Yellow Mountain – the Loveliest Giant amidst a Sea of Clouds
Mount Huang is known as the ‘loveliest mountain in all of China’. It is a pilgrimage for poets, painters, visitors and photographers alike. Its magnificent granite peaks rise out of a seemingly endless sea of clouds, making it a spectacular site to all who behold it.
The mountain range is located in the south of the Anhui Province of eastern China, and is home to the evergreen Huangshan Pine. As a major tourist attraction it has been a stunning subject for traditional Chinese paintings and literature.
When an ancient sea disappeared during the Mesozoic Era, about 100 million years ago, the mountain range of Huangshan was formed. The many unique peaks were shaped by the glaciers during the Quaternary Glaciation, some of them more than 1,000 metres high. The most illustrious of these are the Lotus Peak, Bright Summit Peak and the Celestial Peak.
Huangshan means the Yellow Mountain, and in ancient times it was known as Mount Yishan. It was renamed Mount Huangshan in 747AD after the legendary Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor. Huang Di was reputedly the ancestor of all the Chinese people and it has been said he made pills for immortality amidst the mysterious peaks of the mountain. Another legend tells that Mount Huang was the place where the Emperor ascended to heaven.
Although its magnificence is what brings the throngs of visitors, it is also abundant in resources and boasts a variety of zoological species. The mountain has a variety of flora, with almost half of China’s fern varieties finding a home there. The Huangshan Pine does not take root in the soil, but in rocks demonstrating its sturdy vigour. Many other pine trees are so old they have been given names, such as the Ying Ke Pine, which is over 1,500 years old. The moist climate nearer the base of the mountain is perfect for growing tea leaves. The Mao Feng Cha or the Fur Peak tea, with its downy tips is a popular local green tea leaf.
From high above the summit the peaks look as though they are islands amidst the Sea of Clouds. On the mountain itself there are many superb areas of splendour. Xandu is an area with many hot springs and water features. The Peach Blossom Stream and the Xiaoyao Stream flow through it. Its central attraction is the Grasping Beautiful Scenes Bridge, while the waterfalls and ponds are delightful. The Singing String Spring makes a lovely twinkling sound as it hits an expanse of rock.
In the North Sea area, there are many wonderful sites, such as the Shixin Peak, and the Bright Peak where all five cloud seas can be viewed. Many have said that the magic of the Huang Mountains is in the sunrise, while the place names are unforgettable, such as Lover’s Pine and Two Immortals Playing Chess.
The most celebrated aspect of the mountain is the wonderfully carved steps in the side of the cliffs. There are over 60,000 throughout the area and they are thought to be about 1,500 years old. No one knows who built them and they add a striking feature to the naturally beautiful surroundings.
A crystal stream pours into the Emerald Pool in the Pine Valley, which is surrounded by a rocky landscape and reflects the mountains and sky with mesmerising effect. The Nine Dragon Waterfall, with its remarkable nine ‘leaps’ is an extraordinary natural phenomenon.
The mountain does not only harbour majestic and powerful scenes, there are also many tranquil and serene areas. Places to relax and be idle, absorbing the nature’s fantastic gifts. There are many legends surrounding the area, with the pines, rock formations, and water features all having a story to tell. Mount Huang is indeed a wondrous place on earth, a place for adventure as well as calm.
