Mt.Tianzhu

     At a distance of 160 kilometers south of Hefei, Mt. Tianzhu is one of the first-listed key national scenic areas and a 4A-grade scenic spot as well as a national civilized forest park, covering an area of 333 square kilometers. It is known for its steep passes, ancient villages, peculiar pines, strange rocks, deep valleys and caves, waterfalls, brooks, waving fog and sea of clouds. Mt. Tianzhu is rich in cultural relics. In 106 BC, Wudi Emperor of the Han Dynasty officially named Mt. Tianzhu as the Southern Sacred Mountain. It is not only the worship site of the Third Patriarch of the Chan (Zen) sect, but also the very place where the two great love stories in ancient China took place---Peacocks Flying Southeast and the Newly-married Younger Sister Qiao. The two famous Chinese operas---Huangmei Opera and Peking Opera also originated from this area.