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Thousand Buddha Mountain

I recommend visiting Thousand Buddha Mountain every few days during your stay in Jinan. Admission to the mountain costs 15 yuan, or you can purchase a year pass for 45 yuan. While there are many entrances to the grounds on all sides of the park, year passes can only be obtained at the Zheng Men (...

I recommend visiting Thousand Buddha Mountain every few days during your stay in Jinan. Admission to the mountain costs 15 yuan, or you can purchase a year pass for 45 yuan. While there are many entrances to the grounds on all sides of the park, year passes can only be obtained at the Zheng Men (正门), or main gate. The main gate is at the southern end of Qian Fo Shan Road (千佛山路, and the ticket office to the right of the gate sells year passes. Be sure to bring a passport photo in order to acquire the year pass.


 
There is a totally cool copper Buddha figure which measures 80 feet (25 m) in height. At the foot of the Buddha visitors can roller-skate or burn incense and pray.

   
Fly an eagle kite, bring a book or some playing cards, or just sit back and watch the local Chinese and foreign communities of Jinan stretch their legs together. Just to the west of big Buddha is a large concrete statue of Guanyin, a female Buddha, sitting atop a labyrinthine cave complex.

Jogging, sitting, singing, and tai chi all take place throughout the extensive grounds. Plenty of public art displays within the gradens make for an enjoyable morning or afternoon stroll. Still, the best part of the grounds is the mountain itself.  Climbing a little in elevation to improve your view of Jinan is simply great. Sometimes we all just need to get out of the morass and gain perspective. When you reach the summit of Thousand Buddha Mountain look to the south of Jinan....into the mountain range which leads up to Mount Tai... the foremost Taoist peak in China!

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Mount Laoshan

facing the Yellow Sea, Mt. Laoshan or Mount Lao is located to the east of Qingdao. This tall and majestic mountain is famous for its marvelous mountainous scenery and coastal landscape. It is regarded as the most recognized mountain of all mountains on the coast of China. It also holds ...

facing the Yellow Sea, Mt. Laoshan or Mount Lao is located to the east of Qingdao. This tall and majestic mountain is famous for its marvelous mountainous scenery and coastal landscape. It is regarded as the most recognized mountain of all mountains on the coast of China. It also holds significant importance in Taoism. Thus it is a must to see when traveling in Qingdao.

As the most famous mountain on the coast Mt. Laoshan caters well for tourists. Three lines lead the visitors to 220 scenic spots including historical and natural points of interest.

The Southern Line

On the first line there are not only marvelous landscapes but also sacred Taoist Palaces. Significant points of interest include the Taiqing Palace, Xufu Islet and Longtan Waterfall (Dragon Pond Waterfall). The Taoist culture and temples of Mt. Laoshan are very famous. At the peak of Taoism, it was said that there were nine palaces, eight Temples and seventy-two nunneries. The number of Taoist had reached above one thousand. While later many buildings were destroyed, amongst those still remaining the Taiqing Palace is the largest. The Taiqing Palace also has the longest history of these buildings spanning more than two thousand years. Covering an area of 30,000 square meters (about 7 acres), the Taiqing Palace has 155 rooms. It has been well preserved and holds the typical architectural style of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). This form of architecture is quite rare in religious architectures in China.
 

The Central Line

The second line mainly focuses on Beijiushui. The name Beijiushui derives its meaning from  Laoshan Mountain that has nine crooks, thus making the river turn nine times. The river starts from the north side of the Ju Peak (the highest peak of Mt. Laoshan) and flows into the valley. So many beautiful things are on this line that it is called 'the Jiushui Gallery'. At every corner, totally different sights can be found. The current here is rather swift while further on the river flows very slowly. The flowers, trees and odd rocks on both sides of the river emphasize the elegant beauty of the water. The most famous sight of Beijiushui is Chaoyin Waterfall. During the rainy season the waterfall is quite majestic. The water crashes against the rocks, producing a huge sound similar to waves crashing against the seashore.

The Eastern Line

The third line includes the Taiping Palace, the Lion Peak, Huayan Temple, Naluoyan Cavern and other sights. Naluoyan Buddha Cavern is one such scene. It is located in the Naluoyan Hill to the east of Mt. Laoshan. It is a natural granite cavern 7 meters (about 23 feet) wide and 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. More than 100 people can stand inside at one time. Its structure is quite unique. The smooth walls and flat ground are just as they were pared. On the wall of the cavern protrudes a thin stone, like a Buddha niche. At the top of the cavern is a round and smooth hole. It was said that the hole was made by the supernatural power of Naluoyan Buddha. Through this hole sunlight can enter thus lightening the whole cavern.