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Over four hundred scenic spots are to be found
on Mt. Huangshan and they can be divided roughly into the following
six areas.
Hot
Springs Scenic Area
Hot Springs Scenic Area was named Xanadu. With the Grasping Beautiful
Scenes Bridge as its hub, this scenic area has Peach Blossom Stream
and Xiaoyao Stream flowing through it. It is 1.5 km (0.93 miles)
to the entrance to the Front Mountain (the Merciful Light Pavilion)
and 7 km (4.35miles) to that of the Rear Mountain (the Cloud Valley
Temple). You can simply walk to the first of these while there are
buses to the latter one.
Here you can enjoy the hot spring as well as the
waterfalls. Also worth mentioning is the Singing String Spring.
A rock of 9 meters (29.5feet) long has tweedle-like sounds when
struck by the spring water. The name carved on the rock was the
handwriting of Li Bai (701-762), one of China's most brilliant poets.
North Sea Scenic Area
North Sea Scenic Area has plenty of wonders. Before your eyes flash
the Shixin Peak, the Lion Peak, the Refreshing Terrace, the Monkey
Gazing at the Sea, the Flying Stone and more.
It is said that only when you come to Shixin Peak
that you will believe the magic of Mt. Huangshan. Or you won't see
the Huangshan pines until you come to this Peak.
Bright Peak (1,860 meters, i.e. 6,102 feet), the
second highest peak of Mt. Huangshan, is the most ideal place to
watch the sea of clouds as all five seas will surround you.
Refreshing Terrace on the Lion Peak is the optimum
place for watching the sea of clouds and sunrise.
In addition, Black Tiger Pine, Lovers' Pine, Two
Immortals Playing Chess, etc, can all be enjoyed here. Let your
imagination fly through those pines and rocks and you may find the
views unique and unforgettable.
All in all, the North Sea is the most important
scenic area. So never miss it. Hotels are abundant here, too.
Jade
Screen Scenic Area
This scenic area has Jade Screen Pavilion as its center and the
Lotus Peak and the Heavenly Capital Peak as the main body. This
is the Front Mountain as people usually call it. Along the road
you will find Peng Lai Three Islands, 100-step Scaling Ladder, the
Thread of the Sky and the New Thread of the Sky. "Splendid is the
landscape", handwritings by Chairman Mao Ze Dong, are inscribed
on the Jade Screen Peak.
The Heavenly Capital Peak is the steepest of the
three main peaks with an elevation of 1,830 meters (6,003feet).
An ancient poet has it that even travelers that have visited wu
yue will be amazed by this peak. The beautiful view, however, comes
at a cost. You have to go along an arduous road and cross the Carp's
Backbone before you reach the peak. The most exciting news may be
that after 6 years' closedown, the Heaven Capital Peak was re-opened
to the public on 16th April 2005.
The Lotus Peak is the highest peak of Mt. Huangshan.
This 1,864-meter (6,115-foot)-high peak looks like a blooming lotus,
hence the name. On the way to the peak, you will be greeted by Huangshan
Pines and azalea. In clear weather, you may be lucky enough to see
Mountain Tianmu in the east, Mountain Lushan in the West, Mountain
Jiuhua and the Yangtze River in the north. Or after rain, you will
see the sea of clouds surging around you.
Pine Valley Scenic Area
Located in the north slope of Mt. Huangshan, the Pine Valley Scenic
Area covers 12.5 km (7.77miles) with a fall in altitude of 1,100
meters (3,609 feet) made up of over 6,500 steps. Rocks and ponds
are the highlights. Among this refreshing world, the Emerald Pool,
the Five-Dragon Pond, and the rock of Guan Gong Resists Cao Cao
(both were famous generals during the Three Kingdoms Period) are
the main scenic points.
The Emerald Pool is surrounded by rocks, with a
crystal stream from the Pine Valley flowing into it. The reflections
of the mountains and trees create another fairy world in the water.
No matter how tempted you may feel Do Not swim in this 10-meter
(33-feet) deep pool for the water is far too cold even in summer.
In addition, the Pine Valley Scenic Area is located
at the North Gate of Mt. Huangshan with Taiping Telpher starting
here.
Cloud Valley Scenic Area
With an elevation of only 890 meters (2, 920 feet), Cloud Valley
Scenic Area does not lose out to other scenic areas for beauty.
The pride of this area is the Cloud Valley Villa, old trees, oddly
shaped rocks and the Nine-Dragon Waterfall and the Baizhang Spring.
The Cloud Valley Villa is a modern hotel with typical
Hui- architectural style of grey tiles and horse-head walls.
There are three precious trees here. The Eastern
China Douglas Fir that is 500 years old and the Southern Hemlock
which is 800 years old; both stand firm and stately through their
long history. One common feature of these two trees is that they
both have two kinds of branches and two kinds of leaves, conifer
and broad-leaf. The third super star is a ginkgo tree calculated
to be 1,000 years. It will certainly catch your eye owing to its
height of 26 meters (85 feet) and huge girth measuring 3.1 meters
(10.17 feet).
The Nine-Dragon Waterfall plunges all of 300 meters
(984feet) from the cliff top between the Incense Burner Peak and
the Arhat Peak. The waterfall has nine leaps, each leap forms a
waterfall and each fall feeds a pool, hence the name.
This area is the so-called Rear Mountain and it
is possible to climb all the way up.
White Cloud Scenic Area
White Cloud Scenic Area covers 16.5 square kilometers (6.37 square
miles). The newly developed Dream Scenic Area is also included in
it. Besides all its fascinating views, this area enjoys a tranquility
that is lacking in other areas. You can take your time and idle
around, fully grasping the beauties of nature.
This is also the best place for watching clouds
and the sunset glow in both autumn and winter. Before the sun sets,
the clouds turn pink, rose or red forming lines or layers in a variety
of changing combinations. The clouds roll like waves when the weather
clears after rain and you will find yourself completely lost in
this dreamland.
In a word, Mt. Huangshan is beautiful in all weathers
and charming at all times.
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