Yandang Mountains

Yandang Mountains were formed through volcanic activity during the Cretaceous period -120 million years (Ma) ago. Similar igneous rocks are widespread in SE China, forming a ~ wide and ~ long belt of volcanic-intrusive complexes. Yandangshan caldera is a round volcanic‐intrusive complex with a diameter of , of which the north-east part was destroyed by a later regional fault. The mountain shows often conspicuous layering corresponding to the four different episodes of eruptions, giving rise to terrace-like structures where flatter, forested areas are separated by vertical cliffs. Mt. Yandang is mostly covered by deciduous and evergreen forests, mixed with some Cunninghamia. Drier ridges can be dominated by small pine trees. There are also some bamboo grooves. Lower slopes and valleys are used for agricultural purposes, for example for growing tea, or as fruit gardens. Herbs and mushrooms collected from the mountain are sold locally. A number of plant and animal species have been named after Mt. Yandang. A species of sedge, Carex yandangshanica, has been described from Mt. Yandang and two other mountainous locations in Zhejiang. Mt. Yandang has also given its name to Cyclosorus yandangensis, a marsh fern, and Arachniodes yandangshanensis, a holly fern. Among animal species, a mite Eustigmaeus yandangensis has been named after Mt. Yandang, but this has been challenged. Yandang Mountains are everywhere influenced by human activity; there is an extensive network of official tourist paths, clearings for fire-prevention, and unofficial paths used by the local people for collecting resources from the mountains; nevertheless, because of the steep terrain, some parts are difficult to access. Whatever wildlife survives tends to be very elusive. Notable inhabitants of Yandang Mountains include Cabot's tragopan, a nationally protected species in China. Chinese pangolin is also reported to live in Yandang Mountains. Yandang Mountains have been considered as one of the areas where South China tiger might still persist, but there is no positive evidence and the species is considered functionally extinct in the wild. ==Cultural significance==

Cave, with the lower gate of the Guanyin Temple just visible. Yandang Mountains are dotted with temples and shrines, many of them with long history. Most of them were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but many have been rebuilt. Guanyin Temple (or Avalokitesvara Temple) is a Buddhist temple located on Mt. Yandang, in the Lingfeng Peaks scenic area. The temple lies between two rock peaks leaning against each other such that a big crack-like cave is formed; the peaks are together known as the "Holding Palms Peak". The cave is 100 metres high, with the cave bottom sloping steeply up. The temple follows this natural structure and has nine levels (floors), with the Guanyin shrine occupying the highest, most hidden section of the cave. The temple was first built in 265. ==Tourism==

North Yandang North Yandangshan, in the geographic sense, contains three scenic areas, Yangjiaodong/Fangshan, Middle Yandangshan and North Yandang, the latter commonly referred to as the Yandangshan, the most famous of the scenic areas in the Yandang Mountains. North Yandang Scenic Area is centered on Mt. Yandang and has an area of . China's National Tourism Administration rated North Yandang as a "5A scenic area" in 2007, up from "4A" before. The total area of the scenic area is 93 km2. Yangjiaodong/Fangshan Scenic Area is on the border between Wenzhou and Taizhou. This is a single mountain, but the name of the scenic area changes on the border. Yangjiaodong () is the Wenzhou half, and Fangshan () the Taizhou one. South Yandang South Yandang is a "4A scenic area" and consists of five scenic spots near Nanyanzhen town in Pingyang County. East and West Caves are the most famous sights. The total area of the scenic area is 169 km2. == References ==