Tianmu Mountain
Encyclopedia
Tianmu Mountain, also known as Tianmushan , is a mountain
in Lin'an County
in Northwestern Zhejiang
province in eastern China
. Tianmushan is located 83.2 kilometres (51.7 mi) west of Hangzhou
, China. It is made up of two peaks. The West Tianmu Peak, also called Xianren Peak(1506 metres (4,941 ft)) and the East Tianmu Peak, also called Daxian Peak(1480 metres (4,856 ft)) . There are ponds near the top of both peaks which look like eyes and lead to the naming of the mountain. The Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve lies on the northwest portion of the mountain and it is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as part of the UNESCO
Man and the Biosphere Program(MAB). The mountain has a lush sub-tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 1767 millimetres (69.6 in) and an annual temperature of 17.3 °C (63 °F).
Tianmu mountain is best known for giant trees, waterfalls, tea, peaks surrounded by clouds, bamboo shoots, temples, and nunneries, and odd shaped rocks. It is also known as a natural botanic garden because more than 2,000 species of plants grow on the mountain as well as being a popular summer resort with tourists in China. Japanese Cedar
trees grow to towering heights on the mountain and the west peak is noted as having the last surviving truly wild population of Ginkgo trees. Prominent amongst the Japanese Cedar is the "Giant Tree King", which was named by the Emperor Qianlong
of the Qing Dynasty
. At last measurement it measured 26.5 metre in height, 2.33 metre in diameter, and 42.9 cubic metres (1,515 cu ft) in volume. The mountain is also home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. Amongst them are 39 endangered or protected species, including the Clouded Leopard
and the Black Muntjac. The lush sub-tropical climate results in both famous succulent bamboo shoots
and world famous tea being grown on and around the mountain. The tea is known as Tianmu Tea to tea drinkers around the world.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in Lin'an County
Lin'an City
Lin'an City is a county-level city in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. It is located in northwestern Zhejiang....
in Northwestern Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
province in eastern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Tianmushan is located 83.2 kilometres (51.7 mi) west of Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, China. It is made up of two peaks. The West Tianmu Peak, also called Xianren Peak(1506 metres (4,941 ft)) and the East Tianmu Peak, also called Daxian Peak(1480 metres (4,856 ft)) . There are ponds near the top of both peaks which look like eyes and lead to the naming of the mountain. The Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve lies on the northwest portion of the mountain and it is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as part of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Man and the Biosphere Program(MAB). The mountain has a lush sub-tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 1767 millimetres (69.6 in) and an annual temperature of 17.3 °C (63 °F).
Tianmu mountain is best known for giant trees, waterfalls, tea, peaks surrounded by clouds, bamboo shoots, temples, and nunneries, and odd shaped rocks. It is also known as a natural botanic garden because more than 2,000 species of plants grow on the mountain as well as being a popular summer resort with tourists in China. Japanese Cedar
Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae; it includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica . It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as Sugi...
trees grow to towering heights on the mountain and the west peak is noted as having the last surviving truly wild population of Ginkgo trees. Prominent amongst the Japanese Cedar is the "Giant Tree King", which was named by the Emperor Qianlong
Qianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. At last measurement it measured 26.5 metre in height, 2.33 metre in diameter, and 42.9 cubic metres (1,515 cu ft) in volume. The mountain is also home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. Amongst them are 39 endangered or protected species, including the Clouded Leopard
Clouded Leopard
The clouded leopard is a felid found from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into China, and has been classified as vulnerable in 2008 by IUCN...
and the Black Muntjac. The lush sub-tropical climate results in both famous succulent bamboo shoots
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo Shoots is an American four-piece musical group based out of Brooklyn, New York and suburban New Jersey. They are known for their dueling, two-person rhythm section and their South Asian identity and influence...
and world famous tea being grown on and around the mountain. The tea is known as Tianmu Tea to tea drinkers around the world.
External links
- Tianmushan Biosphere Reserve Information
- http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cityguide/2007-07/31/content_6856136.htmBrief guide by the China DailyChina DailyThe China Daily is an English language daily newspaper published in the People's Republic of China.- Overview :China Daily was established in June 1981 and has the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper in the country...
] - A Tianmu Mountain guide from Sinoway Travel
- Chris Pearson's photos and description of Tianmu Mountain
- Photos of Tianmu Mountain and surroundings
- Photos and a quick checklist of birds found on the mountain