World Heritage in China

Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area

 

Huangshan Mountain is in the Huangshan city area, south Anhui Province. The scenic reserve stretches 40 kilometers from north to south and 30 kilometers from east to west and takes up an area of 1,200 square kilometers.

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.

Source: http://old.cnta.gov.cn