Heritage: Lu Shan

Historic villas, forest trails and cool mountain peaks have been drawing people to this mountain hideaway for more than 100 years. The misty clouds blanket the lush forests and provide a mystical scene.

The peaks of Lu Shan in northern Jiangxi Province have long been a magnet for the spiritual, the rich and famous, the learned and powerful. Although wet, cold and misty for more than 200 days, Lu Shan’s wooded slopes offer cool repose for those escaping the summer heat in the ancient city of Jiujiang in the south and the lowland valley areas of Yangtze River in the north.

Once you set eyes on the scenic landscape of Lu Shan, you will understand why people keep coming back. Of the some 99 peaks, Dahanyang Peak (dàhànyáng fēng 大汉阳峰) stands tallest at 1,474m. Peaks aside, there are gorges, waterfalls, overhanging cliffs, lakes, verdant forests and amazing bird life. No wonder eminent poets of every dynasty have eulogized the natural beauty of Lu Shan. (more…)

Heritage: Huang Shan, Xidi & Hong Villages

Huang Shan has been a major tourist destination since ancient times and still captures the imagination of those who have glimpsed its jade mountains protruding through the frosty mists.

Huang Shan, which means Yellow Mountain, has been a well-known destination for scholars, poets and the occasional recluse, all seeking personal inspiration and enlightenment – when you visit you will easily appreciate why.

Situated in the southern portion of the agriculturally rich Anhui Province and bordering Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, the picturesque Huang Shan has long been effusively described as “awesome,” “a wonderland” and “Heaven on Earth.” The formation of the remarkable peaks and breathtakingly sharp precipices has been attributed to the many thousands of years of geological activity on the imposing granite mountains, creating the astounding natural wonder visible today.

During the Qin dynasty, the mountain was called Black Mountain (yī shān 黟山) because of the dark color of its cliffs. Legend has it that Tang dynasty emperor Xuanzong, who reigned during the Tang’s golden age, changed the name of the mountains to Huang Shan because the legendary Huang Emperor was thought to have made his pills of immortality here. (more…)

Hangzhou’s legendary West Lake conjures images of sweeping willows and morning mist along the shores of China’s most famous and revered of lakes.

Heralded as one of the most romantic cities in China, Hangzhou is ripe with historic and sensual sites to enchant the amorous and curious who make their way here. Just over 200km southwest of Shanghai, Hangzhou requires only a short jaunt to scratch the surface its charming pagodas, the timeless West Lake and modern amenities.

What really put Hangzhou on the proverbial map is the Grand Canal (dà yùnhé 大运河). Built during the Sui dynasty, the Grand Canal was a massive network of canals and waterways linking Hangzhou to the north. Food and goods were shipped from the agriculturally rich south to supply the comparatively desolate north, Hangzhou quickly developed into an important center of transportation and trade.

Hangzhou’s height came when the Song dynasty court was driven from its capital at Kaifeng by northern invaders, and the Song court resettled in here and made it the imperial capital of the Southern Song dynasty. A population boom followed and the city flourished economically and culturally. Song influences still abound throughout the city – from the food to the language. (more…)