Huangshan Mountain

Huangshan Mountain (the Yellow Mountain) is located in the southern part of Anhui Province. It rose above the earth surface as a result of movement of the earth's crust over a hundred million years ago. Later it underwent the erosion of Quaternary glaciating and has gradually become what it is today. It is a famous scenic spot full of wonderful sights. The Yellow Mountain, Known as Yishan in the Qin Dynasty (211-207 B .C.) got their present name in 747 AD (the 6th year of the Tianbao reign of the Tang Dynasty) The Yellow Mountain is a marvel: within an area of 154 square kilometers there is a crowd of peaks, 72 of which have names indicating the shapes they resemble. Lotus, Brightness Apex and Celestial Capital are the three major ones, all rising above 1,800 meters. The mountain is a body of granite, often with vertical joints. Erosion and fracture contributed to shape the rocks into huge columns, giving rise to lofty peaks and deep ravines. When it is cloudy the pinnacles loom in mists as if they were illusionary, while the sun is shining they unfold in all their majesty and splendor. The Yellow Mountain change their color and appearance with the alternation of seasons. It is concluded that the fantastic pines, the grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs are the four major attractions of the Yellow Mountain. As a matter of fact there are marvels almost everywhere, especially in the following scenic areas: Wenquan (Hot Spring), Yupinglou (Jade Screen Tower), Xihai ( West Sea), Beihai (North Sea), Yungusi (Cloud Valley Temple) and Songgu'an (Pine Valley Nunnery). Owing to the peculiar terrain, the Yellow Mountain's climate is marked by a vertical change, and the vertical distribution of vegetation is also distinctive: plants on the summit, on the middle levels and at the foot belong to the frigid, temperate and subtropical zones respectively. The temperature in Yellow Mountains is agreeable all the year round. It is cool in summer. As clouds often shut out the sun, hot weather never stays long, and this makes Yellow Mountains an ideal summer resort. As described in ancient scholars' inscriptions: "Clouds in a myriad of forms", "Peaks piercing the sky", "A cool world", "Fantastic and beautiful", "Scenery of exceptional charm", Huangshan Mountain is always a wonder and paradise to tourists all over the world.

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