Chasing Autumn Shadows (Three-Day Trip to Huoshan, Yuexi, and Jiuhua Mountain)
Chasing Autumn Shadows (Three-Day Trip to Huoshan, Yuexi, and Jiuhua Mountain)
In the warm breeze of End of Heat, I caught the fragrance of ripe autumn fruits and saw white clouds lazily drifting past my window. These natural scenes once again stirred the agreement among a few of us. Every year we plan a trip; those who love nostalgia are not driven by the current situation (pandemic), but by the profound fulfillment and happiness in past years. Scenery endures while time is silent; in the blink of an eye, two years have passed (since last year everyone was busy and couldn't gather, losing one year), slipping through the swift shadows of days. Perhaps only after loss do we realize what we once had, and yearn for the beauty that was; past fragments chase after us like shadows, constantly surfacing in our minds.
August 18, 2020, sunny (Day 1: Huoshan Grand Canyon Rafting). My wife is an impatient person; she woke me up at a little past four in the morning, before dawn. She can't sleep when something is on her mind, and I suspect she didn't sleep well all night. Luggage was already packed the day before. Everyone arrived at the meeting point on time. Ten people, two cars. Since many in the group are drinkers, we decided two cars would be better. Five people per car was a bit cramped, but the atmosphere of this reunion overshadowed everything. End of Heat still carries heat; how could we miss rafting! We chose Huoshan Grand Canyon as our self-drive rafting destination because Huoshan is relatively close to Hefei, suitable for a self-driving trip around the area. After a little over two hours' drive, we arrived at the Grand Canyon rafting point around nine. We picked up tickets at the service hall, put on life jackets, and took a scenic bus to the rafting start point. There we were told the rafting wouldn't begin until eleven.
With time to spare, we took the chance to briefly visit Baiyunxia Waterfall (just tens of meters from the rafting point). Seen from afar, the Baiyunxia Waterfall group looks like silk hanging from the sky; up close, it sparkles like flying pearls and splashing jade. Under the refraction of sunlight, it shows a riot of colors. The roaring water sound shakes the valley, extremely majestic. On the cliffs on both sides, lush trees and dense moss are scattered with various wildflowers, complementing the snow-white waterfall to form a splendid picture. The rafting water source relies on the reservoir of Yanbei Town. When the time came, we were grouped into six per boat. As we set off on the rubber raft, it surged forward under the impact of the rapids. Entering a steep chute, we sped down rapidly. Shoals and rocks rushed toward us, but though thrilling, we were not in real danger; it was very exciting. The Huoshan Grand Canyon rafting course is 8 kilometers long with a drop of 160 meters, and the largest single drop is 19 meters. It is the largest-scale rafting in East China, with the highest construction standard, best service quality, and most complete service items. It is also the only water sports entertainment project in East China that offers six-person single boat seating and special rafting sections for children and the elderly. With its wide participation, strong experiential nature, great fun, excitement, and fashion-forwardness, it is the best choice to release passion, challenge yourself, and return to nature. Regardless of whether we knew each other or not, we continually splashed water at each other in the slow-flow areas. The scenery along both banks is beautiful, so visiting during summer is most suitable! After over two hours of thrilling ride, we arrived at the finish point a little after one in the afternoon. After getting off, we quickly rinsed and immediately got in the car to head to the next spot. On the way, we found a local restaurant and grabbed a simple meal. The food tasted quite good, perhaps because we were hungry. Ahead of us was the majestic New China's First Dam – the Foziling Reservoir Dam, which stands like a "long dragon lying on waves" amidst the lush mountains.
High gorges produce flat lakes. An old saying goes: "Mountains come alive with water, and water becomes charming with mountains." The green mountains and the magnificent dam add a certain soft beauty to the Foziling artificial lake. The Foziling Reservoir key water control project consists of four parts: the multi-arch dam, water diversion steel pipes, spillway, and power plant. The reinforced concrete multi-arch dam is composed of 20 buttresses, 21 arches, and end abutments connecting to the shore. The dam is 510 meters long, with a crest elevation of 129.96 meters and a height of 74.4 meters; the main dam cost 38 million yuan. In 1983, the dam was raised by 1.5 meters, now at a height of 75.9 meters, with a total storage capacity of 500 million cubic meters. This magnificent dam, designed and constructed by China itself, fills the nation with pride. The artificial lake formed by the Foziling Dam is called Fozihu Lake, with a surface area of 23 square kilometers, a navigable distance of 30 kilometers, an average depth of 40 meters, and a maximum depth of 62 meters. Due to time constraints, we could only briefly visit the Yingjia Distillery and Qingyun Gorge scenic spot. When we arrived at Rainbow Falls scenic area it was already past five, so we found a hotel to stay in. Everyone washed clothes and took showers, then found a local restaurant nearby for dinner and some drinks. The food was not great. Maybe we were too tired; we went to bed early.
August 19, sunny (Day 2: Yuexi Rainbow Rafting). The accommodation was close, so we got up at half past six and ate the hotel's buffet breakfast. After entering the main gate, we took a scenic electric car to the mountain area. Rainbow Falls is 34 kilometers from both Yuexi county and Huoshan county. The total scenic area covers 40 square kilometers, with a core area of 3.2 kilometers. It is a full-time tourist and leisure resort integrating spectacular sightseeing, mountain and water relaxation, ecological health, cultural experience, and outdoor sports. From a distance, we heard the deafening sound of water. "Seeing the person not yet, first hearing his voice." The waterfall's sound is so grand and heroic that it not only elevates the artistic conception of "walking to where water ends, sitting and watching clouds rise," but also creates an incomparably magnificent landscape and distinctive style. Rainbow Falls is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Monkey River. The waterfall is 80 meters high and 30 meters wide, with an average flow of 2.0-5.0 cubic meters per second. The water rushes down from Monkey Cliff with great momentum, roaring like thunder. As the water hits rocks, it splashes everywhere like mist and clouds. When sunlight penetrates the mist, a beautiful rainbow appears, magnificent. As people walk, the rainbow moves, giving a dreamlike feeling.
Because the Monkey River has a large water volume and never dries up in any season, as long as there is sun, a rainbow spectacle appears all year round. The Monkey River Gorge originates from the main peaks of the Dabie Mountains: Baimajian and Tianhejian. The gorge is named after the presence of monkey troops in the canyon. The gorge is over 500 meters deep, with pools connecting one after another in the valley, many waterfalls, crystal-clear water, steep terrain, and vines hanging on the walls; it remains largely pristine. The big waterfall perfectly embodies the softness and hardness of water. On both sides of the stone steps, green trees and wild grass flourish. There are resting areas along the stream bank where visitors can linger without getting tired. Walking slowly, each step presents a beautiful view, pleasing the eyes and lifting the mood, reducing the annoyance of congestion and noise. We happily reached the tunnel, and everyone couldn't help but speculate on its length, with different opinions. Eventually, I went down to the closest and last viewing platform to the waterfall. The wide wooden boardwalk was crowded with people. I stopped to admire carefully, then moved on. People were in high spirits, jubilant.
The fine mist from the waterfall came in waves, like a light drizzling rain that barely wets clothes. Opening my arms and closing my eyes, from body to soul, I received the abundant mist of the big waterfall, moistening, cleansing and filtering from the surface inward. Immersed in such a wonderful environment, all senses awakened, deeply experiencing the uncanny work of nature. The turbid air in body and mind was dissolved by the clear wind and green water, making me feel completely refreshed. Our enjoyment wasn't exhausted, but because the hotel required checkout before 12, we went down the mountain early to check out. After checking out, it was nearly 12. We packed our luggage into the car and found a farmhouse restaurant in a town on the way to Jiuhua Mountain. This restaurant was very busy. The wait, eating, and playing cards took us over three hours. We weren't in a rush, because Jiuhua Mountain only opens its mountain gate at 5 pm. After a drive of over two hours, we arrived at Jiuhua Mountain. We had previously contacted a homestay and stayed overnight at Jiuhua Street, convenient for visiting temples early next morning. Dinner was unusually lavish because it happened to be the birthday of a clan sister. Jiuhua Mountain is known for vegetarian food, but to meet modern visitors' needs, there are also meat dishes like chicken, duck, fish and pork. Most characteristic are Jiuhua Mountain stone ear, bamboo shoots, and other premium vegetarian ingredients. During dinner, we ate longevity noodles and sang birthday wishes. On the way back to the homestay, we briefly toured (a quick look) Jiuhua Street. Back at the homestay, some washed clothes, others played cards. My clan brother-in-law and I, still feeling the effects of alcohol, sat in the courtyard and drank beer straight from the bottle. So as not to affect the next day, everyone called us to go to bed.
August 20, sunny (Day 3: Chizhou Jiuhua Mountain). The mountain gate opens at seven; we got up a little after six, washed up, and waited in the courtyard. We exchanged coins with the homestay owner (agreed the night before) for offerings during worship. In Jiuhua Mountain, besides enjoying the beautiful scenery, the more important thing is to experience the Buddhist atmosphere. Usually, visiting Jiuhua Street takes a whole day. In the morning when energy is high, you can first visit Zhiyuan Temple, then climb East Peak to visit Huixiang Pavilion, Bell Tower, and Baisui Palace. At noon return to rest briefly, then visit Huacheng Temple, Zhantan Forest, Shangchan Hall, Flesh Body Hall, and Xiaotiantai. If time is tight, half a day can suffice; some spots may be skipped. In our group, one clan member had family matters, so we ended the trip just after ten and returned to Hefei.
Amid mountain fruits ripe for harvest, I feel unworthy to describe scenic beauty with my inadequate talent.
Sincerity praises rafting's thrill, deep affection loves travel's grace.
Try to set small islets in mirror-like lake, steal sparse clouds to adorn green silk.
Ask where the immortal crane is now, can it come to join my leisurely joy?
Lofty mountains and steep peaks stand in varied grandeur; clear streams and deep waters spread emerald waves.
The wondrous and beautiful scenery cannot be fully praised; peaceful years are lamented as too few.
We should enjoy as the mood strikes, not let worries cause delays.
If from now on we can be free, why not wander leisurely, letting time slip by.
Yuexi's soil nurtures fragrant flowers; Yingjia distillery presents a scene of abundant beauty.
Qingyun Gorge has many pines and clusters of grass; Foziling Dam is even more covered with flowers.
A leisurely body can admire the new sky; beautiful rhymes should praise the splendid earth.
Stroll freely through a painting scroll; gentle breeze and light rain enhance the beauty.
Treading steps to seek autumn on the green peak, I gain divine spirit, half an immortal.
I wish to write true feelings with poetic brush. Don't lament that essays are hard to enlighten the world.
Born in the sky, how could I be mediocre? Naturally, I have heroic spirit to write magnificently.
Current surging against cliffs prints a rainbow; Roaring in the valley, confounding tigers and dragons.
Piercing through ravines, it rushes ten thousand li; Striking rocks, it intends to raise a thousand layers.
How many visitors come admiring; can they not be both startled and moved?
Glazed tiles with phoenix playing dragon; temples splendid, displaying exquisite craftsmanship.
Green trees intermingle with grass; long steps neatly decorated with red flowers.
Deep are the Buddhist chants in the pavilion; curling incense smoke lingers in the hall.
Many come and go, seeking fortune; burning incense and kowtowing, but only in haste.
Birthday coincidentally falls on Jiuhua Street; Sincere relatives and friends walk the moon terrace.
Buddha's fate brings peace; Drinking from the Milky Way, we laugh with joy.
