Qianshan National Park

Infobox Protected area
name = Qianshan National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption = Location of Qianshan National Park
base_width = 286
locator_x = 238
locator_y = 81
location = Liaoning, China
nearest_city = Anshan
lat_degrees=41 |lat_minutes=1 |lat_seconds=35 |lat_direction=N
long_degrees=123 |long_minutes=8 |long_seconds=10 |long_direction=E
area = 44 km²
established = November 08, 1982
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Qianshan National Park (zh-sp|s=linktext|千|山|国|家|公|园|p=Qiānshān) is a mountainous national park in Liaoning Province China, 17km by road, south east of Anshan. [cite web
url= http://www.anshan.gov.cn/en/qianshan.asp
title= Tourism - Qianshan
accessdate= 2008-05-25
year= 2006
format= HTML
publisher= Anshan Municipal Government
language= English] The park is referred to as 'The Northeast Pearl'. The name Qianshan literally means 'Thousand mountains'. This is actually an abbreviation of the full name, Thousand Lotus Flower Mountains (zh-sp|s=linktext|千|朵|莲|花|山|p=qiān duǒ liánhuā shān). [cite web
url= http://www.qianshan.ln.cn/qswh.asp
title= 千山欢迎您
accessdate= 2008-05-25
author= 千山风景名胜区管理委员会版权所有
year= 2007
format= HTML
publisher= 鞍山市经济研究信息中心制作维护
language= Chinese] According to legend, a long time ago the four corners of the sky collapsed. The Goddess Nüwa wanted to save the people living below so she patched up the sky with stones. One stone was accidentally dropped to the ground where is splashed, throwing the earth into thousands of peaks in the shape of a lotus blossom. Thus Nüwa created Qianshan. [cite web
url= http://www.asgdxk.com.cn/list_2.asp?ExpeCount=9&ClassID=77&NewID=707
title= 视听学刊 - CCTV "travel guide" Anshan in the English text.
accessdate= 2008-05-25
format= HTML
publisher= Anshan Radio and Television Bureau (鞍山广播电视局), Anshan Institute of Radio and TV host(鞍山广播电视学会主办)
language= Chinese and English] The park area of 44 square kilometres, [cite book
last = Huang
first = Youyi
authorlink =
coauthors = Xiao Siaoming, Li Zhenguo, Zhang Zouku
title = Liaoning, Home of the Manchus & Cradle of Qing Empire
publisher = Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China
date = 2006
location =
pages = 227
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = ISBN 7-119-04517-2] is filled with both Buddhist and Taoist temples, monasteries and nunneries. Here is one of few locations where both religions are found sharing the same site. Among the peaks, a naturally wrought statue of the Buddha stands 70 meters high. It is claimed to be largest naturally occurring image of Maitreya Buddha in the world.

The area has a long history of religious worship dating back to the Tang dynasty of China. The site was enhanced during both Ming and Qing dynasties. The revolutions of the twentieth century saw the site abandoned and some buildings damaged. The park has since be restored and expanded with new Pagoda and temples for the Maitreya Buddha.

At it's highest point, Qianshan reaches an elevation of 708.3 metres. The park is densely wooded with 95% of the area covered by forests. Over ten thousand of the pine trees have been estimated to be older than 100 years in age. Rare flora and fauna are found here along with a large number of plants used in traditional Chinese medicines. Over a hundred different species of birds can be observed in the park including the rare black-headed stork.

Motor cars are not allowed within the park. Tourists must either walk or hire one of the electric carts. Many paved foot paths climb steeply up the hillsides through thick forest. These foot paths lead past, Steele, honouring the dead, small shrines, pagodas and temples. Three cable car routes connect to several of the parks scenic peaks. However, none of the cable cars go the whole way up, leaving visitors some climbing if they wish to attain the summit.

Among Qianshan's scenic spots is a new discovery - a mountain in which has be shaped by nature in such a way that it resembles the Maitreya Buddha. The Buddha stands 70 metres high and 46 metres wide and is claimed to be the largest naturally occurring image of Maitreya Buddha in the world. Several temples have been built on the peaks overlooking the Maitreya Buddha. These include: The Pagoda of Maitreya, Great Buddha Temple, Pavilion of Buddha, Greeting Gate, Holographic Buddhist Character and Tachibana Hoxdox. The park has become the venue for the Qianshan Great Buddha Festival in June every year.

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