Mt.
Hengshan, 62 kilometres south of Datong, is one of the most famous "Five
Sacred Mountains (Wu Yue)" in China. The others are Mt.Taishan in
Dong Yue (east Chian), Mt.Huashan in Xi Yue (west China), Mt. Hengshan
in Nan Yue (south China) and Mt.Songshan in Zhong Yue (middle China).
According
to the historical records as early as 4,000 years ago, Emperor Shun toured
his northern domain, and was so impressed by the sight of Mt. Hengshan
that he proclaimed it the "Bei Yue". The
renowned traveler Xu Xiake came to visit the mountain in Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644) and left behind Hengshan-inspired writings.
Mt. Hengshan
is famous for its natural sceneries, legendary stories and unimaginable
construction. Tianfeng Summit is the highest peak of the mountain. At
2016.8 meters, The steep north slope is covered with verdant pine trees.
The south slope is studded by lots of temples where emperors worshipped
the Mountain.
There are
30 ancient constructions altogether on Mt. Hengshan. The mountain has
been an age-old battleground. Plenty of ancient battlefield relics litter
the landscape with passes, fortresses, castles and beacon towers. At the
mountain's foot, Hanging Temple hangs
on the high cliff hemmed in by a precipice on either side. The
other attractions of Mt. Hengshan include Heng Zong Monastery, Sleeping
Palace, Kui Xing pavilion, and so on.
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