Hua Guo Mountain, which literally means Flowers and Fruits Mountain, is commonly known as the birthplace and home of the ancient Chinese legendary figure, Monkey King. He is one of the heroes of the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, written during the Ming Dynasty circa 1500-1582 by Wu Cheng'en. For the Chinese, Monkey King is a symbol of wisdom, courage, strength and loyalty.
Journey to the West is one of the four most famous literary works in Chinese history. It is based upon a true story about a monk named Xuan Zang, who lived in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty and went on a quest to India by foot to seek the Buddhist sutras. The Monkey King is one of Xuan Zang's four disciples. With great magical powers, wisdom and strength, he and his three fellow protectors provide support to their master. During their journey the team undergoes eighty-one challenges before finally achieving their goal of obtaining the sutras.
Hua Guo Mountain is located in the Hua Guo Scenic Area, seven kilometers from downtown Lianyungang. Four centuries ago, Wu Cheng'en, author of Journey to the West, came to Lianyungang from his hometown Huai'an, also located in Jiangsu Province. He visited the mountain several times and was charmed by its beautiful scenery. On Jade Goddess Peak, which is the highest point on the mountain, is a large rock measuring five meters high and seven meters wide. In the center of the rock is a crevice that holds an oval-shaped stone that measures one meter long and looks like it is about to fall out at any moment. This rock is where Wu Cheng'en chose to be the birthplace of Monkey King.
There is much to see on the mountain, but the caves are truly memorable. Among the hundreds of caves, Water Curtain Cave is the most notable not only because of its spectacular natural beauty but also because it is featured in Journey to the West as Monkey King's home. According to the novel, the Monkey King was born out of a rock near Water Curtain Cave where he later lived and played with the other monkeys that reside on the mountain. The mouth of Water Curtain Cave is actually a large crack with has a waterfall cascading over it (like a curtain), and on both sides of the waterfall there are carved inscriptions. Other caves are the Fox Demon Cave, Worm Demon Cave, Two Immortals Cave and General Cave.
Other attractions include the Yunu Peak (Jade Goddess Peak), South Gate of Heaven, and Asoka Pagoda. There are also many strangely shaped rocks that resemble the characters described in the novel, such as the monk Xuan Zang, Pigsy, Friar Sand, Stone Monkey and White Bone Demon.
Jade Goddess Peak is the highest peak on Hua Guo Mountain, and is in fact the highest in the whole of Jiangsu Province. Visitors can watch the sunrise from a pavilion on the peak and view the Sea of Clouds, where the clouds roll in and cover the mountain like waves on the sea. In addition, there are lots of wild monkeys romping around on the peak. But be careful! They are lively and naughty, and you can take photos with them, but keep food carefully hidden, or those greedy monkeys will grab them right out of your hand!
The South Gate of Heaven also refers to the Journey of the West, in that it is said to be the outer door of the Jade Emperor's Lingxiao Palace in Heaven. Each time the Monkey King encountered difficulties he will enter through this gate and ask for help from the gods.
First built in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), Asoka Pagoda in Haiqing Temple is about forty meters (about 131 feet) high. It is the oldest and highest pagoda in existence in northern Jiangsu Province, and has even withstood an 8.5 magnitude earthquake. Asoka was a ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty in the 3rd Century BC, who waged some of the bloodiest wars in Indian history. He was later overcome by remorse for the death and destruction he had unleashed, and went on to become a religious visionary, spreading the word of Buddha.
