At the Top of the World

I can hardly believe it’s already October – time passes by faster every year.  I have taught for a total of 5 weeks now and have learned a ton about teaching.   With every class I teach, I learn more about how to teach.  I may be teaching these kids English, but they’re teaching me as well (as corny as that sounds).   

Last week was the national holiday in China, so everyone at Aston got a week off from work.  I and a couple of my fellow teachers decided to take the opportunity to travel to the mountains.  Only a two-hour bus ride from Xiangyang, there is a mountain town called Wudang.  On top of Wudang Shan (“Shan” means mountain in Chinese) there are about a dozen Buddhist monasteries dating back to the start of the 15^th century.  It is also the place where Tai Chi was first practiced.  Consequently, it has become a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, enthusiasts of Tai Chi, and lovers of nature alike.  For me, it was a welcome escape from a polluted city to fresh air and green trees. 

Our hotel was at the base of the mountain, because to access the mountain itself, you have to pay a ridiculous price (240 Yuan, which is almost $40) and then take an hour long bus ride part of the way up the mountain.  There is a cable car which extends over the valleys and peaks of the mountain range which we opted to take up to the highest peak of Wudang Shan.  For someone who is terrified of heights, like I am, it was - well, terrifying, but also exhilarating.  The views and the scenery were magnificent.  At the top of the highest peak is one of the largest monasteries, the Golden Palace, which also functioned as part of a palace structure in the 15^th century.  The walls are an incredible 6-7 feet thick.  Even with erosion from wind and rain, the whole structure remains fairly well maintained. 

From there we headed down the mountain.  The path was dotted with numerous other little shrines and temples along the way.  In addition to great sightseeing, it turned out to be a pretty good hike as well.  All in all, it took us about 8 hours total to climb down the mountain, including stops to take in the view and appreciate the beauty of the temples.

What I found interesting was that the entire path was paved, even all the stairs.  So even though we were surrounded by majestic mountains and scenic views, I still felt separated by not being able to feel the earth – the dirt, rocks, and plants – under my feet.  But with the number of Chinese girls attempting to walk around the mountainside in ridiculous heels, it’s probably a good thing it was paved. 

The few days I spent in Wudang Shan really helped to remind me of the magnificence of creation and the glory of the Master’s plan.  I was able to reconnect with my purpose, see some of the beautiful Chinese countryside, and escape from the city.

 I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the mountains, but was happy to get “home” at the end too.  Xiangyang is definitely starting to feel like home – I mean, a home where people are incapable of walking straight, where staring is constant, and where you can buy live turtles in the supermarket – but home-sweet-home nevertheless.