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.