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| Yandang Mountains | |
|---|---|
| 雁荡山 | |
Yandang Mountains
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| Elevation | 1,108 m (3,635 ft)[1] |
| Location | |
| Location | Zhejiang  China |
| Coordinates | 28°22′N 121°04′ECoordinates: 28°22′N 121°04′E |
The main peak of North Yandang, Baigangjian (百岗尖, Bǎigǎng Jiān, lit. "Hundred-Peak Point"), rises 1,150 m (3,770 ft) above sea level[2][5] There is a radar station on the peak, which is closed to the public.
In 2004, Yandangshan became National Geological Park and in the beginning of 2005, a member of Global Geoparks Network, with total area of 450 km2 (170 sq mi).[2] The Yandangshan National Forest Park has an area of 841 hectares (2,080 acres), covering Mt. Yandang.[6]
Mt. Yandang is known for its natural beauty, arising from its many vertical rock faces and pinnacles, mountain slopes with lush forests and bamboo groves, streams with clear water, waterfalls and caves. The area also hosts numerous temples and shrines, many of them with a long history; characteristic for the temples is that many of them are built inside caves or in mouths of caves.
Qing Dynasty view Yandangshan.
Contents
Environment
Yandang Mountains were formed through volcanic activity during the Cretaceous period c. 100-120 million years (Ma) ago.[7] Similar igneous rocks are widespread in SE China, forming a ~400 km (250 mi) wide and ~2,000 km (1,200 mi) long belt of volcanic-intrusive complexes.[8]Yandangshan caldera is a round volcanic‐intrusive complex with a diameter of 13 square kilometers (5.0 sq mi), of which the north-east part was destroyed by a later regional fault.[8] Yandangshan volcano erupted in four episodes. The mountain consists of various igneous rocks: ignimbrite, rhyolite, syenite and tuff.[9] The mountain shows often conspicuous layering corresponding to the four different episodes of eruptions, giving rise to terrace-like structures where flatter, forested areas are separated by vertical cliffs.
Mt. Yandang is mostly covered by deciduous and evergreen forests, mixed with some Cunninghamia. Drier ridges can be dominated by small pine trees. There are also some bamboo grooves. Lower slopes and valleys are used for agricultural purposes, for example for growing tea, or as fruit gardens. Herbs and mushrooms collected from the mountain are sold locally.
A number of plant and animal species have been named after Mt. Yandang. A species of sedge, Carex yandangshanica, has been described from Mt. Yandang and two other mountainous locations in Zhejiang.[10] Mt. Yandang has also given its name to Cyclosorus yandangensis, a marsh fern, and Arachniodes yandangshanensis, a holly fern.[11] Among animal species, a mite Eustigmaeus yandangensis has been named after Mt. Yandang, but this has been challenged.[12]
Yandang Mountains are everywhere influenced by human activity; there is an extensive network of official tourist paths, clearings for fire-prevention, and unofficial paths used by the local people for collecting resources from the mountains; nevertheless, because of the steep terrain, some parts are difficult to access. Whatever wildlife survives tends to be very elusive. Notable inhabitants of Yandang Mountains include Cabot's tragopan,[13] a nationally-protected species in China.[14] Chinese pangolin is also reported to live in Yandang Mountains.[15]
Yandang Mountains have been considered as one of the areas where South China tiger might still persist, but there is no positive evidence and the species is considered functionally extinct in the wild.[16]
Cultural significance
Lingfeng Peak. The big crack is the Guanyin Cave, with the lower gate of the Guanyin Temple just visible.
Guanyin Temple (or Avalokitesvara Temple) is a Buddhist temple located on Mt. Yandang, in the Lingfeng Peaks scenic area. The temple lies between two rock peaks leaning against each other such that a big crack-like cave is formed; the peaks are together known as the "Holding Palms Peak". The cave is 100 metres high, with the cave bottom sloping steeply up. The temple follows this natural structure and has nine levels (floors), with the Guanyin shrine occupying the highest, most hidden section of the cave. The temple was first build in 265.[18]
Tourism
North Yandang
A view from the Lingyan Rock.
Great Dragon Pond Waterfall.
North Yandang Scenic Area is centered around Mt. Yandang and has an area of 450 km2 (170 sq mi).[19] China’s National Tourism Administration rated North Yandang as a "5A scenic area" in 2007, up from "4A" before.[2] A number of touristic attractions, or "scenic spots", have been develop around Mt. Yandang, the most famous being:
- Lingfeng Peaks (Chinese: 灵峰; literally: "Spiritual peaks").
- Lingyan Rock (Chinese: 灵岩; literally: "Spiritual rock").
- Great Dragon Pond Waterfall (Chinese: 大龙湫; pinyin: dàlóngqiū; literally: "Big dragon pond").
Mt. Yandang can be accessed using the Yandangshan Railway Station on the fast railway track between Ningbo and Wenzhou.
Middle Yandang Scenic Area is a "4A scenic area" in south of Yueqing County.[20] The total area of the scenic area is 93 km2.
Yangjiaodong/Fangshan Scenic Area is on the border between Wenzhou and Taizhou. This is a single mountain, but the name of the scenic area changes on the border. Yangjiaodong (Chinese: 羊角洞) is the Wenzhou half, and Fangshan (Chinese: 方山) the Taizhou one.[21]
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