Shennongjia Laojun Mountain

　　Laojun Mountain lies to the northeast of the main peak of Shennongjia. Legend says that in ancient times, the Supreme Old Lord frequently practiced alchemy here, which gave the mountain its name. In winter, the summit is blanketed in snow and ice, while the mountainside is often shrouded in mist—resembling an aged immortal with silver beard and hair seated amidst the clouds. The mountain stands at an elevation of 2,936 meters. From the top to the base, ten rugged ridges jut down like dragons swooping from the sky, and between them flow nine winding streams like silver ribbons. On either side of the ridges, dense ancient trees, medicinal herbs, wild fruits, and occasionally rare animals can be found.

　　From the mountaintop, you can gaze eastward over thousands of miles of wilderness stretching to the horizon; westward, peaks rise competitively toward Sichuan; southward, the mighty Yangtze River winds like a silver serpent; and northward, endless green forests reach the sky. Hence, it’s described as “a thousand-foot cliff overlooking a blue sea, and hundred-foot pines propping up the clouds.” Its grandeur, steepness, beauty, and mystery are all on full display.

　　Laojun Mountain boasts rich biodiversity, with rare trees and medicinal herbs scattered throughout the hills. There are also many unusual animals, such as golden snub-nosed monkeys, macaques, leopards, wild boars, black bears, white bears, white deer, and white snakes. There are even records of “wild man” sightings, such as one in the Qing Dynasty’s Xingshan County Annals: “On the mountain there is the Laojun Temple, and beside it are the footprints of a giant, one foot long and six inches wide.”

　　At the foot of Laojun Mountain, at an altitude of 1,800 meters, lies a natural bridge. Beneath a stone hill shaped like a dragon’s head, a cave spans 17 meters high, 10 meters deep, 4 meters wide at the top, and 5 meters wide at the bottom. The Huangyan River flows through this cave. The stone hill resembles a bridge spanning the river from east to west, presenting a majestic and spectacular sight. Since it was not man-made, it is called the “Natural Bridge.” Surrounding the Natural Bridge are lush mountains, cascading waterfalls pouring down cliffs, crystal-clear pools, and uniquely shaped rocks dotting the waters.

　　The Supreme Old Lord refers to Laozi, whose surname was Li, given name Er, and courtesy name Dan. He was a native of Ku County in the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. Historically, Laozi was a real person and a philosopher of the late Spring and Autumn Period. Later, with the development of Taoism, during the Northern Wei Dynasty, the title Supreme Old Lord began to appear (see Book of Wei · Treatise on Buddhism and Taoism), and thereafter, he became the formal honorary title of Laozi in Taoism.

　　Address: Northeast of the main peak of Shennongjia, Songluo Township, Shennongjia Forestry District

　　Type: Mountain

　　Recommended visiting time: 2–3 days

　　Opening hours:

　　Open all day

　　Ticket information:

　　Gate price: 80.0 RMB