White Cloud Mountain, located about 17 kilometers north of Guangzhou, has been also famous tourist attraction in southern Canton since ancient times, and earned the name "Top attraction in Yangcheng" for its natural beauty. People always describe the natural beauty of Guangzhou as being composed of white cloud and pearl sea, the white cloud referring to White Cloud Mountain.
White Cloud Mountain is at the south ending of Dayu Mountain ridge. It stands up over the flat area of the Pearl River Delta, called 'the First Mountain of Southern Yue' in history. When the sun shines after the rain, and through late spring, a wreath of airy clouds circles the mountains. That is why White Cloud Mountain got its name. The mountain is of a rectangular shape, with a south-to-north length of 7 kilometers and an east-to-west length of 4 kilometers.
White Cloud Mountain consists of more than 30 peaks and covers an area of 28 square kilometers. The highest peak, Moxing Ridge stands in the center of the mountain, measuring 382 meters in height, also called 'the First Peak under the Southern Sky'.
White Cloud Mountain has gorgeous scenery and abundant historical relics. 'Wind Soughing in the Pines on Baiyun Mountain', one of Guangzhou's eight scenic spots, refers to the mountain's pine waves caused by mountain wind.
White Cloud Mountain is now a park with natural hills and waters. It is an ideal sightseeing place and summer resort, with a development history of over 1,000 years. It has six areas, Bright Pearl Building Park, the San tailing Summit Park, the Bird Spring Valley Park (Mingchun Valley), the Santailing Park, the Luhu Park and the Fei'eling Park. Beside the existing scenes Moxing Ridge, Looking afar in the morning from Baiyun Mountain, Looking afar in the evening from Baiyun Mountain, the First Peak under the Southern Sky, Wind Soughing in the Pines and Songtao Villa, Mingzhu Tower, there have been added such scenic spots as Baiyun Cableway, Mingchun Valley - the largest birdcage in Asia, the Forest of Steles in Guangzhou, Nengren Temple, a golf course, Xinghai Garden, Yuntai Garden, the Sculpture Park and Baiyun Chute, etc. |
