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Natural Heritage

Clouds covered mountains by Zhang Yongfu

Huangshan Mountain has a complex geological history. The formation of the peaks dates back to the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era as a result of crustal movements and subsequent uplift. During the late Mesozoic Era and the early Cenozoic Era, a large amount of granite magma erupted through fissures due to further crustal movements, which became the main body of the Mountain after cooling down.

Geologically, Huangshan Mountain is located in the transitional area between two structures. Granite formation is characterized by faults and joints. The major faults include the Huangshan Mountain fault (or Xiaoyaoxi fault), Lotus Peak fault, the fault at the back of the Mountain and the fault along the way from the Paiyun Pavilion to Xihaigou. These joints are well advanced into four major groups. They are cubical, vertical, longitudinal, latitudinal, X-shaped or irregular in terms of shape. Huangshan Mountain also shows evidence of later glaciation during the Quaternary Period, as pointed out in 1936 by Li Siguang, a renowned Chinese geologist.

Thanks to the complicated natural environment, Huangshan Mountain has a well-preserved ecosystem. Vegetation covers 82.6% and forest, 56% of the total land area. Some 1,450 plant species are native to the area, of which one is under first grade protection; four are under second grade, and eight under third grade. There are ten species on the verge of extinction, with six endemic to China and two to Huangshan Mountain.

Legends and Stories

The wonderful scenery of Huangshan Mountain has attracted many visitors. Among them were said to be immortals, like the Yellow Emperor, the Dragon King and even the Eight Immortals. The story goes that once on the day of the annual gathering of the Eight Immortals, seven of them arrived on time, while Han Xiangzi was late. Zhang Guolao guessed that Han Xiangzi must have been fascinated by the scenery of Huangshan Mountain on his way. Then Zhang Guolao flew into the sky to look for Han Xiangzi. Just as Zhang expected, Han was sightseeing on Huangshan Mountain. He was enjoying himself so much that he forgot the gathering. Zhang tried every possible way to persuade Han to leave. Han, however, was reluctant to go, and turned a stone into a replica of himself, in case he forgot the way to Huangshan Mountain the next time. The stone therefore was named Immortal Showing the Way. Zhang, for fear that Han would slip away again, rode backwards on his donkey to keep Han in sight and also to keep seeing the mountain.

(Source: chinaculture.org)