Lao Shan is an important Taoist mountain and is famous as the only sacred mountain in China to reach the sea. While not very high compared to other Chinese mountains, its 1,100 meters is rather imposing as they seemingly emerge straight from the sea. Only 40 km from Qingdao, Lao Shan is an  accessible and wonderful place to explore. Its scenery is as famous as its mythology, characterized by clear streams, waterfalls, rock formations, giant flowering shrubs and hidden temple ruins.
Lao Shan was once a busy Taoist mountain, home to thousands of nuns and monks. The religious activity was stifled by the Cultural Revolution and now the Great Purity Palace (Taiqing Gong) remains the only architectural relic worth visiting on the mountain.
Like most of China's important mountains, a cable car is there to help you get to the summit quickly. Nice hiking trails are the alternative which can be quite secluded at times. |
