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Huangshan Mountain is an important state
scenic area and was listed as a world heritage site in 1990.
The mountain has a rich history. A legend
claims that Emperor Xuanyuan cultivated himself into an immortal
on the mountain. Tang Xuanzong, a Taoist, renamed it Huangshan Mountain
in 747 and during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the noted traveler
and geographer Xu Xiake inspected it twice. There is a saying that
"you have no wish to visit any other mountains after viewing
the Five Mountains (Taishan Mountain in Shandong, Hengshan Mountain
in Hunan, Huashan Mountain in Hunan, Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi,
Hengshan Mountain in Shanxi and Songshan Mountain in Henan) and
you do not even wish to visit them after you come back from a trip
to Huangshan Mountain."
Huangshan Mountain is famous for its unique
and spectacular scenery. There are 36 huge peaks, 36 minor peaks
and three main peaks-Lotus Flower Peak, Kaidu Peak and Brightness
Summit, which are 1,800 meters or more above sea level, Seventy
seven of the peaks are over 1,000 meters above sea level apart from
the spectacular rocky peaks there are strangely shaped pines, crystal
clear mountain springs and seas of cloud. In the valleys there are
Huangshan Pines, a tree unique to the mountain. Thousands of the
pines are 100 or more years old and 31 are well known with names
such as the Guest-Greeting Pine, guest-Sending off Pine and Lying
Dragon Pine. There are 120 sites with spectacular rock formations.
The rocks come in a variety of shapes and the big ones make rock
forests while the small ones are exquisite. The peaks and dense
forests in the deep valleys give rise to seas of cloud and plentiful
rainfall. The spring on the mountain are clear and the water is
good for drinking and bathing.
Huangshan Mountain is a natural zoo and botanical
garden supporting 1,452 varieties of plants and 552 types of animals.
Forest coverage is as high as 56 percent.
The long history and rich culture of the
mountain can be seen in the 200 surviving temples, pavilions, pagodas,
zig-zag passages, ancient bridges and stone sculptures.
There are hotels and sanatoriums at the base
of the mountain and at the top which can now be reached by cableway.
Included in the UNESCO world heritage list
in 1990.
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