Baishi Mountain – a Heavenly Lotus

The word “mountain” often reminds people of black rock. However, Baishi Mountain gets its name from its white rocks. Granite formed 100 million years ago raised the 700-million-year-old dolomite to the top, making for a marvelous natural spectacle.

Diversified landforms are found all over China. Zhangjiajie in Hunan province, for instance, is renowned for its sandstone peak forest. Limestone constitutes the Stone Forest in Yunnan province. Baishi Mountain in Baoding is one of the most typical marble mountains.

Baishi Mountain, 2,096 meters high, is at the northern end of the Taihang Mountain Range where the North China Plain, the Loess Plateau and the Inner Mongolia Plateau border each other. The mountain is divided into two parts at the altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level, with a 54-sq. km granite foundation below and a dolomite main peak spanning 20 sq. km above. The main peak shines bright like a blooming white lotus.

Baishi Mountain has fantastic scenery. Some of the hills resemble bamboo rising straight from the ground, while others look like piles of bricks or books. Some peaks appear rather fragile, eroded as they are by wind. Some rocks lean on each other, while others pose as pheasants do, standing on one foot.

The beautiful clouds drifting over the mountain are also very impressive. One ancient book describes it as: “White rocks spread all over Baishi Mountain. Clouds float above the elegant hills every now and then.” When the peaks and valleys are covered in cloud and fog, Baishi Mountain enters a dream world. Listening carefully, you may hear the water drops floating around you. Stretch out your hands to touch the fog, and water even drops onto your hands…

Perennial plants cover the mountain from head to foot, painting the mountain different colors in different seasons. Red birch trees spread widely over the mountain. The trees are found from 1,600 meters to 2,000 meters above sea level, covering thousands of hectares. August is the best season to enjoy the beauty of the red birch. Golden leaves and dark red trunks tint the mountain into a fairytale world.

Most waterfalls on the mountain cascade down from 1,400 meters above sea level, where marble and granite conjoin.

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