Mount Xiqiao

Mount Xiqiao
Mount Xiqiao
Chinese 西樵山
Literal meaning West firewood mountain
Mount Xiqiao

Guanyin statue at the summit of Mount Xiqiao
Elevation 346 m (1,135 ft)
Location
Location Foshan City, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
Geology
Type Dormant volcano
Age of rock 40-50 million years

Mount Xiqiao is a 40-50 million year old dormant volcano situated in the south west of the Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China[1] some 68 kilometres (42 mi) from Guangzhou. The mountain is an important scenic area and designated as a national forest park and national geological park. Covering an area of 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi), the area features a total of 72 peaks with the highest, Dacheng Peak (大秤峰), rising to346 metres (1,135 ft).

Contents

Geology

From 40-50 million years ago the entire Pearl River Delta was an ancient bay where a volcanic eruption ejected a large quantity of lava into the sea. On cooling, the molten rock formed a conical mountain; the embryonic form of Mount Xiqiao. Thereafter eruptions of lava continued and produced the current 72 peaks. After several million years of erosion by the sea, the area flattened and was gradually colonized by vegetation.

Scenery

Mount Xiqiao scenery

Mount Xiqiao features unusual scenery with strange rock formations and a profusion of fresh water springs as well as 42 natural caves. In total there are 232 springs and 28 waterfalls[2] including the Yunyafeipu (Chinese: 云崖飞瀑; literally "Waterfall from Cliffs High in the Clouds"), one of the Eight Sights of Guangzhou (羊城八景) during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 CE).[1]

Cultural background

As early as 6000 to 8,000 years ago, human activity in the Mount Xiqiao area created a “Twin shoulder stone tool culture” (双肩石器文化) that featured delicate stone tools including twin-shouldered stone axes. This greatly influenced development of culture around the Pearl River.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, a number of scholars including Zhan Ruoshui and He Baiyun (何白云) lived in seclusion on the mountain where they studied Neo-Confucianism and painting. Amongst the most famous scholars was Chinese nationalist Kang Youwei who began planning the 1898 Hundred Days’ Reform movement at Mount Xiqiao. Chinese martial artist Huang Feihong was born in the area, where he developed the Nanquan or “southern fist” fighting style.

Sightseeing areas

Guanyin Memorial Arch

Today, Xiqiao Mountain is divided into ten major scenic areas including the Nanhai Guanyin Culture Park, which contains a 66 metres (217 ft) statue of the goddess Guanyin and the Baiyun Caves (白云洞).

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Liste der höchsten Statuen — Die Freiheitsstatue in New York gilt auf Grund ihrer hohen Popularität und ihrer häufigen Präsenz in den Medien als eine der bekanntesten Statuen der Welt. Rund die Hälfte ihrer Höhe entfällt auf ihren Sockel …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Guangdong — /gwahng dawng /, n. Pinyin. a province in SE China. 42,800,000; 89,344 sq. mi. (231,401 sq. km). Cap.: Canton. Also, Kwangtung. * * * or Kuang tung conventional Kwangtung Southernmost mainland province (pop., 2000 est.: 86,420,000), China. It is… …   Universalium

  • Nanhai District — Statue of Guan Yin on Mount Xiqiao, in Nanhai Nanhai District (simplified Chinese: 南海区; traditional Chinese: 南海區; Mandarin Pinyin: Nánhǎi Qū; Jyutping: Naam⁴hoi²), historically known as Namhoi, is a district of Foshan prefec …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der höchsten Statuen der Welt — Die Freiheitsstatue in New York City gilt auf Grund ihrer hohen Popularität und ihrer häufigen Präsenz in den Medien als die bekannteste Statue der Welt Die Liste der höchsten Statuen der Welt führt alle Statuen (Standbilder) auf, die eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Foshan — /fush ahn /, n. Pinyin, Wade Giles. a city in S central Guangdong province, in SE China, near Canton. 100,000. Also, Fatshan. Formerly, Nanhai. * * * ▪ China Wade Giles romanization  Fo shan        city, central Guangdong sheng ( …   Universalium

  • Список самых высоких статуй мира — включает статуи, высота которых равна или превышает 25 метров. В списке перечислены статуи разных размеров существующие в настоящее время, выполненные из камня, железобетона, стали и прочих материалов и упорядоченные по высоте самой статуи без… …   Википедия

  • Montañas Danxia — Las Montañas Danxia (en chino: 丹霞山, pinyin: danxia shan). Es una de las cuatro montañas sagradas de China en la Cordillera Dayunwu. Las otras son las Montañas Luofu, las Montañas Dinghu y las Montañas Xiqiao, situada en la ciudad de Huizhou en la …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”