Lianyungang City，Jiangsu Province.
Hello everyone, this is Muhammad Adnan (Chinese name 阿南), an International foreign student from Wuxi. My Chinese is just mama huhu (马马虎虎), still in learning process. In my hobbies, I like photography, running, travelling and socialism. Photography is not only art but also it’s my passion. In august, I got a chance to travel with some expat photographers into the splendid beauty of Huaguo Mountain (花果山) ⛰ in Lianyungang city (postal code, 222003), Jiangsu province. Huaguo Mountain is a popular tourist journey located in Yiyang county of Jiangsu Province. The meaning of Huaguo Mountain is Mountain with flowers and fruits. On Friday, August 16 around 14:30 check-in to the guest house, the guest house is in between the mountains, after relaxed we go outside, do some shootings by professional cameras and drones, there are only few houses belongs to local people who are used to live into the mountains. Huaguo Mountain is a National Forest Park situated 89 kilometers west side of Luoyang city and Lianyungang city, just 7 kilometers southeast to the mountain. Situated at an altitude of 625 meters above sea level and spread over 84.3 square kilometers, this is really going to be an eye charming location due to its splendid natural beauty. It is the highest peak in Jiangsu province. There are 108 hills comprising small and high. The roads were zigzag and in a circular way. At evening, the weather was awesome; the moving wind from the mountains and the greening makes us feel comfortable. Huaguo Mountain, one the best tourist attraction place in China, The Mountains are rich with thick virgin forests. Here I am sharing some of my travel experience.
Huaguo Mountain attracts millions of tourists every year, owing to the popularity of the novel Journey to the West, in which it is the birthplace of the legendary Monkey King. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 16, 2019.
Day 1: In the early morning, around 8:30, we attend 2019-International Huaguo Mountain Tourism 100 People Inspection Competition. Their thousands of visitors to attend and see this beautiful opening ceremony. Attendees were alliance members, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, leaders of Lianyungang City & Jiangsu Province and International organizations, Huaguo Mountain management team, guests and media. Their speeches were full of valuable information and guidance based on experience about Huaguo Mountain tourism. Since the novel is very influential and popular in China, the Huaguo Mountain has many statues based on its heroes, among them the more famous, a sculpture of the head of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), a protagonist of the novel, who was also said to be born on the mountain. After their speeches, there were many acts and performances by many local and national artist repented the culture and traditions of Lianyungang province and Huaguo Mountain. Later, we go with media teams visited around the mountain and capture the memorable time.
The entrance point of Huaguo Mountain National Geo Park, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Most popular tourist attraction place in Jiangsu. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 17, 2019.
nauguration Ceremony of 2019 International Huaguo Mountain Tourism 100 People Inspection Competition. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 17, 2019.
- Hosts for the opening ceremony celebrations at Huaguo Mountain
- Opening ceremony speech of International Tourism Conference -2019 at Huaguo Mountain
- Cultural dance from local artist from Huaguo Mountain.
National and local artists showing Chinese Culture & Traditions arts and performances at Inauguration Ceremony of 2019 International Huaguo Mountain Tourism. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 17, 2019.
- Guests and honorable persons attends the opening ceremony at Huaguo Mountain.
There are some interesting spots on this mountain, like a waterfall cave, strange rock formations, temples and all over are monkeys. The monkeys are cheeky, naughty and they try take all of you what you don't hide. There is also a chair lift moving on the mountains giving a view, seeing this you don’t want to go back. In addition, have water boating playing area under the chair left. There are toilets enough, snacks and water (5rmb/bottle) everywhere. Waterfall cave is a natural waterfall over a cave that was formed by a ground fissure. There are many ancient carvings in front of the cave, with letters written by emperors from different dynasties. Inside, there are tunnels leading to a platform inside the cave. There is a spring inside called Lingquan Spring; it is not big, but it is always full of water, even when there is a drought. It is said that the spring can lead you to the Dragon King's Palace.
- Entrance of waterfall cave at Huaguo Mountain
Thousands of tourists came to see magical waterfall cave at Huaguo Mountain [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 18, 2019.
Waterfall Cave, tourist believed walking under cave could reduce their shortcomings and good sign for future, located at center of Huaguo Mountain. [Photo taken by to Adnan Lahori] August 17, 2019.
The famous Water Curtain Cave behind which the Monkey King lived. You get a wee bit wet going inside.
On the walls of the cave, there are the images of Monkey King. At the gate of the cave, there is a huge stone, who was one of the sacred ancestors in Chinese legendary stories.
Day 2: According to our schedule, we had breakfast early in the morning and gathered in guesthouse lobby to start our second day trip to Huaguo Mountain Scenic Area by tour bus arranged. We walked hundreds of stairs and uphill by walking and capture the natural beauty of mountain and saw many monkeys, some are naughty monkeys and walking with you on stairs. Later, we had our lunch in a local restaurant. It was good experience though to enjoy local food. Restaurant offered us some tasty local fruits as well. After enjoying lunch, we started our step to scenic spot again. Same day, early morning my mates and I went to top of the mountain to see the sunrise and monkeys.
Huaguo National Geo Park Ariel view early morning, one of the most ancient park showing pure natural scenery and pleasant environment at Huaguo Mountain. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 18, 2019.
- The sun sets (and the cool settles in) as the afternoon draws to a close
The first stop on a typical visit to HuaGuo Mountain will be a Buddhist temple that marks the beginning of the ascent towards the mountain peak. This picturesque temple is your gateway to the famous water curtain cave and the highest point in Jiangsu province, but don’t rush by it. Not only is it quite beautiful in its own right, but it’s your last reprieve before you begin a climb that would have to feature at least 1000 rather steep stairs.
The mountain have ancient Buddha temples and sculpture works dated back to AD 7th century. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 18, 2019.
- A full resolution picture captured by air drone, - Beautiful and unforgettable natural view at top of Huaguo mountain
- Entrance of ancient temple at uphill of Huaguo Mountains
- Mid night view from top of Huaguo mountain
- A cute and calm monkey sitting on the highest mountain in Jiangsu province
- Way to get down from temple
- You can see the monkeys walking and playing with you but in zoo, you can’t
- A way towards ancient temple needs thousands of steps to find the destination. - Move ahead and rise up, you will find your goal.
Some of naughty monkeys snatch your water bottle and fruits and others things they do not touch and not dangerous. If you give foods like banana, apples etc, they will feel happy and play with you. [Photo taken by Adnan Lahori] August 18, 2019.
- A tricky and grumpy monkey.
- A famous photographer taking pictures in professional way
- Ancient traditional dress, that you can easily find at top of mountain
Cable car to the top of the mountain and make your way back down. A couple can sit in one trolley cable car.
- Can see a beautiful view of Huaguo Mountain from cable car
- A foggy picture in the early morning on Huaguo Mountain.
- A beautiful view of water boating under cable car at Huaguo Mountain [From top to bottom] Keep smiling because the life is beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about. [Adnan Lahori]
A memorable and exciting picture with professional photographers near temple at top of Huaguo Mountain.
Travel Route: How to get to Flower and Fruit Mountain (Huaguo Mountain) National Forest Park: 1. Take bus for Yiyang from Luoyang Bus Station close to Luoyang Railway Station; after arrival, you can take a regular bus or taxi to the scenic area. It takes 15 minutes from Lianyungang, the railway station needs 18 to 20 minutes by taxi. Entrance Fee CNY 30 Opening Hours 8:00 - 17:30 closed from November to March. 2. There are special tour buses called Shuttle bus from the Huaguo Mountain Entrance to Scenic Area uphill. It cost only 20 RMB and departs every 5-8 minutes from 08:00 to 18:00. 3. The best time for visiting Huaguoshan Mountain is from April to October. After spending some unforgettable memory into the deep natural beauty of Huaguo Mountain, it was time to go back home. I’ll save Huaguo Mountain in my mind as “Living Heaven on earth”. I would like to thank Lianyungang Government and Huaguo Mountain Tourist Management Team for giving me opportunity to have a deep breath into the natural beauty of Huaguo Mountain. I am also grateful to all of my travel mates and expat photographers especially. Bundle of thanks to Miss 杨晔 (Fiona). It was an awesome time together we spend in Huaguo Mountain, Lianyungang city, Jiangsu Provence, Republic of China. I Love Huaguo Mountain and I love China. Welcome to Huaguo Mountain.
