Mount Laoshan（嶗山）

Mount Laoshan [laoshan.hiao.com]

With its highest peak rising 1,133 meters above sea level, Mount Laoshan is situated in Qingdao, on the southeastern Shangdong Peninsula. Facing the Yellow Sea, it is one of China's major scenic resorts and has long held the reputation as China’s most famous mountain facing the sea.

The mountain is known for its oddly shaped rocks, ancient trees, and crystal-clear springs. The entire mountain covers 446 square kilometers (44,600 hectares) and has 218 places of interest, both large and small. There is neither intense heat in summer nor severe cold in winter.

Mount Laoshan is a famous Taoist mountain boasting both mountain 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 (54.25 miles), including 13 bays and 18 islets.

At the peak of Taoism in China, there were nine palaces, eight Taoist temples, and 72 nunneries that housed nearly 1,000 Taoist priests and nuns on the mountain. The Taiqing Palace is now the largest and oldest among the preserved Taoist establishments.

Admission: 160 yuan (US$25.2)/person