Yandang Mountain, lying in Leqing
County in southeastern Zhejiang Province, is one of the famous mountains in
China. It is often referred to as the Famous Mountain Above the Sea, and is
reputed in history as the No. 1 Mountain in Southeast China. It gets its name
because in autumn, wild geese always gather in the marshes around the lake at
the top of the mountain.
The scenery in Yandang Mountain is
dominated by grotesque crags and beautiful waterfalls. There, mountain peaks
usually tower strikingly into clouds, presenting a spectacular view. There are
tens of waterfalls, among which the most famous are the Great Dragon Pond, the
Small Dragon Pond, and the Three-terraced Falls.
The splendor of Yandang (North
Yandang) became known in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907). It enjoyed greater
fame after the first year (976) of the Taiping Xingguo reign in the Northern
Song Dynasty (960-1127), when many temples, pavilions, and other buildings were
established there. There were 18 ancient temples, 16 pavilions and 10 yards at
that time. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), hundreds of grotesque peaks had got
their names. Through ages after the Tang and Song dynasties, scholars traveled
there and left behind many Cliffside Stone Carvings, making Yandang Mountain a
great historical treasure house.