| Immortalised in Chinese poetry and paintings, and regarded as one of the most beautiful areas of China, the mountains of Huangshan are also one of the most visited by tourists. The traditional view of the area is of proud emperors on sedan chairs being carried gracefully up the slopes. As the 8th Century poet, Li Bia, puts it: "Rock pillars press against red cliffs, luxuriant golden lilies; ancients ascending the matchless peak look down on the sky and the pines." Another poet from the same era, Li Po, is believed to have coined the name Huangshan, meaning yellow mountains. The name Mount Huangshan is actually used to refer to a 72-peak mountain range. These peaks have continued to provide inspiration for latter-day bards. Indeed China's former president Jiang Zemin can count himself among them, having published "Random thoughts on climbing Mount Huang." The verse pays tribute to the mountains' "billowing clouds" and "reclining pines."  | CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities:
Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Weihai, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing. |
And scenes from the award-winning 2001 film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon were filmed in the bamboo forest of Huangshan. Unesco now lists the area as a world heritage site. It says the area was added to the list because of its stunning landscape and its contribution to Chinese art and culture. But the beauty of its emerald peaks is not all the area is famous for - the area is home to some rare and endemic plant species. About 60% of the rural population in the region work in the tea industry, and green plantations can be seen rustling gently across many of the region's less dramatic inclines. The torch arrives in Huangshan on 31 May.
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