Mount Lao

Background

Mount Lao lies on the southeastern coast of Laoshan District in Qingdao, Shandong, about 30 kilometres northeast of downtown Qingdao. The mountain is divided into six scenic areas: Taiqing, Qipanshi (Chessboard Stone), Yangkou, Jufeng, Beijiushui and Hualou. Tradition also speaks of the "Twelve Views of Mount Lao", such as Sunrise over Jufeng and Rain Spouting from the Dragon Pool. Mount Lao is a famous Taoist mountain where the Quanzhen school once developed. Taiqing Palace was first built in the Northern Song dynasty, and its present buildings date from the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty: the main Hall of the Three Pure Ones is flanked by the Hall of the Three Sovereigns and the Hall of the Three Officials, and the two ancient cypresses in front of the Hall of the Three Sovereigns are said to have been planted in the Han dynasty. Shangqing Palace was founded in the Song dynasty and rebuilt between 1297 and 1307 under the Yuan dynasty. Huayan Temple on the eastern slope is the mountain's best-known Buddhist temple. The Qing-dynasty writer Pu Songling visited Mount Lao several times and is said to have stayed at Taiqing Palace in his later years; "The Taoist Priest of Mount Lao" and "Xiangyu" in his Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio are both set on the mountain.

Local customs

• Climb Jufeng for the sunrise
• walk the Taiqing-to-Yangkou route, where sea and mountain meet
• listen to the springs and watch the waterfalls at Beijiushui
• taste Laoshan green tea around Taiqing Palace.

Travel tips

• The Laoshan Scenic Area in Qingdao is a national 5A-rated tourist attraction. Each of the six scenic areas takes most of a day, so visitors usually cover one route per day
• check ticket and cable-car prices with the official source. Mountain weather changes quickly, so bring a windproof jacket and drinking water.
• The scenic area is about 30 kilometres from downtown Qingdao. You can take the metro to the Licun area and then change to a bus or taxi to the entrances of the scenic areas
• check the official source for specific routes. Spring, summer and autumn are all good times to visit: mountain flowers in spring, cool air and springs in summer, layered colours in the woods in autumn. Winter is windy and cold, so protect yourself against wind and cold when climbing high.