The Ladder to Heaven is a scenic spot located in Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province, China, and is a famous tourist attraction. Located about 8 kilometers from the center of Jingmen, the attraction covers an area of about 15 square kilometers and has a long history and magnificent natural landscapes.
The earliest history of the ladder can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it is said that Wu Zixu, the general of the State of Chu, had built a platform here to worship the sky, and the descendants named this place "the ladder to the sky" in order to commemorate him. Over time, the Ladder to Heaven gradually became an important Taoist holy place, attracting many Taoist priests to come and practice. At the same time, it is also a good place for literati and artists to chant poems and paint, leaving behind many precious cultural heritages.
The attractions of the Ladder mainly include five parts: the Gate of Heaven, the Ladder of Heaven, the Patio, the Spring of Heaven and the Temple of Heaven. Among them, the gate of heaven is the entrance of the ladder to heaven, it is a stone archway about 20 meters high, behind the archway is a stone staircase of 333 steps, the stone staircase goes all the way up to the heavenly court, making people feel a strong sense of mystery and solemnity.
The patio is a deep valley surrounded by stone walls, and there is a bottomless spring from which water gushes out to form a wide waterfall, which is spectacular. The heavenly spring refers to the spring water, and it is said that drinking the spring water here can lead to immortality.
Finally, there is the Temple of Heaven, which is a round high platform, on which stands a tall stone stele, on which are engraved with the three big characters of "Sacrifice to Tiantai". It is said that it was once a place where the ancients prayed for rain from the heavens, and during drought years, local villagers would gather here to pray for rain from heaven and a good harvest.
In addition to these five main attractions, there are many other natural attractions and cultural heritages in the Ascending Stairway. For example, on the west side of the ladder, there is a stone peak called "General Rock", and the shape of the stone peak resembles a general in armor, hence the name "General Rock". In addition, there are many ancient buildings and cultural heritages around the ladder, such as the "White Cloud Tower" and the "Tibetan Scripture Building" in the Ming Dynasty.
The Upper Ladder is rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage, making it a very well-worth visiting. If you have the opportunity to travel to Jingmen City, you must not miss this beautiful attraction!