When we talk about mega constructions, Saudi Arabia stands out with its many record-breaking projects and, of course, The Line. However, China is not far behind and has some truly crazy construction as well as some under construction. However, we can also see this ambition in the past.

If we go back about 500 years, we find two magnificent temples more than two kilometers high at the top of Fanjing Mountain.

An island high up. There is a mountain range known as Wuling in the Guizhou region of central China. It is a magnificent mountain range that is home to many ethnic groups and is characterized by more than 3,000 quartzite columns. Imagine towering natural watchtowers rising above the rest of the mountain range.

The ecological importance of this system is so great that Fanjingshan Peak became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018 and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2018. Reason? It is estimated to have over 3,700 plant species, 2,317 invertebrate species, 450 vertebrate animal species, and is home to both the Fanjingshan fir and the sadly endangered Guizhou snub-nosed monkey.

9,000 steps. However, nature is not the only thing we see when we go to the region. It turns out that this mountain is sacred to Buddhists and temples have been built throughout different dynasties, like the temple of the Airbenders in ‘Avatar’, but there came a time when they wanted to go even higher. To find more peace, I guess. That’s when they built the temples at the Golden Peak of the Crimson Clouds.

It is unclear whether these were built during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 907) or during the Ming Dynasty under the Yongle Emperor from 1403 to 1425. It is obvious that they are 2,336 meters above sea level. You have to climb 9,000 steps. It is a slow journey that takes about four hours, and you should remember that the steps are steep and uneven.

Present and future. As we said, the road is not easy, but the reward is being able to reach the Buddha Temple from the main staircase. This temple symbolizes the present, and by crossing a very short bridge, we reach the Maitreya Temple, which is located on the other peak of Fanjingshan and represents the future. If there is no fog, the view is magnificent.

An interesting thing is that several of the temples on the mountain were destroyed during the Ming dynasty in the 16th century, but in the later Qing dynasty they were ordered to be rebuilt and the mountain became the ‘Fifth Great Buddhist Mountain of China’.

Take advantage of the trip. As if the view and the two temples at the top weren’t enough incentive to visit this mountain, we also have other temples with classical Chinese architecture in the hillside areas. One of them is Cheng’en Temple, which was once a royal temple. Another interesting point is the Golden Hall, where there is a five-meter Buddha statue made of 250 kilos of gold and jade. It is said to be the largest in the world, and whether true or not it must be magnificent.

Pictures | Huangdan2060, Mande5255881, Huangdan2060