"A fairyland on earth" is what visitors experience when viewing breathtaking photographs of one of the top tourist attractions in China, the Huangshan Mountain. Currently on at the Chavonnes Battery Museum, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town until 10th November 2018.
A selection of 60 images of this Unesco World Heritage Site and Unesco Global Park showcasing spectacular photographs of what is known as the "Five Wonders"
- the sea of clouds resembling waves in the ocean,
- pine trees that thrive growing straight from cliffs in various postures,
- peculiarly-shaped granite peaks,
- the ever-flowing, healing hot springs,
- the snow blanket creating a crystal world covering the landscape in winter.
Huangshan Tourism Development Office, Deputy General President, Sun Jun said: “the exhibition was designed to entice South African and international tourists at the V&A Waterfront to visit Huangshan.”
The mountain range, formed about 100 million years ago, has inspired the work of poets, writers, painters and photographers from all over China and the world.
The images are accompanied by captions that offer a fascinating insight into the history, culture, traditions and folklore of China, one such is the “Guest Greeting Pine” an 800-year-old tree that has its own 24-hour bodyguard service and “Chili drying in the sun”. The most famous quote about chilli peppers in China came from the country’s most notorious chilli lover, Chairman Mao: “No chilis, no revolution (不吃辣椒不革命),” he said. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of chilli, growing between 50 million and 60 million tons of peppers – about 46 percent of the world production.