Yuanshuo Mountain

Yuanshuo Mountain

Formerly known as Beiwudang, also called Yuanshuo Mountain, it earned the name Laoye Mountain (Lord Mountain) because a Taiyuan Palace (i.e., Guan Yu Temple) was built at the mountaintop, housing a statue of Guan Yu. It is located by the Sumulian River (Beichuan River) in Qiaotou Town, Datong County, 35 kilometers north of Xining City. The mountain top stands at an elevation of 2,928 meters, with a relative height difference of nearly 500 meters, and is a towering and beautifully scenic peak near Xining City.

The rock formations of Laoye Mountain are primarily composed of limestone. Over time, external forces such as water erosion and weathering have created numerous steep peaks, caves, and gorges—especially on the southern slope, where the cliffs are sheer and dramatic, giving the climb to the summit a sense of danger reminiscent of Mount Hua. The mountain is richly vegetated, with over a hundred plant species, mainly including spruce, willow, poplar, red willow, and various shrubs. In midsummer, the slopes are covered in lush greenery that blocks out the sun, while roses, peonies, tree peonies, yellow rhododendrons, silver rhododendrons, and a variety of wildflowers bloom in vibrant colors, filling the air with fragrance. The scenery in late autumn can rival that of Beijing’s Fragrant Hills.