Journey of the Ancient Wind - EAST Wind

Excursion to the EAST side of China 12 Apr 2025 - 19 Apr 2025

Just recently, I survived — ahem — completed an 8-day excursion deep into the great motherland of China, lovingly curated (read: slightly evil) by my good buddy Louis Chia. This special journey covered the eastern side of China, starting from Hangzhou and wrapping up in Nanjing (because, well, that's where the nearest international airport could rescue us).

Now, if you're a Feng Shui practitioner like me, going on excursions isn't just "nice" — it's essential. You can't fully understand the ancient texts just by reading about dragon veins and mountain forms while sipping tea at home. You’ve got to feel the land, smell the earth, and sometimes climb until you question your life choices.

This trip took us across 6 different destinations, each boasting 3 key sites — that's a lot of climbing, panting, and “Are we there yet?” moments. But trust me, the lessons and insights were worth every sore muscle.

Main Mission:
We were on a quest to visit some of the most mystical mountain caves, where the Earth's meridian energy hums so strong you might just feel like you've unlocked cheat codes to the universe.
China officially recognizes 10 sacred caves (known as the "十大洞天" or "Ten Great Grotto-Heavens"). These places are ancient Daoist paradises where immortals supposedly lived and cultivated their powers.

Sounds dreamy? It is — until you realize not all of them come with paved paths, snack bars, or Wi-Fi. Some caves require good old-fashioned trekking, scrambling, and occasionally, polite arguments with gravity. But that’s the fun part — because that’s exactly how traditional Feng Shui masters did it centuries ago. No air-conditioned tour buses for them!

Here’s the legendary lineup of the Ten Grotto-Heavens we chase (or maybe they chased us):

• Wangwu Dongtian 王屋洞天

• Weiyu Dongtian 委羽洞天

• Xicheng Dongtian 西城洞天

• Xiang'er Dongtian 湘峨洞天

• Yujing Dongtian 玉京洞天

• Xixuan Dongtian 西玄洞天

• Qixia Dongtian 栖霞洞天

• Shangqing Dongtian 上清洞天

• Taishi Dongtian 太始洞天

• Donghua Dongtian 东华洞天

Each spot has its own unique flavor of mystery, magic... and muscle workout.

So, if you’re the type who doesn’t mind a little dirt on your shoes (and perhaps a small existential crisis halfway up a mountain), then my friend, this is the kind of tour that your spirit — and your step counter — will thank you for

You know those ancient Feng Shui texts that talk about "Grandfather Mountain supporting Father Mountain who then enriches the Child Mountain"?
And the hand-drawn diagrams always show this neat little three-stack setup — one mountain perfectly taller than the next, like a very polite mountain family portrait?

Well, reality is a little less... convenient.
This trip gave us the chance to experience the real thing. No clean, flat sketches here — just raw, majestic nature at its finest!

Thanks to a very helpful (and mercifully sturdy) pagoda tower built on-site, we could finally stand at the right vantage point to see the incoming "dragon" — the connected mountain ranges snaking their way across the land, just like the texts describe.

Honestly, standing up there, I kept wondering how the first ancient Feng Shui masters ever managed to climb to such ridiculous heights to find these spots. (Or maybe they were just fitter than me... or had better hiking shoes.)

From up high, you can finally understand how energy flows: how one mountain's "Qi" transfers to the next, forming a powerful dragon vein, and how this lifeline eventually winds down and nestles itself into a cave area — the sacred meridian spot.

It’s like finally seeing the blueprint behind all the mystical stories — except with a lot more sweat and sore calves involved!

Now that we've tracked down where the Qi flows and settles, the next big question is:
How do you protect and collect all that precious energy for your own (very noble) use?

This is where the Four Celestial Animals step into the story — straight out of the ancient classical texts. You've probably read about them: the mighty Black Tortoise, fierce White Tiger, noble Green Dragon, and soaring Red Phoenix. Together, they form the ultimate security team for prosperous land!

• Black Tortoise: Your solid, protective mountain backing — no sneak attacks from behind!

• Green Dragon: The supportive left arm, guarding and empowering you.

• White Tiger: The right arm — a little more aggressive, ready to strike threats away.

• Red Phoenix: The clear, open view in front, where dreams can soar.

If you can find a land with all four mystical beasts properly arranged, ancient wisdom says you’ll have peace, prosperity, and generations of thriving life. (Basically, ancient Feng Shui's version of hitting the jackpot.)

Now, speaking of sacred places — tucked away here is a humble little Taoist temple with a big story

:
This site is linked to the legendary Ji Gong (济公)!
Born Li Xiuyuan (李修缘), he came from a successful merchant family right in this area. But instead of hoarding wealth like a dragon over gold, he chose the path of enlightenment, eventually returning his family riches to the people through his altruistic acts.

Over the centuries, countless tales, legends — and let's be honest, a small mountain of TV series and movies — were made in his honor.
And to stand inside the very cave where all this history and myth took root... honestly, it felt like being given a backstage pass to a living legend. Truly an unforgettable honor.

Ever wonder what kind of landform encourages fairness and honorable trade in a region?
In Feng Shui, this is often attributed to the presence of a "Jade Ruler" star — and no, not the fancy bling kind.
In ancient geomancy lingo, a "star" refers to a lone standing mountain, and the "Jade Ruler" is said to govern fairness, honesty, and noble dealings — basically the cosmic auditor making sure nobody cheats at the marketplace.

In keeping with local traditions, we joined a small ritual to bless token coins we had brought along — part of an old traveling merchant custom known as 山鬼花钱 ("Mountain Spirit Flower Coins").
Merchants in the old days believed that by blessing these coins, they could win the favor of the mountain spirits and ensure smooth, fair business wherever they went.

What really amazed me, though, was the Taoist priest's performance.
His full ritual concert (yes, full live instrumental music and chanting!) lasted over an hour and a half — nonstop! Different ritual steps, intricate moves, powerful chanting — and not once did he look tired or distracted. (Meanwhile, most of us modern folks are tired after one TikTok video.)

The ritual ended with a hearty lunch together with the priest and his disciples — rounding off the morning with laughter, good food, and a real sense of bonding.
Honestly, it felt like being part of a timeless tradition — except this time, we were not just spectators, but honored guests.

I’m truly honored and grateful to my good buddy Louis Chia for spending so much time and effort curating all these amazing places for us.
Learning Feng Shui from books is one thing — but actually stepping onto the land, seeing the mountains, feeling the Qi flow with your own senses... that's a whole different level of experience.

This trip really opened my eyes to how much more there is to learn — and how much more there is to experience.
The journey has only just begun for me, and I’m excited (and a little nervous!) about the road ahead.

I’m also looking forward to meeting even more real, authentic practitioners — the kind who value quality of experience over ticking off tourist checklists.
No more getting stuck in endless crowds at cookie-cutter tourist traps — we’re here for the real deal, for the places where the land still whispers its ancient stories if you just know how to listen.

Here’s to more adventures, more learning, and hopefully... fewer souvenir shops!

If you're keen on this kind of specially curated trip — the real-deal, boots-on-the-ground Feng Shui adventures — feel free to drop your name in the interest form below!
We'll make sure to send you more information whenever we organize the next journey.
No tourist trap crowds, just authentic sites, good vibes, and unforgettable experiences.

Excursion Interest Form