Mt. Laoshan Scenic Area


With its highest peak rising 1,133 meters above sea level, Mt. Laoshan is situated on the southeastern Shandong
peninsula. Facing the Yellow Sea, it is one of China's major scenic resorts and has long held the reputation as the
No. 1 Famous Mountain on the Sea.

It is a famous Taoist mountain boasting both mountainous and coastal scenery. Among all the well-known
mountains across China, it is the only one on the coast. It has a coastline of 87.3 kilometers, with 13 bays and 18
islets nearby. Rambling along a stone-planked path on the mountainside, you will be touched by both huge tides
on the sea and lush pine trees and misshaped rocks on the shore, and will thus feel broad-minded and relaxed.

Many years ago it was revered as the ''Home of Eternal Life'', where grew magic herbs which could cure all known
diseases and make man immortal. It was in order to search for these wondrous plants that the Qin Emperor Shi
Huangdi (259-210 BC) and the Han Emperor Wudi (156-87 BC) climbed this mountain. In the 8th C the Tang
Emperor Xuanzong sent two high officials to find and collect the magical herbs and to prepare for him the Elixir of
Life. After the 10th C more and more Taoist monasteries sprung up here, but most of them were destroyed in later years.

Mt. Laoshan is known for its oddly shaped rocks, ancient trees, and crystal-clear springs. Among the most famous springs are the Tianyi Spring
on the mountaintop, the Shenshui (Immortal Water) Spring in the Taiqing Palace, and the Shengshuiyang (Ocean of Holy Water) Spring in the
Shangqing Palace. People say the mineral water produced here can cure chronic diseases.

At the peak of Taoism, there were nine palaces, eight Taoist temples, and 72 nunneries that housed nearly 1,000 Taoist priests and nuns on the
mountain. At present, the Taiqing Palace is the largest and oldest among the preserved Taoist establishments. First built in the early Northern
Song Dynasty (960-1127), the palace has a history of nearly 1,000 years and features a simple architectural style. It is surrounded by countless
scenic spots and is the center of the entire tourist area.

The weather in Mt Laoshan is moderate with plenty of rainfall. The ancient trees inside and outside the
temples and palaces, such as cypress in Han Dynasty, elm in Tang Dynasty, gingko in Song Dynasty
and camellia in Ming Dynasty etc are known to all, far and near.