Mount Wutai Manjusri Bodhisattva Pilgrimage: West Terrace of Mount Wutai and Falei Temple

West Terrace of Mount Wutai, also known as Guayue Peak or Mingyue Mountain, is one of the five peaks of Mount Wutai, renowned for its unique natural scenery and profound cultural heritage. The following is a detailed introduction to the West Terrace of Mount Wutai: I. Geographical Location and Altitude Location: Located in the Mount Wutai Scenic Area, Shanxi Province, about 13 km west of Taihuai Town. Altitude: It reaches an altitude of 2,773m, making it one of the important peaks of Mount Wutai. II. Natural Landscape Shape: From a distance, the shape of West Terrace Guayue Peak resembles a peacock spreading its tail feathers, which is very spectacular. Area: The top of the terrace is flat, covering an area of more than 300 mu, providing tourists with a vast viewing space. Moonlight: Whenever the night is quiet and the mountains are clear, the bright moon hangs in the sky, the scene of "West Terrace Hanging Moon" is particularly charming, like a grand splash-ink landscape painting hanging in the air. Plants: On the hillside of West Terrace grows a rare plant called "Guijianchou" (literally means "even ghosts are worried") that is more than 200 million years old. The front end of this plant has long thorns, and it lies on the ground when the wind blows, which is very rare. III. Cultural Relics Falei Temple: Location: Located on the top of West Terrace, it is one of the important temples in Mount Wutai. History: It was first built in the Sui Dynasty and later rebuilt and expanded in the Tang Dynasty. It still attracts a large number of believers and tourists to worship and visit. Worship: The temple enshrines the Manjusri Bodhisattva statue with a lion's roar, symbolizing the wisdom and power of Manjusri Bodhisattva. Features: The name of Falei Temple comes from Buddhist doctrine and the sound of thunder in nature, meaning that the Dharma is like thunder, which can awaken the enlightenment of all living beings. Sarira Pagoda: On the northeast side of Falei Temple stands a white stone Sarira Pagoda with a beautiful and graceful body, making it a unique landscape of West Terrace. IV. Legends The Legend of Fragrant Mushroom: It tells the tragic story of a girl named Xianglian and the legend of her transformation into a mushroom, adding a mysterious color to West Terrace. Lion Cave: According to legend, Manjusri Bodhisattva came here from the east on a lion. The lion stopped and roared like thunder, so the Lion Cave was built to enshrine the statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva riding a lion. V. Travel Experience Watching the Sunrise: Although West Terrace is famous for its moonlight, tourists can also choose to watch the sunrise here and experience the double beauty of the sunrise on the East Terrace and the moonlight on the West Terrace. Pilgrimage on Foot: West Terrace is an important stop on the Mount Wutai pilgrimage route. For believers and tourists, a pilgrimage on foot to the top of West Terrace is a rare spiritual experience. Natural Scenery: The natural scenery of West Terrace is magnificent and charming. Whether it is the spring with blooming mountain flowers or the winter with white snow, it can bring tourists different visual enjoyment. West Terrace of Mount Wutai is highly praised for its unique natural landscape, profound cultural heritage and rich legends, and is one of the tourist destinations not to be missed in Mount Wutai.