Yandang Mountains

Yandang Mountains
雁荡山
Rock formation in the Yandang Mountains
Highest point
Peak	Baigangjian
Elevation	1,150 m (3,773 ft)[1]
Coordinates	28°22′N 121°04′E / 28.37°N 121.06°E / 28.37; 121.06
Geography
Yandang Mountains Location in China
Location	Zhejiang, China

Yandang Mountains or Yandangshan (simplified Chinese: 雁荡山; traditional Chinese: 雁蕩山; pinyin: Yàndàng Shān; lit. 'Wild Goose Pond Mountain(s)') refers, in the broad sense, to a coastal mountain range in southeastern Zhejiang province in eastern China, covering much of the prefecture-level city of Wenzhou (from Pingyang County in the south to Yueqing County in the northeast) and extending to the county-level city of Wenling in Taizhou prefecture. The mountain range is divided in two by the Oujiang River, the two parts being the North Yandang and South Yandang. More narrowly, Yandangshan is also used to refer to Mount Yandang, a specific part of the North Yandang around an ancient caldera near a small town of the same name (雁荡镇; Yàndàng Zhèn). The highest peaks of North Yandang are located here, and this is also the main tourist spot. In this article, name "Yandang Mountains" is used to refer the mountain range and "Mt. Yandang" to refer to the caldera.

The main peak of North Yandang, Baigangjian (百岗尖; Bǎigǎng Jiān; 'Hundred-Peak Point'), rises 1,150 m (3,770 ft) above sea level^[2][4] There is a radar station on the peak, which is closed to the public.

In 2004, Yandangshan became National Geological Park and in the beginning of 2005, a member of Global Geoparks Network, with total area of 450 km² (170 sq mi).^[2] The Yandangshan National Forest Park has an area of 841 hectares (2,080 acres), covering Mt. Yandang.^[5]

Mt. Yandang is known for its natural environment, arising from its vertical rock faces and pinnacles, mountain slopes with forests and bamboo groves, streams, waterfalls and caves. The area also hosts several temples and shrines, many of them with a long history; characteristic of the temples is that many of them are built inside caves or in mouths of caves.^{[citation needed]}