Mount Rigi – Queen of the Mountains – meets Mount Emei in China: The beginning of a sister mountain partnership in 2009: Here, where Mount Rigi watches over Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug and Lake Lauerz as the “Queen of the Mountains”, a story begins that extends far beyond Switzerland’s borders: the partnership between Mount Rigi and the Chinese Emei Shan (峨眉山).
Mount Emei stone on Rigi Kulm
What at first sounds like symbolic politeness is in fact a clever, grounded network of culture, tourism and sustainable mountain enthusiasm – with very concrete visible traces on both peaks.
2009: Official start of the Rigi-Mount-Emei partnership between Switzerland and China
The formal sister mountain partnership was concluded in March 2009: Rigi Bahnen AG and the management committee of the Emei Scenic Area signed an agreement that sets out joint promotion, market development and exchange measures. The aim is to learn from each other, promote together and inspire visitors to discover the natural and cultural worlds of the Alps – both in Switzerland and in China.
Symbolic stone exchange between Mount Rigi and Mount Emei
The visible symbol of this friendship is particularly charming: the stone exchange. In 2014, a 2.5-tonne boulder from Mount Rigi began its journey to China; in 2015, a basalt stone weighing around eight tons followed from Mount Emei to Mount Rigi. So anyone standing on the Rigi Kulm today will actually encounter a piece of China – with a plaque and inscription, as tangible proof of an idea that would otherwise remain slightly abstract. The counter-gift on Emei Shan fulfills precisely this purpose: a piece of central Switzerland on one of China’s most sacred mountains.
Two mountains, two cultures – similarities and differences
Why Emei? The Emei Shan is an icon: one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the nearby Leshan Great Buddha, a spiritual place of longing with temples, cloud forests and dramatic silhouettes up to almost 3,100 m. At 1,798 m, Mount Rigi is considerably lower, but is disproportionately influential in the cultural history of the Alps – Europe’s first mountain with cog railway access (1871) and a place of longing for classic Alpine romanticism. There is a productive complement in this asymmetry: Emei stands for religious-cultural depths, Rigi for the democratic accessibility of the mountain experience. Together they tell the story of how mountains build bridges – geographically, historically and emotionally.
Tourist effects of the Rigi-Emei partnership
The partnership has had a noticeable impact on tourism. As early as the mid-2010s, Rigi Railways reported a significant increase in guests; a joint marketing offensive with the Emei region was partly responsible for this. This shows that “Sister Mountains” are more than just photo opportunities: They create visibility in new markets, facilitate access for tour operators, provide incentives for media reports and deliver stories that stick – from the Stein am Kulm to themed guided tours or cultural programs.
Looking to the future of the Rigi-Emei partnership
The partnership opens up further possibilities for the future: joint exhibitions (e.g. photography “Two mountains – one view”), reciprocal cultural weeks (tea and temple music from Sichuan on Mount Rigi; alphorn and zither sounds on Emei), educational formats on sustainable mountain tourism or even linked “Twin Summit Tickets” that offer benefits in both destinations. The stones have been laid – now the task is to further revitalize the paths in between.
Video Two mountains – one partnership EMEI SHAN/RIGI
The partnership between the two mountains Emei Shan (Sichuan province, China) and Mount Rigi, which lie 8’013 km apart, was established in 2009. In order to symbolise the cultural and touristic collaboration, an exchange of stones between the two mountains took place. The heavyweight stones represent the valuable and long-standing partnership between RIGI and EMEI.
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LUXURY TRAVEL SWITZERLAND with a visit to the Rigi – Queen of the Mountains
On your luxury trip through Switzerland, you will also visit Mount Rigi – known as the Queen of the Mountains – with 360° panoramic views of 620 Alpine peaks and 13 lakes. You can do this from Lucerne on an idyllic steamboat trip on Lake Lucerne and then take the cogwheel railroad from Vitznau or the aerial cableway from Weggis to Rigi-Kaltbad and Rigi-Kulm, the highest point at 1,798 m above sea level.
LUXURY TRAVEL SWITZERLAND – Brigitte Heller is your personal tour guide
Let yourself be enchanted on a 7-day EXPRESS, 10-day GOLDEN, 14-day DIAMANT, tailor-made luxury trip or luxury trip before/after river cruise or luxury trip before/after ocean cruise through magnificent Switzerland and your charming Swiss tour guide Brigitte Heller.
Video Luxury travel Switzerland – Best of Switzerland – Brigitte Heller
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Video Luxury Travel Switzerland with Brigitte Heller
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