Home » City specials » Qingdao
Have the climb of your life
By Pan Zheng |
00:00 UTC+8 October 30, 2010
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Print Edition
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WITH its beautiful beaches, rare plant life and ancient temples, Laoshan Mountain is more than just a great vantage point to watch the sunrise over the sea. Pan Zheng gives the lowdown on the high points.
If you plan to visit Qingdao in the autumn, there is a place covered with beautiful rocks and forests that you must go to -- Laoshan Mountain. And if you want to scale great heights or explore secret valleys in the mountain, there are six routes for you to choose from.
No.1 Great Peak
Great Peak, or Jufeng Peak in Chinese, is the highest peak of Laoshan Mountain, 1,133 meters above sea level. It's also the highest and nearest peak to the sea along the entire 18,000km coastline of Chinese mainland.
Great Peak is mostly famous for its natural scenery with magnificent views of the sea. It's also an incredible experience to watch the sunrise over the sea. No surprise then that "Sunrise on Jufeng Peak" is listed in the "Top 12 Scenes of Laoshan Mountain."
No.2 Taiqing Palace
Named after the famous Taiqing Palace temple inside, the tourist spot, located to the southeast of Laoshan Mountain, is famous for its Taoist culture.
Taiqing Palace temple is the biggest and oldest Taoist temple of Laoshan Mountain. It was said to be built in 140 BC, enjoying a history of more than 2,100 years. The temple is surrounded by mountains on three sides, while the last side looks over the sea.
Because the mountain stops the cold air coming from the north in the winter, it naturally forms a unique climate within the area which is warm and wet in all seasons.
As a result, many kinds of plants there cannot be seen in other places in Qingdao.
Since many of the plants are more often seen in jiangnan, an area south of the Yangtze River including Shanghai and parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the spot is also called "Little Jiangnan" by local people.
No.3 Chessboard Rock
Chessboard Rock, or known as Qipanshi Rock in Chinese, is actually a 637-meter-high peak. It gets the name from a tale about two gods playing chess at the location.
Besides the rock, visitors can see two temples. One of them is a Taoist temple called Mingdao Temple, while the other one is the Buddhist Huayan Temple. They are the highest two temples in China.
No.4 Yangkou Scenic Spot
Located in the northeast of Laoshan Mountain, Yangkou Scenic Spot is known for its beach scenery.
The mountains and rocks in the area look magnificent, although they're not Laoshan Mountain's main feature.
Visitors come for the beach where the sand is soft and the water clean, making it an ideal outdoor swimming location.
It's also a good place to watch the sunrise. No matter whether you're positioned on the area's top of Lion Peak, or Shizi Peak as known in Chinese, or on the beach below, you'll always enjoy the amazing natural spectacle.
No.5 Beijiushui Scenic Spot
The area enjoys a high reputation among Qingdao citizens. Many local people take their families and friends to spend weekends there.
It's located in the north of Laoshan Mountain, known for its beautiful natural scenery.
Jiushui means nine mountain springs from the peak. Inside the scenic spot, these nine springs have formed 18 pools of differing sizes and depths.
Strange-shaped rocks can be seen in every corner. Walking in the area, you'll feel like you're in a natural sculpture park.
No.6 Hualou Stone
The area is in the northwest of Laoshan Mountain, famous for its peaks, rocks and Taoism buildings.
From the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Hualou Stone became a must-see place for ancient scholars and government officials visiting Laoshan Mountain.
A lot of epigraphs and carved rocks by literati and celebrities are preserved in the area.
The most famous epigraph was written by Zhao Xian, the governor of Shandong Province in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
He wrote "No.1 of Mountains on the sea" on the stone to praise Laoshan Mountain.
If you plan to visit Qingdao in the autumn, there is a place covered with beautiful rocks and forests that you must go to -- Laoshan Mountain. And if you want to scale great heights or explore secret valleys in the mountain, there are six routes for you to choose from.
No.1 Great Peak
Great Peak, or Jufeng Peak in Chinese, is the highest peak of Laoshan Mountain, 1,133 meters above sea level. It's also the highest and nearest peak to the sea along the entire 18,000km coastline of Chinese mainland.
Great Peak is mostly famous for its natural scenery with magnificent views of the sea. It's also an incredible experience to watch the sunrise over the sea. No surprise then that "Sunrise on Jufeng Peak" is listed in the "Top 12 Scenes of Laoshan Mountain."
No.2 Taiqing Palace
Named after the famous Taiqing Palace temple inside, the tourist spot, located to the southeast of Laoshan Mountain, is famous for its Taoist culture.
Taiqing Palace temple is the biggest and oldest Taoist temple of Laoshan Mountain. It was said to be built in 140 BC, enjoying a history of more than 2,100 years. The temple is surrounded by mountains on three sides, while the last side looks over the sea.
Because the mountain stops the cold air coming from the north in the winter, it naturally forms a unique climate within the area which is warm and wet in all seasons.
As a result, many kinds of plants there cannot be seen in other places in Qingdao.
Since many of the plants are more often seen in jiangnan, an area south of the Yangtze River including Shanghai and parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the spot is also called "Little Jiangnan" by local people.
No.3 Chessboard Rock
Chessboard Rock, or known as Qipanshi Rock in Chinese, is actually a 637-meter-high peak. It gets the name from a tale about two gods playing chess at the location.
Besides the rock, visitors can see two temples. One of them is a Taoist temple called Mingdao Temple, while the other one is the Buddhist Huayan Temple. They are the highest two temples in China.
No.4 Yangkou Scenic Spot
Located in the northeast of Laoshan Mountain, Yangkou Scenic Spot is known for its beach scenery.
The mountains and rocks in the area look magnificent, although they're not Laoshan Mountain's main feature.
Visitors come for the beach where the sand is soft and the water clean, making it an ideal outdoor swimming location.
It's also a good place to watch the sunrise. No matter whether you're positioned on the area's top of Lion Peak, or Shizi Peak as known in Chinese, or on the beach below, you'll always enjoy the amazing natural spectacle.
No.5 Beijiushui Scenic Spot
The area enjoys a high reputation among Qingdao citizens. Many local people take their families and friends to spend weekends there.
It's located in the north of Laoshan Mountain, known for its beautiful natural scenery.
Jiushui means nine mountain springs from the peak. Inside the scenic spot, these nine springs have formed 18 pools of differing sizes and depths.
Strange-shaped rocks can be seen in every corner. Walking in the area, you'll feel like you're in a natural sculpture park.
No.6 Hualou Stone
The area is in the northwest of Laoshan Mountain, famous for its peaks, rocks and Taoism buildings.
From the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Hualou Stone became a must-see place for ancient scholars and government officials visiting Laoshan Mountain.
A lot of epigraphs and carved rocks by literati and celebrities are preserved in the area.
The most famous epigraph was written by Zhao Xian, the governor of Shandong Province in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
He wrote "No.1 of Mountains on the sea" on the stone to praise Laoshan Mountain.
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