China's 'ultimate place to relax'

By Chen Dandan BBC News

The mountains of Huangshan have inspired poets over the years

In Huangshan, my soul seemed purified for the first time.

As I walked into this picturesque mountain area in eastern China one summer's morning, I was ready to be stunned.

I had been told that if I visited Huangshan, I would not need to visit any other mountain in China.

Huangshan, which means "Yellow Mountain" in Chinese, is actually a mountain range that covers more than 1,200 sq km (460 sq miles).

It has strange-shaped granite mountains, which are grotesque and steep, but also elegant. Each appears to have a different gesture or shape.

Celestial Peak, one of the main mountains, is particularly awe inspiring and scary.

Narrow steps lead up to the top, with only an iron rope to cling on to. The ascent is very, very steep.

After 1,564 steps, I found myself standing in front of a narrow gorge, with only a thin pathway ahead.

It is the only way up to the peak, and only one person can walk it at any one time.

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.

But it was worth it. From there, it was just a short walk to the peak and looking around from there I felt like I was standing in heaven.

Clouds started to gather around me - I was lost in a sea of clouds.

Mountain tops nearby were also bathed in clouds. Painters and photographers often wait hours to capture this moment.

The area's pine trees also attract artists and tourists.

Like the rocks, they have been twisted by the weather into unusual shapes.

There are two pine trees in the mountain that everybody is urged to see.

On my first day, I saw a tree called the "Guest Welcoming Pine", and on my trip down the mountain in the second day, I was greeted by the "Goodbye Pine".

Both trees are so famous that their images can been seen all over the country. They represent hospitality.

Rocks, clouds, pine trees, and centuries of literature inspired by the scenery, all make Huangshan a unique mountain.

It is part of China's natural landscape, but also part of its culture.

It has been the source of Chinese ink painting, as well as poetry and prose for centuries.

For Chinese people, it is the ultimate place to relax.

Are you in Huangshan? What do you feel about the torch coming to Huangshan? Do you live in any of the locations the torch is due to visit? Send us your comments and experiences.

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