dazzlingly gilded "white" elephants. Almost as soon as it becomes visible the 48 meter high tower again fades from view!

Continuing to climb the wide elephant lined stone staircase, the vague silhouette of the structure pulses into view periodically. It reminds me of an adventure swashbuckler from my youth featuring a "ghost ship" that appears than disappears repeatedly. Finally, standing up close to the base of the monument only the white elephants are clearly visible, the golden Buddha still hiding in the fog above. So, I wait. Patience pays off and eventually all the fog disperses briefly revealing the entire sculpture soaring brilliantly for a few majestic moments.

Note: This page is an appendage to the main Postcard from Emeishan. The other appendage provides a place for all the photographs taken in the Wannian Monastery area.

Emeishan: Sign with background information about the Golden Summit Scenic Area.

Emeishan: Golden Summit. View of one of the six tusk elephant sculptures with the golden Samantabhadra tower in the background. Ancient traditions say the Siddhartha's mother was impregnated by one of the six tusks through her side, so Buddhism has its immaculate conception myth, too.

Emeishan: This area at the summit never did become fully fog free during my entire two hours of watching the show.

Emeishan: Bored by all the gold and archaic entertainment, a large family cornered me for a long series of intimate photos. Only after they moved on did I think to get a picture to remember the event myself.

Emeishan: Part of the golden ski jump roof line on the south temple.

Emeishan: Looking down the entry stairs past the trunk of one of the white elephants.

Emeishan: Grandparents were posing this little kid for photos. The kid seemed to be injoying the process of trying to be cute.

Emeishan: I've seen this lock and key ritual practiced on Mount Huashan, too. People link the lock to a chain and throw away the key while making a "wish" or hope for some family member or friend... not generally considered a religious act.

Emeishan: There are hundreds, maybe thousands of "abandoned" locks hanging from chains here.

Emeishan: Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn. These are semi-wild animals, but with all the human contact one wonders for how much longer.

Emeishan: Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn. I'm not sure who is having more fun watching whom here. This guy looks like he is in charge: the alpha male.

Emeishan: Macaque monkeys on the trail down to the cable car barn spending the afternoon people watching.

Emeishan: I studied the golden Samantabhadra tower from the temple balcony for the better part of an hour hoping for a break in the fog.

Emeishan: View of the golden Samantabhadra tower behind artistic roof decorations.

Emeishan: One side of the Golden Summit is a vertical cliff with the guard railing about a meter from free fall. This sign is garbled English, but needs no reinterpretation.

Emeishan: Sign reminding people of the two natural miracles which occur at this particular spot on the cliff.

Emeishan: I kept snapping pictures hoping to catch at least one crystal moment.

A total of three photograph collections are available for Mount Emeishan: the Wanshan Monastery, this Golden Summit and the Postcard Page itself.

Emeishan: Finally I can see the almost fully visible golden Samantabhadra tower. This area at the summit never did become fully fog free during my two hours watching the show. Notice the people around the base.

Emeishan: Diagram of the features to be found on Emeishan.

Emeishan: It is very cold near the Golden Summit. Heavy coats can be rented for two dollars. I had my down vest which proved too warm with all the climbing.

Emeishan: Sign pointing the way to places on the Golden Summit.

Emeishan: The first of many white six tusked elephants lining the stairway up to the summit.

Emeishan: View up the stone staircase toward the invisible golden Samantabhadra tower. Squinting, I could just make out the shape of the enshrouded spire.

Emeishan: Golden Summit. Ten Commandments, actually 20 as there are 10 Do's and 10 Don'ts for venders serving the public.

Emeishan: Onward toward the still invisible golden tower.

Emeishan: Still nearly invisible, the golden Samantabhadra tower slowly emerges from the fog.

Emeishan: Little by little more of the golden Samantabhadra showed itself until there it was.

Emeishan: I continued climbing up the stone staircase toward the almost fully visible golden Samantabhadra tower. Little by little more details could be seen.

Emeishan: One of the many white six tusked elephants around the summit. I'm reminded of the Magic Kingdom at Disneyland.

Emeishan: Tourists lighting incense sticks in the plaza below the summit.

Emeishan: Focus on the elephants that support the golden Samantabhadra tower.

Emeishan: This area at the summit never did become fully fog free during my two hours watching the show.

Emeishan: Looking back down the entry stairs the fog is clearly visible and never did fully clear up.

Emeishan: Part of the golden ski jump roof line on the south temple.

Emeishan: One of a pair of golden lions guarding the entrance to the temple built into the base of the Samantabhadra .
Emeishan: View of the golden Samantabhadra tower from the temple balcony above the monument. Little by little more of it peaked out. I kept snapping pictures hoping to catch a crystal moment.

Emeishan: Looking down the entry stairs between the legs of one of the white elephants.

Emeishan: Tourists lighting incense sticks in the plaza below the summit.

Emeishan: View of the golden Samantabhadra tower from the temple balcony above the monument. Little by little more of it peaked out from behind the fog.

Emeishan: View of the fading golden Samantabhadra tower from between burning sticks at the incense table.

Emeishan: This particular location seems to be particularly popular.