By Xiao Zhao

QINGDAO:  China  boasts  the "Five Yue", but none of the coun- try''''s famous mountains boasts the  fresh  sea  air  that  makes Laoshan Mountain so special.
Qingdao''''s  famed  ancient mountain  soars  1,132 m  above sea level and is one of few peaks skirting China''''s coastline.
There is a saying that Mount Tai (one of the Five Yue) is mag- nificent, but a one-day tour of Laoshan Mountain is enough to be convinced it takes the cake.
Bordering  on  Laoshan  Bay in  the  east  and  close  to  the Yellow  Sea  in  the  south,  sea and  mountains  link  together in  a  divine  coalition  of  water vapor,  shadows,  fog  and  light to  make  Laoshan  Mountain truly mystical.
Adorned by waterfalls among a sea of clouds, green trees and bamboo,  Laoshan  Mountain boasts unforgettable scenery.
Its  expanse  is  also  an  ideal place for exploring.
At the foot of the mountain, a  rock  is  inscribed  "the  first famous  maritime  mountain", underlining  her  importance to  those  she  hosts  and  crews whom  draw  comfort  from  her on distant peaks and troughs.
Laoshan  is  the  only  coastal mountain that soars more than a kilometer above sea level and the only visible from tens of kil- ometers to edgy sea captains.
The  cool  relief  of  Longtan Waterfall  makes  you  reluctant to leave and is one of the most serene places in China to beat soaring summer temperatures.
The  mountain  is  carpeted in  ancient  trees  such  as  cy- presses  of  the  Han,  elms  of Tang and gingkoes of the Song dynasties.
Together with cuckoos, larch- es  and  more  than  a  thousand varieties  of  flowers  in  spring and  summer,  Laoshan  is  both mariner and botanist''''s delight.
Laoshan''''s  most  attractive spot is Beijiushui.
Water from Laoshan contains many kinds of minerals.
Each liter is said to invigorate the stomach and the circulation of blood, perhaps the reason for Tsingtao''''s salubrious taste.
Water from the mountain val- leys flows through many bends.
Local  inhabitants  call  each  of these  "waters"  and  use  the number nine, as is customary when Chinese are uncertain of a  total,  to  estimate  Laoshan''''s many bends.
Along  the  "nine"  waters, "Bamboo  Shoot  Rock",  "Camel Rock",  "Lion  Rock"  and  other strange  rocks  tell  their  own stories.
Every  rock  boasts  a  unique shape  —  some  look  human, some  look  animal  but  all  fire the imagination.
On your left, there is a fairy- shapedrockcalled"BeautyRock"; onyourrightafinger-shapedrock called "Fingers Rock".
The  2,100-year-old sprawling Taiqing Palace, is another place to behold.
It was built during the West- ern Han Dynasty and extended to its current formidable scale during the Song Dynasty.
Made  up  of  more  than  140 structures,  the  palace  spans more than 30,000sqm.
It   continued   to   develop to   make   the   mountain   a renowned  place  for  Taoists Beautiful sight at Beijiushui of Laoshan Mountain.
to  worship.  The  main  hall  in Tanqing Gong is Sanqing Hall whose God is the highest deity of Taoism.
There are more than 100 "fu" letters in different styles on the wall and tourists come to touch them to pray for happiness and good luck.
In  front  of  Sanguan  Hall, there  are  two  camellia  trees, both about 700 years old.
The  famous  writer  Pu  Son- gling of the Qing Dynasty once visited Laoshan Mountain and created  two  famous  novels, Jade and The Taoist of Laoshan Mountain.