Mount Lao

Mount Lao
Laoshan
View of Mount Lao from within the Laoshan National Park.
Highest point
Elevation	1,132.7 m (3,716 ft)
Coordinates	36°11′30″N120°35′30″E
Geography
Mount Lao QingdaoShandong Province,China Mount Lao Mount Lao (Northern China) Mount Lao Mount Lao (China)

Mount Lao
Simplified Chinese	Lao sơn
Traditional Chinese	嶗 sơn
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Láoshān

Mount Lao,orLaoshan(simplified Chinese:LaoSơn;traditional Chinese:嶗Sơn;pinyin:Láo Shān), is a mountain located near theEast China Seaon the southeastern coastline of theShandong Peninsulain China. The mountain is culturally significant due to its long affiliation withTaoismand is often regarded as one of the "cradles of Taoism". It is the highest coastal mountain in China and the second highest mountain in Shandong, with the highest peak (Jufeng) reaching 1,132.7 metres (3,716 ft).The mountain lies about 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the northeast of the downtown area of the City ofQingdaoand is protected by the Qingdao Laoshan National Park that covers an area of 446 square kilometers.

Geology

Mount Lao consists ofgranite.The mountain's landforms were formed due to the action of glaciers during theQuaternaryand erosion by meltwater released from the icecap that covered a large portion of Shandong during the latePleistocene.

History

Laoshan is known as one of the birthplaces ofTaoism.It is the place where theComplete Perfection School of Taoism(Chinese:ToànChân;pinyin:Quánzhēn) developed. In 412 CE the ChineseBuddhistpilgrimFaxianlanded near Laoshan on his return fromIndia.In the course of history, the mountain has been known by various other names, which includes different spellings of "Laoshan" ( lao sơn, lao sơn ) as well as entirely different names such as Mount Futang and Mount Ao (Ngao sơn). The latter name was used by the TaoistMaster Changchunwho served as the top religious affairs official to Genghis Khan.

Sites

In the course of history, numerous palaces,Taoisttemples, and nunneries have been constructed on Mount Lao. At the peak of Taoist worship, Mount Lao was home to about 1000 monks and nuns. However, many of these structures have not survived to the present. Major sites on Mount Lao are:

Temple of Supreme Purity

The largest temple complex on Mount Lao is that of the Temple of Supreme Purity (Chinese:TháiThanhCung;pinyin:Tàiqīng Gōng;lit.'Supreme Purity Palace'), a Taoist temple that was first built during theNorthern Song dynastywith the present structures dating to the reign of theWanli Emperorin theMing dynasty.The temple is located near the coast, below Pantao Peak on the southeastern foot of Mount Lao and is hence also known as the Lower Temple (Chinese:HạCung;pinyin:Xià Gōng), The main structure of the temple is the Hall of the Three Pure Ones (Chinese:TamThanhQuán;pinyin:Sānqīng Guǎn) with houses statues of theTaoist Trinity(the Grand Pure One,the Supreme Pure One,the Jade Pure One). It is flanked by the Three Emperors Hall (to the left,Chinese:TamHoàngQuán;pinyin:Sānhuáng Guǎn) and the Three Officials Hall (to the left,Chinese:TamQuanĐiếm;pinyin:Sānguān Diàn). The Three Emperors Hall enshrines statues ofFuxi,Shennong,and theYellow Emperor.In the Three Officials Halls are the statues of the Three Gods (the God of Heaven, the God of Earth, and the God of Water) along with other statues, such as of the warrior godXuan Wuand ofLei Gong,the God of Thunder. Two ancientCypresstrees in front of the Three Emperors Hall are said to have been planted during theHan Dynasty.Two oldcamelliatrees are standing in front of the Three Officials Hall. On the walls outside of the Three Emperors Hall an imperial decree byGenghis Khangranting Taoism protection. A natural feature on the grounds of the temple is the Shenshui (Immortal Water) Spring that is fed by Mount Lao's considerable underground waters. TheQing dynastywriterPu Songlingis said to have resided in the Temple of Supreme Purity in his later years. His stories "The Taoist Priest of Laoshan" (Chinese:LaoSơnĐạoSĩ;pinyin:Láoshān Dàoshì) and "The Flower Nymphs" (Chinese:HươngNgọc;pinyin:Xiāngyù) from the collectionStrange Stories from a Chinese Studioare set on Mount Lao with the latter story specifically referring to peonies and camellias in the Temple of Supreme Purity.

Temple of Great Purity

Entrance to the Temple of Great Purity

The Temple of Great Purity (Chinese:ThượngThanhCung;pinyin:Shàngqīng Gōng) also known as the Upper Temple (Chinese:ThượngCung;pinyin:Shàng Gōng) is located on the southeastern slope of Mount Lao above the Temple of Supreme Purity. It was established during the Song Dynasty and rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty, in the years 1297 to 1307. It is one of the oldest extant structures on Mount Lao. Like the Temple of Supreme Purity, the Temple of Great Purity features a spring. The spring in the Temple of Great Purity is called the "Shengshuiyang (Ocean of Holy Water) Spring".

Longtan Waterfall

The Longtan Waterfall (Chinese:LongĐàmBộc;pinyin:Lóngtán Pù) has a height of about 20 meters and is located to the south of the Temple of Great Purity.

Temple of Supreme Peace

The Temple of Supreme Peace (Chinese:TháiBìnhCung;pinyin:Tàipíng Gōng) is located on the northern slope of Mount Lao. It was established during the Song Dynasty, but has been rebuilt several times.

Hualou Temple

The Hualou Temple (Chinese:HoaLâuCung;pinyin:Huálóu Gōng) was established by the Taoist Liu Zhijian during the Yuan Dynasty (in 1325) and subsequently rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as during the Republican era.

Huayan Temple

The Huayan Temple (Chinese:HoaNghiêmTự;pinyin:Huáyán Sì) is the onlyBuddhist templeon Mount Lao and is located on the eastern slope of the mountain.

12 Sceneries

Traditionally, 12 sceneries (Chinese:LaoSơnThậpNhịCảnh;pinyin:Láoshān Shí'èrjǐng) on Mount Lao have been regarded as particularly beautiful:

1. Mingxia Sanyi ( minh hà tán khỉ, rays of sunshine)
2. Weizhu Mingquan ( úy trúc minh tuyền, spring with sound)
3. Yundong Pansong ( vân động bàn tùng, pine tree on the rock)
4. Yanpu Chaoyin ( nham bộc triều âm, waterfall with sound of tide)
5. Qipan Xian Yi ( kỳ bàn tiên dịch, megalith at Qipan)
6. Hualou Dieshi ( hoa lâu điệp thạch, various stones)
7. Shiling Hengyun ( sư lĩnh hoành vân, clouds hung on the top of the peak)
8. Naluoyanku ( na la diên quật, rock cave)
9. Haiqiao Xiandun ( hải kiệu tiên đôn, seaside cliffs)
10. Taiqing Suiyue ( thái thanh thủy nguyệt, bright moon in spring water of Taiqing Palace)
11. Longtan Penyu ( long đàm phún vũ, water flowing out of the dragon pool)
12. Jufeng Xuzhao ( cự phong húc chiếu, rising sun in the morning on the highest peak)

Culture

Mount Lao is featured in many legends and local traditions. For example, the mountain is said to have been visited by the emperorQin Shi HuangandEmperor Wu of Han,both hoping to meet immortals and gain immortality there.

The martial arts style of theNorthern Praying Mantisis attributed to Wang Lang, who is said to have developed while living on Mount Lao. Wang Lang is commemorated by a contemporary stone statue on the mountain.

Many gamblers visit Mount Lao for the famous tree located in the mountain, as it is said that three pats of the tree's trunk will bring instant luck for those seeking money.

The beer of theTsingtao Breweryis brewed with Laoshan spring water.

Mount Lao is also famous for its green tea.

Tourism

Laoshan is a popular tourist site with a 5A government rating.During the 2012Golden Week,it received about 176,000 visitors.There are six designated scenic areas on Mount Lao: Taiqing (Thái thanh cảnh khu), Chessboard Stone (Kỳ bàn thạch cảnh khu), Yangkou (Ngưỡng khẩu cảnh khu), Jufeng (Cự phong cảnh khu), Beijiushui (Bắc cửu thủy cảnh khu), and Hualou (Hoa lâu cảnh khu).

External links

• Laoshan Scenic Spot Tourist Site