Laoshan

Laoshan rises to 1,132 metres directly from the sea east of Qingdao, the highest peak on China's coastline, a granite massif of domes, boulders and streams that drops in cliffs to the shore. It has been a Taoist mountain since the Warring States period and holds the Taiqing Palace, founded in the Song, along with other temples among the rocks. Pu Songling set several stories from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio here. The mountain's spring water is famous enough to be the basis of Laoshan mineral water and, historically, of Tsingtao beer, and green tea grown on the lower slopes is Shandong's best known.

History

Laoshan is counted among the birthplaces of Taoism, and the emperors Qin Shi Huang and Wu of Han are said to have visited it; in 412 the Buddhist pilgrim Faxian landed near here on his way home from India. The Taiqing Palace was first built under the Northern Song, though its present buildings date from the Wanli reign of the Ming; the Temple of Great Purity, founded under the Song, was rebuilt in 1297-1307, and the Hualou Temple was founded by the Taoist Liu Zhijian in 1325. The Qing writer Pu Songling is said to have lived at the Temple of Supreme Purity in his later years. Huayan is the only Buddhist temple on the mountain, and Tsingtao beer is brewed with Laoshan spring water (Wikipedia, Mount Lao).

The landscape

• The sea cliffs - granite dropping directly into the Yellow Sea.
• Taiqing Palace - the Song-founded Taoist temple on the shore.
• The summit routes - paths and cable cars to the high granite domes.
• The tea and spring water - Laoshan green tea and the springs it comes from.

When to go

April to June and September to November; summer brings sea fog that can hide the mountain for days and crowds from Qingdao's beach season. Winter is cold and some routes close.

Good to know

Shuttle buses within the scenic area are compulsory and add to the ticket. Sea fog frequently obscures views. The area is divided into sections with separate access, and covering more than one in a day is difficult.

Nearby

Qingdao lies west; the coast road runs along the mountain's foot.