Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 52 (Color Image)

0052	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

24 PEKING TO LHASA

From the Hai-feng there is a steep descent

across a rock by steps, with the big precipice to

the right and a smaller drop to the left. The

south-west peak (8450 feet) is the highest point

of the Hwa Shan. Stand on the top rock and

there is another magnificent view, taking in the

south precipice. Just below is a small temple

(the Yang - t'ien - ssu), and 200 yards away the

Nan-feng (south peak temple), 8300 feet. Another

steep descent down some very uneven steps leads

to the Nan-t'ien-men (south heavenly gate).

Here some steps, let into the face of the rock with

some hanging chairs, lead down what looks like

the face of the precipice to two small shrines, one

above the other.

Descending easterly and crossing the valley, an

easier climb by steps and chairs over a smooth

rock leads to the Tung-feng (east peak), 8110 feet,

which stands on the side of a hill at the south-east

corner of the mountain. Just below it is a small

isolated rock with a little bronze temple, which

appears inaccessible from above. Returning to

the valley, Pereira reached the fifth and last of the

peak temples, the Chung-feng, 7650 feet, built on

the side of the hill overlooking the valley ; and

continuing in a northerly direction down the valley,

he again reached the path up which he had come,

and returned for the night to the Pei-feng. He

calculated that it must be about 5 miles from

the Pei-feng round the top of the mountain and

back again. But it might be less. The next day

he returned to Hwayinhsien, where he put up in

the yamen. The magistrate was most hospitable,

and entertained him with feasts. But, like most

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