From Baoguo Monastery the path leads to the right,up to Wuxian Ridge. Then the hike goes upwards along Baoxian Stream,climbs the Sunny Slope, passes the White_dragon Temple and ascends the Elephant_tusk Slope. Eventually, you can enter the Da'e Tower and then arrive at Wannian Monastery. The building of the monastery was begun in 400,sponsored by Huichi, an eminent monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The monastery was named “Puxian Monastery” in honor of Puxian Buddha statue placed inside for worship. The monastery was reconstructed during the Tang Dynasty. It was remaned as White_water Monastery mainly because the surrounding mountains looked like they were on fire, and it was hoped that the white water might protect the monastery from any fire disaster. During the Song Dynasty the monastery had further reconstruction. The Song imperial court offtered 3,000 liang(One liang equals 50 grams) of gold, to the monastery,which gold was cast into Puxian statue riding on the eleplant. It was again the White_water Puxian Monastery. During Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty a fire destroyed the monastery.The emperor had people reconstruct the monastery and renamed it as Shengshou Wannian Monastery. Shengshou means “imperial longevity”,and Wannian“10,000 Years”. This accounts for the origin of the current name of the monastery. At present, the monastery has seven halls and is considered as one of the six largest monsteries on Mt.Emei. Since 1952, much repair work has taken place. To the left of Maitreya Hall in the monastery is Zhiyuan Garden. In this garden Li Bai and Monk Guang Jun played a zither while composing poems in legend. Behind the hall is a beamless brick hall.
To the left of the hall is the Xingyuan Tower in which three treasures are stored. The first is a Buddhist scripture, presentd to the royal family from Burma; the second is Kasyapa's teeth Sarira,take back from Sri Lanka; the third is the Sealof Wish King Puxian, presented by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The last hall is the Grand Buddha Hall. Huang Yunhu,a well_known Sichuan calligraphist,wrote an inscription for its entrance horizontal board. His stokes are vigorous and elegant. Most entrance board inscriptions to Grand Buddha Halls in monasteries across Sichuan area come from the rubbings on this inscription. In the center of the hall is the “Three_image”Copper Buddha Statue,5.35m in hight. Cast in 1534, the figure has a body of gold and is 6 zhang in height. Close to the monastery is Shengci Nunnery. At the beginning, it offtered sacrifices to Shengci Empress Dowager of an emperor of the Ming Dynasty; later,it was named after the title of the dowager.
The way uphill from the monastery,leads to the Heart_resting Home; the way downhill leads to the White_dragon Cavern. Master Ming Guo of Jin Dynasty who subdued the dragon was in the cavern. Guanyin Figure also stands in the Song Dynasty. In the same cavern there is a jade Buddha figure presented by the monks from the Zuoshan Monastery in Burma. Leaving the White_dragon Carven, one enterss Yuaun Forest where you can view a spestacular geologic phenomenon -- a stalactite forest. This is the only place on the mountain from which you can get a full view of the stalactite growing high and low ; green and luxurious like innumerous trees towering up to the sky. In addition,mountain orchids grow primarily in Yusun Forest,which also provides the most of valuable and unique orchids.
