『Hungshan in Anhui』

HuangShan

Lauded as “no, 1 mountain under the heaven”, mount Huangshan is one of 10 major scenic resorts of China. The 154-sq-km Huangshan mount scenic area in southern Anhui province contains over 400 natural views. There are 77 peaks of over 1,000 m around the Lianhua (lotus) peak, the highest point, about 1,846 m above sea level. In addition, there are about 100 springs and pools. Mountain Hauangshan is noted for its “four wonders”: namely, well-shaped pine trees, grotesque rocks, ocean of clouds, and hot springs. With 83 percent of vegetation coverage, a stable ecological environment and 1,450 protophytes, it is also a treasure house of plant resources in southern China..

As a famous cultural mountain, Mount Huangshan has a long history, attracting numerous men of letters, celebrities and renowned scholars from ancient to modern times. There are over 20,000 poems in praise of it, nearly 100 extant ancient buildings, 200 stone inscriptions, and 36,000 stone steps on the 50,000 m of the ancient “rocky mountain path”, connecting all the scenic spots. In 1990 the unesco put Mount Huangshan on its list of the world natural and cultural heritages.

JiuHuaShan

The mountain lies 20 kilometers southwest of qingyang county and is about 1,342 meters high. As the bodhimanda of Ksitigarbha bodhisattva, it is regarded as one of the four molst famous buddhist mountains. It consists of 99 peaks. The 120-square-kilometer are is full of ridges and peaks, exotic-shaped rocks, roaring waterfalls and clear streams, which establish a reputation of “number one mountain in the southeast china.” All its major scenic spots and famed temples are found within an area of 100 square km. these include 86 temples that enshrine 6,800 buddhist statues with more than 700 monks and nuns. among all temples, the huacheng temple, corporeal body hall and temple of nectar are the most famous. on the 30th day of the 7th lunar month, a traditional temple fair is held on the jiuhua mountain to mark the passing away of ksitigarbha.

HongCun And Xidi

Hongcun Village is about 11 km from the county town of Yixian County. The whole village was originally laid out in the shape of an ox. The west end of the village, called Leigang Hill, resembles an ox head and that is where two huge trees stand like ox horns. At the front and rear of the village are four bridges that span a Jiyin stream and resemble four legs of the ox. The several hundred well-arranged houses form the body of the ox, and the 1,000-meter-long Jiyin stream that meanders through the village is regarded as its intestines. A crescent pond in the village is the ox‘s fourth stomach, and a larger South Lake is its reticulum, the second stomach. The villagers of Hongcun long ago designed this marvelous landscape.\

Xidi Village is located in the southeastern part of Yixian County and has over 300 simple, yet graceful, Ming and Qing dynasty residences, of which 124 are well preserved. The village streets and lanes with their original style remain as they have done for centuries, and the village has been praised by foreign architects as containing some of the best preserved old-time houses and as being one of the most beautiful villages in the world. Typical structures in Xidi include a pailou to the residence of the Qing prefectural governor Hu Wenguang, the Ruiyu Courtyard, the Taoli (peaches and plums) Garden, the Dafu Grand House (home of a senior official in feudal society), and Lingyun Tower.