With its highest peak rising 1,133 meters above sea level, Mt.
Laoshan is situated on the southeastern Shangdong peninsula. Facing
the Yellow Sea, it is one of China's major scenic resorts and has
long held the reputation as the No. 1 Famous Mountain on the
Sea.
The entire mountain covers 446 square kilometers and has 218
places of interest, big and small.
It is a famous Taoist mountain boasting both mountainous and
coastal scenery. Among all the well-known mountains across China,
it is the only one on the coast. It has a coastline of 87.3
kilometers, with 13 bays and 18 islets nearby. Rambling along a
stone-planked path on the mountainside, you will be touched by both
huge tides on the sea and lush pine trees and misshaped rocks on
the shore, and will thus feel broad-minded and relaxed. Legend has
it that some 2,500 years ago, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty
(221-206BC) came here hoping to meet immortals, and later so did
Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), giving a
mysterious air to Mt. Laoshan.
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At the peak of Taoism, there were nine palaces, eight Taoist
temples, and 72 nunneries that housed nearly 1,000 Taoist priests
and nuns on the mountain. At present, the Taiqing Palace is the
largest and oldest among the preserved Taoist establishments. First
built in the early Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the palace has
a history of nearly 1,000 years and features a simple architectural
style. It is surrounded by countless scenic spots and is the center
of the entire tourist area.
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The Western Memorial Temple for Guan Yu and Yue Fei in the
Sanqing Palace is a must for visitors to Mt. Laoshan, because it
was formerly a residence of Pu Songling, a renowned novelist of the
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Many stories in his novel Strange Tales
from a Lonely Studio have Mt. Laoshan as the backdrop. In front of
the Sanguan Hall there is a 700-year-old camellia shrub. Among the
largest camellias in the world, it is 8.5 meters tall, and its
trunk is 1.78 meters around. When blooming in midwinter, its
flowers look like a layer of deep-red snow covering its green
leaves. There was originally a white peony that reached the hall's
eaves. Pu Songling dwelled here during his late years, with the
camellia and the peony as his neighbors. The two flowers turned
into two pretty women who fell in love with a young literati in his
fairy tale Xiangyu.
Among the places of interest near the Taiqing Palace are the Elm
Shaped Like a Dragon's Head and the Stone Carvings on the
Cliff.
Mt. Laoshan is known for its oddly shaped rocks, ancient trees,
and crystal-clear springs. Among the most famous springs are the
Tianyi Spring on the mountaintop, the Shenshui (Immortal Water)
Spring in the Taiqing Palace, and the Shengshuiyang (Ocean of Holy
Water) Spring in the Shangqing Palace. People say the mineral water
produced here can cure chronic diseases.
Travel tips
Mt. Laoshan is a tourist attraction on the outskirts of Qingdao,
30 kilometers away from the city proper. The Liuting Airport is 34
kilometers north of the mountain. Before visiting Mt. Laoshan, you
should visit Qingdao, a picturesque coastal city that boasts many
scenic spots, such as the Plank Bridge, the Lu Xun Park, the
Aquarium, the Zhongshan Park, and the Bathing Beach. The city is
800 kilometers away from Beijing, and it takes about 13 hours from
Beijing to Qingdao by train. You can take tourist buses from
Qingdao to Mt. Laoshan for one-day, two-day, or three-day
trips.
There are also public bus routes going directly to different
points of interest. There is Bus 104 from Taidong to Liuqing River,
as well as Bus 110 from Taidong to Beijiushui, Bus 301 from Tuandao
to Shazikou, Bus 304 from the Ferry Port to Yakou, Bus 311 from
Tuandao to Beijiushui, Bus 312 from Tuandao to Yangkou, Bus 106
from Licun to Yakou, Bus 107 from Licun to Beijiushui, Bus 112 from
Licun to Daglaoguan, Bus 113 from Licun to Liuqing River, and
others.
At the Mt. Laoshan scenic resort, there are more than 40 hotels
and restaurants of various quality, including the Jinshan
Entertainment City and the Dongli Hotel in the Taiqing Scenic Area,
the Yulong Hotel and the Dongxing Hotel in the Liuqing Scenic Area,
the Haier Hill Village and the Donghai Pearl Hotel in the Yangkou
Scenic Area, and Huaxing Hill Village and the Qingdao Daily
Training Center in the Beijiushui Scenic Area.
Ticket Price: 70 yuan; 15 yuan to the Taiqing Palace; and 10
yuan each to the Shangqing Palace, the Mingxia Cave, and the
Taiping Palace.
(China.org.cn)
