Yantai: Main Scenic Spots

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Penglai Pavilion and Mirages .......................................................................................................................................................................................

Situated on Mt. Redcliff and rising a bruptly from the northern seashore of Penglai City. Penglai Pavilion, which was first built during the reign of Emperor Jiayou of the Song Dynasty, is one of the four well-known ancient Chinese Pavilions. Penglai Pavilion is actually a historic architectural complex with the Pavilion as its principal structure, which consists of Luzu Temple, Sanqing Temple, Penglai Pavilion itself, the Palace of the Celestial Queen, Amitabha Temple and other architectural units, each surrounded by towers, halls pavilions and terraces with distinctive feature. The most miraculous of all is the Wind-sheltering Pavilion. It stands high on the mountain top and faces the sea, but even with all its doors and windows widely open, not a vestige of wind can be felt in the pavilion, and even candles remain lightened however strongly the sea wind blows. Another spectacle of Penglai Pavilion is the mirage, a great attraction for visitors. In summer and autumn, people may chance to see fantastic mirages above the sea nearby Penglai Pavilion.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Mountain of the Jade Emperor .......................................................................................................................................................................................

On the top of the mountain in the town center stands a temple, built in the Yuan period and dedicated to the Jade Emperor. This small mountain in the north of the town is washed by the sea on three sides. The watch tower was built on top of it, and a bundle of faggots was lit every time an enemy ship was spotted. Towards the end of the Qing dynasty a light-house was erected nearby and still operates today.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Long Island .......................................................................................................................................................................................

The Long Islands lie between the Shaodong and the Liaodong Peninsula, 32 islands with different features. Cheyou Island is the kingdom of birds, where you'll find tens of thousands of birds of various species. Heishan Island is home to more than ten thousand snakes. Other famous islands are Zushan Island with its bamboo forests and the rock-serried Tuoji Island. The major popular islands are the Nanchangshan Island, the Beichangshan Island and the Miao Island. The Long Islands are also famous for a mirage phenomenon which occurs especially after showers in July or August.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Horse-rearing Island .......................................................................................................................................................................................

The "Horse-rearing Island" lies 3 kilometres from Yantai in the Yellow Sea, and is about 10 square kilometres in size. Legend has it that in 219 BC, Emperor Qinshihuang visited this island, and was deeply impressed by the agreeable climate and lush grassland there. Then he issued a decree to name the island the Imperial Horse-rearing Island and horses of fine breeds were thereupon reared and tamed on this treasured island. Nowadays visitors flock to this island for the weekly horse races. They are held on weekends on a modern racetrack with a total of ten thousand seats. The newly-developed Heavenly Steed Bathing Beach lies near the eastern tip of the island and has fine quartz sand. Other places for entertainment include the Xiyouji Palace, Ocean World and Jinxiu City.

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