Mount Kunyu: The islands where immortals lived

Located on the east part of the Jiaodong Peninsula (Shandong Peninsula) in the Yellow Sea, Mount Kunyu lies roughly midway between the coastal cities of Yantai to the west, and Weihai to the east. The highest point of Mount Kunyu is Taibo Peak, which is 923 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak of the eastern flank of Jiaodong Peninsula.

Mount Kunyu is famous for its religious-cultural heritage, since it was revered by both Taoist monks and Chinese emperors. Emperor Qin Shihuang (the First Emperor of China) had been to Mount Kunyu three times to search for the elixir of life. Emperor Wu Di of the Western Han Dynasty came to Mount Kunyu in search of the elusive elixir that Taoist monks believed to exist.

According to myths and legends, the three islands where immortals lived, including Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, are all derived from Mount Kunyu.

The mountain also enjoys enduring natural beauty: towering peaks that link up to form staircase-like ridges, ancient trees, and clear, spring-fed streams that lead to precipitous waterfalls.