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Four Wonders of Mountain Huangshan
The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Mt. Huangshan
Strange Pines
Huangshan pines are seen in every corner of Mt.
Huangshan. You will be amazed by their vitality and
strength. The seeds fall into the crevices where
they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven
terrain prevents the pines from growing upright.
Instead they become crooked and even downward.
Another feature of Huangshan pines is that many
trees grow branches on one side only.
The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions. A tree less than 3 meters (9.84feet) high may have grown for over one hundred years or even several hundred years. The root of a pine is several times or several dozens times longer than the trunk, therefore Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain. Every pine is unique though: Guest-Greeting Pine (in front of the stone lion of the Jade Screen Pavilion in the Jade Screen Scenic Area), Guest- Goodbye Pine (to the right of the Jade Screen Pavilion), Cushion Pine at Lotus Valley, Phoenix Pine at the Sky Sea, Chessboard Pine at Pingtian Stone Bridge, Kylin Pine between Bei Hai Hotel and the Refreshing Terrace, Black Tiger Pine and Sea Exploring Pine are among the most famous ones.
Absurd Stones
Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your
imagination. Some look like human beings, birds or
animals or many other objects. Something that makes
the stones even more fascinating is that they assume
varied shapes when seen from different angles. Every
stone has its own fantastic legend.
The rocks known as the 'Celestial Basking Shoe' and the 'Celestial Basking Boot' share a most romantic story. Once upon a time, in the Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple on Zuoshu Peak lived an old Taoist priest Dao Xuan and his disciple Tai Qing while in the Purple Cloud Temple on Pine Forest Peak lived a Taoist nun Lian Yu and her disciple Miao Zhen. The West Sea Valley separated the two temples as well as a strict commandment; therefore they had no dealings with each other. However, one winter, there was no kindling in Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple. Seeking help, Dao Xuan asked Tai Qing if he could borrow some from the nun at the Purple Cloud Temple. It so happened that the two young disciples fell in love at first sight. From then on, they spent time together when they fetched water or collected firewood. Unfortunately, they were discovered by both masters and the two disciples were punished severely. They were forbidden to go beyond the boundaries set by their masters and threaten with a beating should they disobey. One day when both the masters went down the mountain, they stealthily dated again and agreed upon a good idea: Tai Qing would place a boot in front of the mountain gate if his master was not at home; likewise Miao Zhen would place a shoe. One day, when they were together, their masters unexpectedly returned. Knowing they would be punished, the lovers pondered over their plight. Eventually, they decided that since they could not live together, they would rather choose to die together. Thus, they jumped into a cloud sea. They even did not have time to take back the boot and the shoe. As the days passed, the boot and the shoe turned into two rocks - 'Celestial basking shoe' and 'Celestial basking boot'.
Sea of Clouds
Mt. Huangshan is home to clouds and mists. The Sea
of Clouds has a fairy tale beauty. Winter is the
best season for this spectacle. According to their
locations, the seas of clouds are divided into East
Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea.
If you climb up the Lotus Peak, the Heaven Capital Peak and the Bright Peak, you will find yourself above the level of the clouds and they appear as a sea beneath you. It is true that a sea of clouds can be seen in many high mountains but that of Mt. Huangshan is unique with its oddly shaped rocks and ancient pines. Peaks, large and small, hide and reappear in the boundless waves of clouds. The Heavenly Capital Peak and the Bright Peak appear as isolated islands within this white sea. All the colors seem more vivid in the sunshine. The clouds are forever changing, from being like a mirror when all is calm to rolling waves when the wind is strong. At sunrise or sunset, the glistening clouds assume every hue from red to purple. You cannot help marveling at this gift from the Creator! You will be struck by the beauty when all the red leaves are floating on the white clouds in autumn, when the clouds gush between the peaks like a raging river while the red leaves flutter delicately in the breeze.
Go to the Jade Screen Pavilion to view the South Sea, the Refreshing Terrace for the North Sea, the Paiyun Tower for the West Sea, the White Goose Ridge for the East Sea and the Legendary Turtle Peak for the Sky Sea.
Hot springs
To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs
on Mt. Huangshan must be one of the best ways of
enjoyment and relaxation. Running out of the
Purple Peak of 850 meters (2, 789 feet), the hot
spring in Mt. Huangshan is the first stop
following the entrance. Legend has it that Huang
Di, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, bathed
here 49 days before he ascended to heaven and
became immortal
