Mount Jiuhua Zen Retreat | A Healing Stay at Junhua, in the Secret Realm of Buddha's Land

When free, come stay a few days by the mountain temple. Leave behind the hustle and haste of the city, waking slowly to the rhythm of morning bells and evening drums. Empty your mind and rediscover your true self amid swirling incense, in this Zen-inspired homestay hidden beside the Roushen Temple (Hall of the Sacred Flesh), the perfect choice for a springtime spiritual retreat. Why not stay awhile before the Buddha and let your soul find peace? - Before dawn breaks, the morning bell of Roushen Temple echoes softly. Wrap yourself in robes and join the morning service guided by the host. With hands pressed together during the 108 chimes, watch the first rays of sunlight pierce through the incense burner before the hall. Chant the Heart Sutra silently amid sandalwood smoke, feeling the solemn energy of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's sacred site. - This is more than a meal—it’s a practice for the palate. Jiuhua’s specialty Huangjing porridge paired with Dizang cakes, seasonal mountain greens, and handmade tofu, all served in unglazed earthenware. The host gently reminds you to "eat with five contemplations," savoring each bite’s natural flavor as if ingesting the mountain’s very essence. - Walk on dew-kissed stone slabs, and in three minutes, you’ll reach Roushen Temple. As you circle the hall three times, the bodhi seed bracelet prepared by the homestay chimes softly at your wrist. Along the way, encounter Huacheng Temple’s doves and Qiyuan Temple’s carved lattice windows—every turn reveals Zen charm steeped in Tang and Song heritage. - Follow the host’s private trail, starting from the homestay’s back mountain path. Meditate under centuries-old ginkgo trees, watching squirrels dart by with pinecones. Gather wild Huangjing roots, then listen to the hostess share Jiuhua’s millennium-old legend of the "Money Tree" over evening stove-boiled tea. - Under the courtyard osmanthus tree, unglazed tea sets await. The Gen Z host demonstrates Song Dynasty tea whisking 🍵, frothing snow-white foam with a bamboo chasen. Paired with Buddhist pastries from Jiuhua Street, tea fragrance blends with temple incense—so immersive, you might forget whether you’re a guest or a monk. - As temple lanterns glow one by one, the smart bathtub fills with herbal sachets. Through the window, the temple’s glazed roof gleams under moonlight, while bath time 🛁 is punctuated by distant bronze bell chimes. The host thoughtfully brings calming Huangjing tea, ensuring a night of deep rest. 📍Junhua Homestay (Roushen Temple Branch), Jiuhuashan Scenic Area, Chizhou City, Anhui Province