The one who walks will master the road. Staircase to Chinese sky July 12th, 2013
Hua Shan (Flower Mountain) is one of the eight sacred mountains Taoism. Millions of Chinese make the annual pilgrimage to Hua Shan to visit the temples built right on top of the cliffs and admire the dizzying beauty that opens up along the way. Many confuse Huashan ( Hua Shan Mountain and Huanshan.
It sounds similar, but, as you already know, the mountains are completely different. And the distance between them is 1000 km. The entrance to the mountain begins at the Taoist temple. The paths are lined with a symbol of Taoism - the unity of yin and yang.
Most of the road will have to climb in continuous fog. Very pretty, but a bit damp. On the one hand, it’s good that you don’t want to drink, but on the other hand, the T-shirt does not dry out at all, and it quickly becomes cold at a halt.
The road is very well maintained, first (about 4 km) a stone path going up rather steeply, then steps with handrails or chains instead of handrails (about 2-3 km). Every 400-500 m there are marks how much has been covered. Every 300-400 meters there are tents selling drinks and chifang. Every 500 meters there are toilets.
Periodically there are "sights". These are places where every Chinese wants to leave a mark. Such places are easy to identify by red ribbons and locks (it seems that this tradition has long become international). It's good that there are few such "sights". In other places, such traces of civilization are carefully removed by park attendants.
The end of the ascent will be the ascent of the Blue Dragon Ridge (rib of the blue dragon). This is a staircase going steeply upwards, with a cliff on the right and a cliff on the left.
White fluffy clouds floating right at your feet bring a touch of unreality to what is happening.
Transportation: Take Xi'an-Huayin bus from Xi'an Chengdong Bus Station.
Hua Shan Mountain, Shaanxi Province, China.
One of the five sacred mountains of Taoism in China, located in the Qinling Range. The mountain is famous picturesque rocks and a difficult and dangerous climb to the top. The mountain path connects many peaks up to the highest 2160 m.
South Peak (Falling Goose Peak) - 2154.9 m
North Peak -1614.9 m
West Peak - 2082.6 m
East Peak - 2096.2 m
Central Peak (Jade Girl) - 2037.8 m
This is a unique mountain route. Along the way, there are numerous Taoist monasteries, pagodas, temples, gates and bridges.
“If you have visited the five sacred mountains of China, then you can not go to other mountains, and if you have visited Huashan, then you don’t need the other four” the Chinese say. The Hua Mountains used to be called Xiyue, "Western Mountains". Name Huashan, "Blossoming Mountain", they received due to the similarity of their five peaks: East, West, South, North and Central - with a lotus flower.
Mountains Huashan are closely associated with Taoism and are mentioned in its early texts as one of the places suitable for Taoist religious practices and alchemy. They say that he Lao Tzu lived in these places. (Laozi (6th-5th centuries BC) - the semi-legendary founder of Taoism, one of the most significant movements in Chinese philosophical thought; tradition calls him the author "Tao Te Ching" - "Books about Taoputi and Good Xi-Le-Te").
Most of the buildings were erected here during the reign of the dynasty Ming (1368–1644). The monastery has been well preserved to this day. Yuquan XI century, temple dongdao 1714 and the palace Zhenyue Yuan dynasty. In December 1990, UNESCO contributed Huashan on the List of World Natural Heritage Sites.
This place is very popular destination domestic tourism. You can climb the mountain on foot or by funicular. Traditionally, pilgrims climbed only along a hiking trail and spent the night under one of the mountains, and the next day they went around all five peaks.
This is the view you should see when climbing this steep staircase.
And remember, I showed you just such a staircase to heaven:
China, Taihang mountains
The inhabitants of the villages located near the Taihang mountains (Henan province) are much more fortunate, because they have the so-called "Stairway to Heaven" - a 300-foot spiral staircase leading to the top of one of the mountains.
Judging by the above photo, climbing it is a real pleasure. One of the officials working in the local administration spoke very poetically about this, without the slightest shadow of a doubt, a grandiose structure as follows: “During the ascent of the stairs, even in the strongest heat, you feel a fresh breath of a cool breeze, an absolutely marvelous twitter reaches your ears birds, you hear the steps creak. Can any despicable elevator or funicular compare with this miracle?
However, it is worth noting that the official himself found it difficult to answer the question - how many times did he himself have to climb to such a height?
The old castle staircase was built back in the 17th century, but its own modern look she acquired in 1835-37. First the steps of this architectural structure were earth, and now they have become stone. The name, which sounds like Staré zámecké schody, was supposedly given to the staircase at the same time when the local population began to call the 10th century road running parallel to it “Old”. Himself, where the steps led, at that time was personified with an impregnable castle, which is very difficult to overcome.
The staircase has a length of 230 meters and consists of 121 steps. It lies between high walls, connecting between themselves and. south wall hides gardens and the Indian embassy behind it. Behind the northern wall of the castle stairs is the territory of the former vineyard of St. Wenceslas, who made wine with his own hands and himself protected it from robbers. Each next flight of stairs opens completely the new kind to the city. Comfortable steps lead the guests of Prague to the gates.
In 2009, the stairs were restored: drains were installed, the crumbling masonry was repaired and the steps were leveled. During the restoration, it was closed to tourists, who were forced to climb to the Prague Castle by other roads.
Attractions on the Old Castle Stairs
From the observation deck, located at the very top of the Old Castle Stairs, a magnificent view of the orange Prague roofs, spiers, hills, the Vltava River and the bridges thrown between its banks opens up. Directly below the site is the picturesque Furstenberg Garden. If you use binoculars or a spyglass, which are rented here for literally a few crowns, you can look at and even see the distant and.
Climbing the Old Castle Stairs, you can see a monument to the famous Czech singer and songwriter Karel Hasler, who is also known as an actor, composer, screenwriter, director, playwright and writer.
Next to the observation deck there is a garden with a sculpture-fountain depicting Samson tearing apart the mouth of a lion that attacked him. If you go through the whole garden along the wall Prague Castle, you can go to . Previously, this wall was the border of the possessions of the Institute of Noble Maidens, which was built by Empress Maria Theresa herself.
Night excursions
A few years ago, they began to be popular in the Czech Republic. For this, gas lamps were installed in many places, which very beautifully illuminate the old paving stones at night, conveying the atmosphere of medieval Prague. Such lanterns were also installed on the Old Castle Stairs. Tiled roofs in the light of gas lamps are a unique sight. In the 17th century, Prague became the fifth European city where gas lighting appeared.
After dark, the panoramic view from the observation deck of the Old Castle Stairs becomes even more attractive than in the daytime. Many historical objects in the rays of illumination look more spectacular than in sunlight.
Descent from the Old Castle Stairs
Some excursion programs provide not only climbing the Old Castle Stairs, but also descending from it. Going down the Old Castle Stairs, guests of the city get directly to the entrance to the Malostranska metro station, and next to it is the entrance to another garden -. Here you can see how pink chestnuts bloom, calm peacocks walk, and red trout and other beautiful and rare fish swim freely in the reservoirs.
The nature of China has always surprised with its unusualness and uniqueness. Here you can see natural attractions that you will not find anywhere else. What are the mountains in the central part of the country. Indescribable natural landscapes that attract beauty lovers, tourists and those who want to tickle their nerves. And tickle the nerves for a reason. Indeed, in order to climb some mountains, unusual stairs were built, which not everyone dares to climb. Next, we will talk about the two regions in which the objects of interest to us are located.
The first thing that interested me was Mount Huashan. All the same, which was previously mentioned, in the topic about. It is one of the Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism and is located in the Qinling Range, Shanxi Province. The mountain is famous among tourists and pilgrims for its monasteries, pagodas, bridges and a mountain route that rises up to the very top, to a height of 2130 meters. One of the sections of this route is stepped, complex, dangerous and unusual stairs, some of which reach a vertical position. The steps are carved into the rocks. Some of them are without railings, more precisely, they are presented in the form of chains attached to solid rock. Every 400-500 meters there are marks, how much has been covered, tents with drinks and toilets. Before the advent of tourists, stairs were carved for pilgrims to climb the sacred mountain.
Second interesting place The Taihang Mountain Range. There are also unusual stairs that not everyone can climb. One of them is located in Henan province. To climb one of the mountains, a traveler needs not only to overcome the fear of heights, but also to have a very developed vestibular apparatus. The locals call this building "Stairway to Heaven". It is an iron pillar, around which, like a snake, steps wind around in a spiral. Its height is a little bit 91.5 meters, that is, the height of a 30-story building. Rising should be extremely cautious, as there is no insurance. All safety is welded railings. Not everyone can climb it, there are certain requirements. The age of the candidate should not exceed 60 years and people with diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are not allowed. A representative of the local administration expressed this about this staircase: “While climbing the stairs, even in the most intense heat, you feel a fresh breath of a cool breeze, the wonderful chirping of birds reaches your ears, you hear the steps creak. Can any despicable elevator or funicular compare with this miracle?
Those who want to tickle their nerves, but not on such an extreme structure, can climb a less impressive staircase, in the same mountains, Taihangshan. Unusual stairs, perhaps it has become a custom to build here. This one is an iron narrow steps driven into the rock, but without protective railings. So that the traveler was not so afraid to climb, a chain was screwed to the rock, which he could hold on to, or attach a safety rope.
More than 350 observation towers have been built in the Czech Republic, making the Czech Republic one of the countries with the largest number of such structures. But, unfortunately, tourists often lose sight of them.
In the 70-80s. 19th century observation towers in the Czech Republic were built solely for romantic reasons - to admire the scenery. From the second half of the 20th century towers were built for practical reasons.
Over the past few years, two tourist attractions have appeared in the Czech Republic: "The path in the clouds" and "The path between the crowns of trees." They allow tourists not only to admire the beauty of nature, but also to walk at a great height.
New attraction in the mountains "Path in the clouds" (Dolni Morava)
Stezka v oblacích / Sky Walk, from the facebook group
At the end of last year, in the Czech Republic, near the border with Poland, a breathtaking pedestrian "Path in the Clouds" (Stezka v oblacích, Sky Walk) was built with a height of 55 m. It overlooks mountain range Kralicky Sneznik and the valley of the Morava river. In the distance, you can see the Jeseniky, Suchy Vrh and Krkonoše mountain ranges.
The Path in the Clouds is located next to the stop of the Snezhnik funicular at an altitude of 1,116 m above sea level. Climbing the path is comfortable even with a stroller or wheelchair. The most courageous can go down on a 101 m long toboggan.
The construction of the attraction took 550 cubic meters of wood, 380 tons of steel and 280 cubic meters of concrete. A ticket for the "Path in the Clouds" for an adult costs 190 kroons, with a ticket for the funicular - 290 kroons.
Address: U chaty Slaměnka, 561 96 Dolní Morava
GPS:50,150924 16,832245
"The path between the crowns of trees" in Lipno nad Vltavou
kudyznudy.cz
The tourist attraction Stezka korunami stromů in Lipno nad Vltavou opened in July 2012 and was the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. The 675 m long path is located on Mount Kramolin (901 m above sea level) and is accessible to tourists all year round. It offers a view of the peaks of the Alps, Lake Lipno, Šumava and the Nowohrad Mountains. On the way to the top observation deck tourists can make 11 stops to admire the scenery.
In May last year, the millionth tourist visited the attraction, and the Path between the Tree Tops became the most visited tourist attraction in the South Bohemian Region. You can get to Mount Kramolin, where the entrance to the path is located, by funicular from the large parking lot in Lipno nad Vltavou, by bus or on foot. The entrance ticket for an adult costs 190 kroons.
Address: Lipno nad Vltavou 307, 382 78 Lipno nad Vltavou
GPS:48,652189 14,231161
TV tower on Mount Praded
In the Moravian-Silesian Region, you can climb the Praděd TV tower, which was built in 1980. The height of the tower is 146 m, but taking into account the height of Mount Praděd (the fifth highest in the Czech Republic), you will find yourself at an altitude of 1560 m. From the observation deck, tourists enjoy the view on the Jeseniki, and if the weather allows, then the landscape of the High Tatras.
Address: GPS:50.083415 17.231091
hotelsinger.cz
Observation tower in Ustets region
The observation tower on Decinski Snezhnik (723 m above sea level) is located 8 km from Decin. It was built back in 1864, so it is considered one of the first in the Czech Republic. The height of the observation tower is 33 m, from here you can see the valleys of the Elbe River, the Bohemian Middle Mountains, the Ore and Lusatian Mountains, Mount Rzip.
The tower near Decin entered the history of the country as the first place in the country where it was possible to catch a television signal. It was a live broadcast of the Olympic Games in Berlin.
Address: Sněžnik 125, 407 01 Jilove
GPS:50,793591 14,108883
ceskatelevize.cz
Observation tower on Šumava
In 2004, a wooden observation tower (22 m) was built on the Šumava mountain Boubin, which is located at an altitude of 1,362 m above sea level. 109 steps lead to the top of the tower. Having overcome them, visitors can enjoy the picturesque views of Šumava. If the sky is clear, then you can even see the Alps, which are 200 km away. On the other side you can see the panoramas of the Czech cities Vimperk, Brdy, Gluboka nad Vltavou.
The Boubin observation tower is considered the second highest in the Czech Republic after the Praděd television tower. In 2011, the Czechs recognized it as the most beautiful viewing platform in the South Bohemian region.
You need to climb the tower along a wooden pedestrian road, fenced with railings. Ecologists insisted on closing the remaining approach routes so as not to cause harm nature reserve. Tourists can climb the observation deck at any time of the year. The entrance is free.
Address: national parkŠumava, Boubinsky nature reserve
GPS:48,987540 13,799343
idnes.cz
kudyznudy.cz
The Holy Mountain (Svatá Hora) near Pribram is an old place of pilgrimage to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to legend, the statuette of the Blessed Virgin Mary was carved from wood in the 14th century by Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice of Prague. The same legends refer to the construction of the original chapel in the 13th century.
According to the Czech historian of the 17th century, Boguslav Balbin, who studied the history of the Holy Mountain, the first chapel was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It was a very simple structure, with a flat wooden ceiling, earthen floor, and no doors. The oldest building plan of the Holy Mountain, which preceded the current one, dates back to about 1658.
Since ancient times, hermits settled on the Holy Mountain. The most famous of them was Jan Prochazka, who came from Nymburk in 1632. Arriving blind, accompanied by his grandson, he received his sight a few days later. Jan Prochazka's case is the first one documented by doctors. Over time, the number of pilgrims increased, and in 1647 the management of the Holy Mountain was transferred to the Brzeznice Jesuits.
In 1658, the famous Baroque architect Carlo Lurago was invited to the Holy Mountain from Prague to carry out a grandiose project for the construction of a pilgrimage site. Almost unchanged, it has survived to this day. The pilgrimage complex was built and decorated as it became available. Money. Without exaggeration, the Holy Mountain can be called a national shrine, since among the donors were not only rich people, but also poor parishioners.
The main shrine, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, stands on a high stone platform, surrounded by a rectangular gallery. At each corner of the gallery are enclosed octagonal chapels that top off with a bell-shaped roof. Several open chapels are in the gallery. It is painted with scenes about the help of the Mother of God to the suffering, who came to the Holy Mountain. The residence of the probst is located on the outside, there is also the famous baroque staircase connecting the Holy Mountain with Pribram.
The Svyatogorsk complex is a real treasury of works of art. Both sculpture and painting are very valuable. The stucco molding inside the temple and chapels is magnificent, the harmony of colors is noble. Amazingly beautiful are the Prague and Brzeznice Gates attributed to Christoph Dientzenhofer. Since most of the murals are located almost in the open air, they have been restored many times and even rewritten.
Practical information:
Free admission.
The territory of the pilgrimage complex is open daily from 6:30 to 18:00
Address:Svatá Hora 591, 261 01 Pribram II
Website: http://svata-hora.cz/
Services: http://svata-hora.cz/ru/29/x
Book a tour: http://svata-hora.cz/user/orderGuide
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view.
Phone: +420 318 429 930
How to get there: If you are traveling from Prague by bus, you need to get off it before reaching the bus station, at the Jiráskovy sady stop, go to the opposite side and take bus number 2A, which stops next to the pilgrimage complex. If you are traveling from another city, then from the bus station or railway station you also need to take bus number 2A. This bus runs at short intervals on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, you can also take bus number 6A. Schedule public transport Pribram can be found: http://www.pribram.eu/zivot-ve-meste/doprava-a-jizdni-rady.html
It is interesting to climb the Holy Mountain by a specially built baroque covered staircase from Dlouhá street (near the Schody coffee house, Dlouhá street 160). The staircase is open daily in summer from 8.00 to 17.00 and in winter from 8.00 to 15.30.
