Mt. LaoshanLocating at the seashore of Yellow Sea, in the east of Qingdao City, Laoshan Mountain covers an area of 446 km2 and is 1132.7m above sea level. Among all the famous Chinese mountains, it is the only one that shoots up directly from the seaside and is the h ighest among all the peaks along Chinese coastline. So, Laoshan Mountain is honored as the “Most Famous Sea Mountain”. It’s not only one natural treasure, but an ancient religious cultural treasure. The mountain is culturally significant due to its long affiliation with Taoism and is often regarded as one of the "cradles of Taoism". Its annual average temperature is 12.6℃. Being warm in winter and cool in summer, it’s an ideal place for travel, recuperation and vacation.Laoshan is a 5A level scenic spot announced by State Council, including 9 designated scenic areas—Jufeng (巨峰景区), Dengying, Liuqing, Taiqing(太清景区), Shangqing(上清景区), Yangkou（仰口景区), Qipanshi(棋盘石景区), Beijiushui (北九水景区) and Hualou (华楼景区) and “12 sceneries”(崂山十二景)—Jufeng Xuzhao (巨峰旭照,rising sun in the morning on the highest peak), Taiqing Shuiyue (太清水月,a bright moon in spring water of Taiqing Palace), Haiqiao Xiandun (海峤仙墩, seaside cliffs), Longtan Penyu (龙潭喷雨, water flowing out of the dragon pool) ( the deep linns splashing sprays), Mingxia Sanyi (明霞散绮,rays of sunshine), Naluoyanku (那罗延窟,rock cave), Yundong Pansong (云洞蟠松,pine tree on the rock), Yanpu Chaoyin (岩瀑潮音,waterfall with sound of tide), Weizhu Mingquan (尉竹鸣泉,spring with sound), Jiushui Mingyi (九水明漪,crystalline ripples in nine rivers), Hualou Dieshi (华楼叠石, various stones) and Shiling Hengyun (狮岭横云, clouds hung on the top of the peak)【巨峰】导游词The Giant Peak is the main peak of Laoshan Mountain, which is also called “top of Laoshan”. With the altitude being 1132.7m, the Giant Peak is also the highest peak along China coastline. Standing on the peak, you will find yourself so close to the sun when looking up and the clouds so low when looking back, you can also enjoy the four wonders of Laoshan: “Giant Peak Sunrise巨峰旭照”, ”Peculiar Sceneries of Clouds”, “Fireball of Laoshan”, “Hanging Crystal Snow”.【太清】导游词Taiqing Scenic Area现在我们来到了太清宫(也被称为下宫)——崂山历史最久,规模最大的一座道教殿堂.崂山太清宫建于西汉建元元年.太清宫的创始人是张廉夫，在此修建了茅庵取名“三官庙”。
唐朝末年，道士李哲玄扩建庙宇供奉三皇，取名“三皇殿”。
宋朝时期，道士刘若拙又重修了太清宫。
太清宫主要有三官殿、三清殿、三皇殿等140多所建筑，占地近3万平方米。
我们首先看到的是太清牌坊，建于1997年，上书“崂山太清宫”五个大字，为中国道教协会会长闵智亭所题.高8米，宽16米我们现在来到了太清宫的正门。
跨过山门，意味着脱离尘世，跨入仙境。
往前走路两边的建筑是新建成的元辰阁和元君阁。
元辰阁正中供奉的是斗姆元君，元君阁供奉碧霞元君。
我们现在穿过太清宫的第二个正门——仪门——来到了三官殿的正门，三官殿主要供奉的是天官、地官、水官：尧、舜、禹。
相传尧敬天爱民，被人尊为“天官”。
舜在位时，民风高尚，地不生灾，被誉为“地官”。
大禹三过家门而不入，治理了水患，被尊为“水官”。
走出三官殿，有一棵弯弯曲曲的榆树。
是唐朝道长李哲玄亲手栽植的，所以把它称为“唐榆”。
又因为它树干盘曲，形状似龙头，又被称为“龙头榆”。
龙头榆对面，是逢仙桥。
相传宋代的道长刘若拙除夕曾在此处迎神。
现在我们来到的这个大殿是太清宫的主殿三清殿。
三清殿供奉的是三清尊神，中间的这位是玉清元始天尊。
右边的这位是上清灵宝天尊。
左边这位是太清道德天尊，也就是老子。
三清是道教的最高境界，这三位天尊也是道教信奉的三位最高尊神。
在三清殿的外，东配殿供奉的是“东华帝君”，天上阳神的总管。
西殿供奉的是西王母，天上阴神的总管。
三清殿院内有一株名贵的绿萼梅。
走出三清殿向右拐，是关岳祠，这里供奉的是汉代关羽和宋代忠将岳飞。
我们现在看到的这个泉就是崂山四大名泉之一的“神水泉”。
“神水泉”三字为刘若拙亲笔手迹。
为什么叫神水泉呢？一是水质清冽，二是传说大旱三年泉水不涸，大涝三年不溢，三是饮用此泉水能延年益寿。
现在我们来到了三皇殿，中间手里擎着太极图的是天皇，也就是伏羲氏；旁边那个手捻稻菽的是地皇神农氏；另一边手握笏板的是人皇轩辕氏。
关于这三位老祖先的传说很多，如伏羲制八卦、神农尝百草、轩辕黄帝做兵器、造舟车等。
在正殿的屋檐下有两块碑刻。
东边是护教文，西边是金虎符文，是当今崂山庙宇现存碑记最古老的两块。
庭院里有一棵桧柏树，由张廉夫亲手栽植。
树上寄生了一颗凌霄树，这一奇景被称为“汉柏凌霄”。
在这棵树的一侧生出了一颗盐肤木，之后北面的第一个树杈上又生出一棵刺楸。
这一奇迹被称为“四树一体”。
Now we come to the Taiqing Palace (the Temple of Supreme Purity, also known as the Lower Temple)---the largest and most ancient temple complex on Mt. Lao. The Taiqing Palace was built in Western Han Dynasty by the founder Zhang Lianfu, who built the Sanguan Temple. Then in the Tang Dynasty, the Taoist Priest Li Zhexuan expanded the temple to worship Three Kings. In the Song Dynasty, the priest Liu Ruozhuo rebuilt the Taiqing Palace to worship Laozi. There are more than 140 buildings including the Sanguan Hall, the Sanqing Hall and the Sanhuang Hall in the Taiqing Palace, and it covers an area of nearly 30,000 square meters .First we can see the Taiqing Memorial Arch built in 1997. The 5 words "Lao Shan Tai Qing Gong" was inscribed by Min Zhiting, the president of the China Taoist Association. The arch is 8 meters high and 16 meters wide Now we come to the main entrance of Taiqing Temple. Crossing the gate means leaving from the mortal life and going to the wonderland.On the both sides of the road are Yuanchen Pavilion and Y uanjun Pavilion. Yuanchen Pavilion worships Doumu Yuanju, and Yuanjun Pavilion worships Bixia Yuanjun.Now we have passed through the second main entrance – Yi Men– and arrived at the entrance of Sanguan Hall.The Sanguan Hall mainly worships the god of sky, land and water: Yao, Shun and Y u. It is said that Yao respected the god and cared people, so he was respected/honored as “the god of sky”. During the reign of Shun, people was noble and no disast er happened. In order to control the flood, Dayu didn’t come back home even walked past three times.Walking out of the Sanguan Hall, there is a crooked elm. Because the elm was planted by the Tang priest Li Zhexuan, it was also called "Tang Yu". And because its coiled trunk looked like the head of a dragon, it was also known as "Long Tou Yu".Opposite to the Long Tou Yu is Feng Xian Qiao. According to the legend, the Song priest Liu Ruozhuo had met a god here.Now we come to the Sanqing Hall, the main hall of Taiqing Palace. The San Qing Hall worships San Qing Zun Shen. The middle one is Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun. The right one is ShangQing Lingao Tianzun. The left one is Taiqing Daode Tianzun, that is Lao Zi. Sanqing is the highest level of Taoism and these 3 Tianzun are the hightest gods believed in Taoism.Outside the Sanqing Hall, the East Hall worships the Donghua Emperor, the god of Yang in heaven. The West Hall worships the West Queen, the god of Yin in heaven. There is a rare Flos Mume in the yard of San Qing Hall.Walked out of the Sanqing Hall and turned right, we can see the Guan Yue Temple, where worships Guan Y u of Han Dynasty and Yue Fei of Song Dynasty.Now we can see the “Spiritual Water Spring”, one of the four famous springs on the Mt. Lao. The words are said to be the manuscript/autograph of Liu Ruozhuo. Spiritual Water Spring means the god spring. Why call it God? The first reason is the water is clean and sweet. The second reason is that it will not dry up even though facing three years’ drought and will not overflow even though facing floods. The third one is the spring is beneficial for curing diseases and prolonging life.Now we come to the Three Kings Hall. The middle one holding Taiji diagram is Emperor of Nature, Fuxi. Besidehim, the one holding rice beans is Emperor of Earth, Shennong. The other side, the one holding a Hu board is Emperor of People, Xuanyuan. There are many legends of the three ancestors, such as Fuxi making Bagua, Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs and Xuanyuan making weapons.Under the roof of the main hall there are two inscriptions. The east one is Hu Jiao text; the west one is Jin Hu text. They are the oldest on Mt. Lao.There is a juniper cypress in the courtyard, planted by Zhang Lianfu. A Lingxiao Tree grows on it. The spectacle is called " Han Bai Ling Xiao". Then on the other side of this tree lives a nutgall tree. After that a Ciqiu grows from a northern bark. This phenomenon is called “Four trees one body”.The Qing-Dynasty writer Pu Songling is said to have resided in the Temple of Supreme Purity in his later years. His stories "The Taoist Priest of Laoshan" (崂山道士) and "The Flower Nymphs" (香玉) from the collection “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio” are set on the Laoshan Mountainwith the latter story specifically referring to peonies and camellias in the Temple of Supreme Purity.【上清】导游词Shangqing Palace (上清宮the Temple of Great Purity) also known as the Upper Temple (上宮) is located on the southeastern slope of Mount Lao, above the Temple of Supreme Purity. It was established during the Song Dynasty and rebuilt during the Y uan Dynasty.There is a white peony in front of the Main Hall. .The Temple of Great Purity features the second famous spring of Mount Lao: the Holy Water Spring (圣水泉). The Longtan Waterfall (龙潭瀑) has a height of about 20 meters and is located to the south of the Temple of Great Purity.【仰口】导游词Yangkou sightseeing spot is in the northeastern part of Laoshan scenic area. Facing the blue Yellow Sea with ripples and backed by the blessing peaks and fairy mountains , the landscape is mainly compose of fairy mountains, blessing temples, bays and beaches.The Temple of Supreme Peace (太平宮) is located in the Yangkou sightseeing spot. It was established during the Song Dynasty, but has been rebuilt several times.【北九水】导游词Beijiushui Scenic Spot is located at the north of Mount Laoshan’s main peak, and around the upstream and middle reaches zones of the Baishui River. It is characterized by beautiful natural landscapes. Since it is situated at the north of Jufeng with perennial low temperature, it is quite favorable for the growth of plants which grow better in low-temperature zones. For that reason it gained the alias of “Mini Northeast”.【棋盘石】导游词Qipanshi (Chessboard Rock) sightseeing spot is situated in the east of Laoshan scenic area, with Taiqing, Shangqing scenic spots in the south, Yangkou scenic spot in the north, Jufeng Scenic spot in the west and sea in the east, including natural landscapes such as Qipanshi (Chessboard Stone), Naluo Yanku (natural cave), Taoist Temple of Ming Dynasty―the highest Taoism temple above sea level in the Laoshan Mountain and Huayan Temple--- the only Buddhist temple on Mount Lao.【华楼】导游词Hualou Scenic SpotThis scenic spot lies in the northwest of the Laoshan Mountain and is famous for its peculiar peaks, fairy stones, natural mountain forest and the historical sites of Taoism. The Hualou Palace is situated on the Hualou Mountain, 350 meters above the sea level. Hua lou stone on the mountain gives the name of the mountain. The famous word “No 1 Coastal Mountain” inscribed by the imperial inspector of Shandong, Zhao Xian(山东巡抚赵贤) is engraved on a stone here inthis scenic area.Ok, our first tour comes to an end. Now there is a 30-minute free time. You can look around and take pictures. We will meet at the front gate. (After entering the front gate山门, you can get up the mountain by walking or cable cars due to your own will)References: Wikipedia, China Culture org., Laoshan Mountain Scenic Spots。