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| Mt. Laoshan |
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Among all the well-known mountains across China, it is the only one on the coast. It has a coastline of 87.3 kilometers, with 13 bays and 18 islets nearby. Legend has it that some 2,500 years ago, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC) came here hoping to meet immortals, and later so did Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), giving a mysterious air to Mt. Laoshan.
At the peak of Taoism, there were nine palaces, eight Taoist temples, and 72 nunneries that housed nearly 1,000 Taoist priests and nuns on the mountain. At present, the Taiqing Palace is the largest and oldest among the preserved Taoist establishments, built in the early Northern Song Dynasty. It has a history of nearly 1,000 years and features a simple architectural style, which complements the wooded area that surrounds it.
The entire mountain covers 446 square kilometers and has 218 places of interest, big and small. Facing the Yellow Sea, it has long held the reputation as the most famous mountain on the Sea.