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Huangshan Mountain or Yellow Mountain — A Magnificent Cultural Landscape

Huangshan Mountain, also known as Yellow Mountain, is a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site, boasting magnificent scenic views and cultural attractions.

 

Throughout history, it has been considered the most beautiful, loveliest mountain—a magnificent cultural landscape whose scenery has been frequently portrayed and praised in literature and art.

Stone Steps on Summit of Huangshan Mountain

Stone Steps on Summit of Jade Screen Peak, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

​Huangshan Mountain Facts and Important Data

 

  • It is located in the Huangshan City of Anhui Province.

 

  • It is around 1200 square kilometers large.

 

  • Huangshan Mountain Range has 72 peaks, and the highest peak (Lotus Peak or Lianhua Feng) is 1864 meters above sea level.

 

  • There are over 100 ancient buildings and 300 stone inscriptions on the mountains.

  • The four Wonders of Huangshan are the Seas of Cloud (Yun Hai), Special Pine Trees (Qi Song), Grotesquely-shaped Rocks (Guai Shi), and Hot Springs (Wen Quan).

  • Seas of Cloud are divided into five sections based on location: East Sea, West Sea, North Sea, South Sea, and Heavenly Sea (in the middle).

Distant View of Huangshan Mountain, or Yellow Mountain

Seas of Cloud on Range of Huangshan Mountains or Yellow Mountains, Photo from Huangshan Official Site.

Origin of the Name of Huangshan Mountain or Yellow Mountain

 

Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) used to do alchemy around 4500 years ago in a magnificent mountain named Yishan, where he and two other people conquered many difficulties, became immortals, and flew up to heaven.

In 747, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang changed this place's name to Huangshan Mountain, or Yellow Mountain, to honor these three Taoist immortals. 

Three main peaks were named after these three deities: Xuanyuan, Fuqiu, and Rongcheng.

Colorful Light on Peaks of Huangshan Mountain

Colorful Light on One of the Peaks, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Cultural Importance of ​Huangshan Mountain

 

  • It is believed to be where Huang Di (Yellow Emperor), the cultural hero and ancestor of the Chinese Han people, used to do alchemy and become immortal.

 

  • It has been an essential part of Chinese art and literature, whose stunning beauty has been praised by famous scholars throughout history in tens of thousands of articles, poems, and paintings. 

 

Milky Way View from Top of the Huangshan Mountain

Milky Way View from the Top, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Legends of the Grotesquely-shaped Rocks

 

Over 120 natural special-shaped rocks are named after beautiful legends in the Huangshan Mountains. 

 

 

Immortal Guiding the Way or Xianren Zhilu

When a frustrated genius was lingering in the mountains, an old man showed up and persuaded him to cherish the things he had already obtained and stay strong. 

After he made up his mind and decided to move on, he wanted to respect this old man as his master, but he refused and turned into a stone figure.

Immortal Guiding the Way or Xianren Zhilu

Immortal Guiding the Way or Xianren Zhilu, Photo by Ziyun Kuxingseng.

Monkey Watching the Sea or Houzi Guanhai

A monkey fell in love with a beautiful girl, so he incarnated into a handsome young man and asked her to marry him.

On the wedding day, the monkey revealed his appearance after being drunk, which scared the bride away.

Afterward, he sat on top of a peak day and night, wishing she could change her mind and return. But the girl never showed up again, and the monkey, in the end, incarnated into a stone statue.

Monkey Watching the Sea or Houzi Guanhai of Huangshan Mountain

Monkey Watching the Sea or Houzi Guanhai, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Blooming on Writing Brush or Mengbi Shenghua

When the great poet Li Bai (701 — 762) was visiting there, he got invited by a master of a temple. 

After finishing a beautiful poem, Li Bai casually threw his writing brush into the mountain, which later turned into a huge peak with a pine blooming.

Blooming on Writing Brush or Mengbi Shenghua of Huangshan Mountain

Blooming on Writing Brush or Mengbi Shenghua, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Flying Stone or Feilai Shi

When a group of people was trying very hard to find suitable stones to build a bridge for their village, an immortal showed up and used his magic to transport many rocks for them. 

After they collected enough for the bridge, the immortal flew the extra rock to Bright Summit Peak.

Flying Stone or Feilai Shi of Huangshan Mountain

Flying Stone or Feilai Shi on Bright Summit Peak, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Other Special-shaped Rocks, Photos from Huangshan Official Site.

Boys Kowtowing to the Guanyin Buddha (or Tongzi Bai Guanyin)

Boys Kowtowing to the Guanyin Buddha (or Tongzi Bai Guanyin), Photo by Yao Yuqing.

Immortal Peach Stone (or Xiantao Shi) of Huangshan Mountain

Immortal Peach Stone (or Xiantao Shi)

Deity Appreciating the Moon (or Xianren Wangyue) of Huangshan Mountain

Deity Appreciating the Moon (or Xianren Wangyue)

Deities Playing Chinese Chess (or Xianren Xiaqi) on Yellow Mountain

Deities Playing Chinese Chess (or Xianren Xiaqi)

Stone Immortal Collecting Herbs of Yellow Mountain

Immortal Carrying a Basket on the Back and Collecting Medicinal Herbs (or Xianren Caiyao). 

Impressive Attractions in Huangshan Scenic Area

Sunrise, Clouds of Sea, and Pines of Huangshan Mountain

Sunrise, Seas of Cloud, and Huangshan Pine Trees, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Sunset Glow and Waterfall-Shaped Clouds of Huangshan Mountain

Sunset Glow and Waterfall-Shaped Clouds, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Thermal Spring of Huangshan Mountain

Hot Springs.

Stone Bridge (Buxian Qiao) Connects Cliffs of Huangshan Mountain.

Stone Bridge (Buxian Qiao) Connects Cliffs, Photo from Official Site of Huangshan.

Hongcun Villiage at the foot of Huangshan Mountain

Hongcun Villiage at the foot of Huangshan Mountains, in Which Well-preserved Building Ensembles of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 — 1912).

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