|
Huangshan
As one of China's most famed
mountains, Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains) is
popularly known for the beauty of its clouds.
Named as Yishan in the Qin dynasty (211-207 B.C.),
Huangshan got its present name in 747 A.D. (the
6th year of the Tianbao reign of the Tang dynasty).
Located in the southern part of Anhui
Province, the Yellow Mountains extend across four
counties-Shexian, Yixian, Taiping and Xining.
They rose above the earth surface as a result
of movement of the earth's crust over a hundred
million years ago. Later they underwent the erosion
of Quaternary glaciations and have gradually become
what they are today.
The Yellow Mountains are a marvel:
within an area of 154 square kilometers there
is a group of peaks, 72 of which have names indicating
the shapes they resemble. Lotus Flower Peak, Bright
Summit Peak and Celestial Capital Peak are the
three major ones, all rising up 1,800 meters.
And the fantastic pines, grotesque rocks, sea
of clouds and hot springs are the four major attractions
of the Yellow Mountains. Immortalized in ancient
and modern Chinese art, this area of hanging mists,
huge pointed rocks and gnarled pines is of outstanding
beauty, and is considered by most Chinese an essential
tourist destination. Moreover, there are more
than 1,500 species of plants, of which trees comprise
one third. So the Yellow Mountains occupy an important
place in China's botanical research.
|
