5/3/2007 ~ Laoshan

On the Rio: Metallica ~ Wherever I May Roam

Taiqing Palace lies at the foot of Laoshan, a mountain infused with Taoist mystery and legend.

Here are "tourists" searching for seashells, with an extreme tourist on a cable ride.

It is associated with the Eight Taoist Immortals and the very popular Taoist fairy tale about the Laoshan Daoshi (a monk), who perfected his transcendental technique of walking through walls on Laoshan. Rumor has it that the first emperor of the Qin dynasty visited Laoshan in search of the pill of immortality. I wonder if that is what this man is selling.

The magic no doubt still permeates the local water, for Laoshan is famed far and wide for the springs that put the flavor into Qingdao (Tsing Tao) beer.

This is the Dragon Pool Waterfall (Longtanpu).

Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore the huge swath of undulating territory, drilled with caves and washed by cascading waterfalls. But I enjoyed all the spring blossoms that were budding along the walkway.

This is a memorial to a soldier who died after saving 22 children who had been washed into the reservoir.