Laoshan Mountain

Laoshan is one of the most important Daoist mountains in China — the only major Daoist sacred mountain on the coast, and the home of the Quanzhen ("Complete Truth") school of Daoism that emerged in the 12th century. The Taiqing Palace, on the southern slope, is the largest Daoist temple complex in northeastern China and a substantial pilgrimage destination throughout the year.

The mountain's geography is dramatic — granite-and-gneiss peaks rising directly from the Yellow Sea coast, with substantial cliffs, freshwater springs, and dense pine forest on the upper slopes. The Laoshan summit at 1,132 metres is the tallest peak directly on the Chinese coastal sea-edge; in clear weather, summit views extend to the Bohai Sea and the Shandong Peninsula's outer islands.

The Laoshan mineral water bottling site, on the western slope, is the source of one of China's premier mineral-water brands. The Laoshan green tea, grown in the lower valley between Laoshan and the coast, is the northernmost commercial green-tea-growing region in China and the highest-latitude green-tea-cultivation site in the world. The tea is generally not exported outside Shandong.

For visitors, Laoshan combines Daoist religious tourism with substantial natural-landscape hiking. The temple complex visit alone is a half-day; the summit hike adds a full day. Coastal cliff walking on the eastern flank provides additional substantial visiting time.