pine tree clinging to the rock face
(infohuangshan.com)An ancient tourist once
remarked: “Huangshan’s beauty is unparalleled on earth. Once you ascend the
Huangshan Mountain, you will find other mountains nothing but mounds or
hillocks”
Huangshan Mountain, formerly called Yishan, is one of China’s most spectacular mountains. It is the general name of a famous range of granite mountains found within the boundaries of Huangshan Municipality south of Anhui province. Huangshan Mountain is about 40km long from north to south and 30km wide from east to west. Its sightseeing area covers 154sq. km, so it is known as “five-hundred-li Huangshan”. The airport at the old town of Tunxi is 75 km away, on the way to Huangshan, you might have a chance to visit one of the time-honored factories for either writing-paper or inkstone.
The attractive landscapes scattered in the vast area include three lakes, three waterfalls, twenty ponds, twenty-four streams, seventy-two peaks, accompanied with the majestic view of sunrise, gorgeous sunset and the mysterious Buddha halo.
Over the century, Chinese men of letter have immortalized “four ultimate beauties” of Huangshan Mountain: ancient pine tree clinging to the rock face; peaks in strange shapes; bubbling hot springs and rapidly changing clouds. All these form a unique spectacle of its own that will enhance the tourists so much as to make them linger on it.
Huangshan Mountain is beautiful for its pine trees. The hardy, old pine tree
are all beautifully shaped by nature, some
peaks in strange
shape(infohuangshan.com)growing out of the rock
cracks, some standing adhering to the cliff, some overhanging over the deep
valley, and others capping the head of rock. Green and luxuriant are the giant
pines several dozen high. Subtle and exquisite are miniature of pines only
several inches in height. Huangshan’s pines growing in various styles are all
natural works of art.
Huangshan’s scenery is based on is peaks. Each of the seventy-two peaks in different shapes has its own charm. The highest of the 72 peaks, Lotus Peak rises 1,873 metres above sea level. The Heavenly Capital Peak is the second highest, and right in this section, there is a one-meter-wide ridge called “Carp’s Backbone”. These two peaks are distinguished for their loftiness, steepness and grandeur, while Shixin (meaning to begin to believe) Peak shooting out from the deep valley impresses us with its slenderness, quietness and delicacy. The harmony of strength and grace makes a superb picture of huangshan Mountain.
But Huangshan Mountain is for the very daring and adventurous. For example, to reach the valley before the final ascent to the top means climing 800 stone steps cut into about 80 degree cliff. Although there are iron chain railings to assure the safety of the visitors, many still resort to crawling to get across. However, the reward is generous, lofty peaks, steep valleys, winding streams and brooks, luxuriant plants and trees-so many beautiful scenes that one simply can’t take them all in. a cable car is available now. It is Chian’s longest one of this kind shuttling between the Beihai(North Sea) Hotel and the Cloud Valley Temple.
rapidly changing
clouds(qianlong.com)Huangshan Mountain has a
pleasant weather, the coldest time is in January, with an average daily
temperature of 2.9 degree centigrade. The warmest time is July, with a daily
temperature of 17.7 degree centigrade. The charm of the scenery in Huangshan
Mountain is in its changes during different seasons which is the main reason for
attracting tourists all the year round.
Huangshan Mountain is wonderful for its varied scenes and changeable views.
“Peak, rock, pine, everything here is marvelous; cloud, water, mountain all seem
to be living.” The clouds float to and fro among the pine trees and the brooks
flow murmuring around the rocks. The view changes when you move a step and the
scene varies with the time, weather and season. It is “change” that makes
Huangshan Moutain distinguished from other mountains. The beauty of Huangshan
Mountain is beyond words. So, the best thing to do is to visit it and get some
idea of it for yourself. You have to be there to see it to
believe.
