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The Lushan Mountains

Mt.Lushan in Jiujiang

Located in the northern part of Jiangxi province, Mt. Lushan faces Yangtze River to the north and borders Poyang Lake (the largest fresh water lake in China) on the east. The mountain consists of 99 peaks, of which, the major Peak Dahanyang rises 1474 meters (914.1 miles) above the sea level. With the superb scenery displayed by mountains shadowing the water, which in turn mirrors the mountains, Mt. Lushan is famous as a best summer resort.

Since the surrounding water contributes to a rainy and humid weather of the mountain area, Mt. Lushan is best known for three wonders: the cloud sea, the waterfalls and the cragged cliffs, which have been depicted a lot in poems. About 1200 years ago, a master poet of Tang dynasty, Libai, thrilled by the fantastic waterfalls, ever doubted: Hanging from the river, the swift water pours down as if thousands of miles long. Is that the falling of the Milky Way? Among 22 waterfalls, 18 rapid rivulets, 14 lakes and ponds, the Three Tier Spring outdoes all as top wonder. A famous saying goes if Three Tier Spring exclusive, you are no visitor to Mt. Lushan. It falls down 155 meters (96.3 miles) from the Wulaofeng (Peak of Five Old Man), and comes to two crashes due to obstruction by rocks, opening out a large water screen in the air.

Also, the cloud sea in Mt. Lushan is impressive. Sudongpo, a well-known poet of Song dynasty (A.D.960-1280), honored the cloud sea of Mt. Lushan for its ever-changing mist, which enable the mountain to pose diversely. In one of his poems he once pointed out: The failure to get the real looks of the mountain only results in the fact that you are right in the midst of it. In fact, the trick of Mt. Lushan is played out by the cloud, which shrouds the mountain all the year round, the dense fog hiding it from a clear view. Meanwhile, Mt. Lushan ranks as one of nine best spots for sunrise.

East Woods Temple

Situated at the western foot of the mountain, the temple was named East Woods Temple, in correspond of the West Woods Temple standing west of it. Built in A.D. 384, in East Jin dynasty, the temple is regarded as cradle place for Lotus Sect, one of eight sects of Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan in Tang dynasty and enjoyed popularity there.

Flower Path

In April, 817A.D., when another celebrated poet of Tang dynasty, Bai Juyi, came to Mt. Lushan, he found the peach flowers still in full bloom here along the way, while on the flatland, they had since long withered. Delightedly, the poet exclaimed the spring was still not gone, only to make its way up the mountain. He named it Flower Path, which now has set up as a park, inside the park, there is a big ice rock shaped as a table that proved to be remains of glaciers. Basically the magnificent scenery of Mt.Lushan was created by the action of moving ice sheet about two million years ago.

Academy of White Deer Cave

In the valley of Wulanfeng, there is one of the oldest institutions for higher learning in China. It was established in the Tang dynasty, around 9th century. For the founder raised a pet white deer, thus it got its name. In this early school, the lessons were primarily given about the teachings of Confucius. Now in the courtyard, there are tablet corridor, sacred gate of ceremony and white deer cave.

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