Pagoda of the Purple Rain

A mountain sticks up out of the ocean. At the tip of the spire sits a monastery. The Shibaozhai Buddhist monastery and nunnery was built in 1662 on a site long used as a fortress over the Yangtze River. Since the Three Gorges Dam raised the water level, the monastery’s perch on its mountaintop is not quite as high as it was in former days. Nevertheless, a short mountain climb is climaxed by a ninety-nine step ascent through massive timber work integrated into the side of the pinnacle. The view from the top is as spectacular as the massive Buddha who greets you there. Several tour groups assaulted the hill and navigated the traffic jam to share a lovely experience at the summit. I shared their urge to climb higher, but after I did so I came back down to spend a quiet, private moment in the lovely gardens at the base. In doing this I may have chosen the better part.Read more