Laoye Mountain
老爷山
A forested mountain just outside Datong County town, with a Taoist temple at the summit and pine-lined trails. Every year, the Laoye Mountain Flower Song Festival draws tens of thousands of people to sing "huar" folk songs.
Laoye Mountain is located on the north side of Qiaotou Town, the county seat of Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County. It rises to about 2,900 meters above sea level, with steep slopes and dense forest. The mountain is home to a complex of Ming and Qing dynasty Taoist temples, named after the god Guan Yu, who is enshrined there. Climbing the stone steps to the summit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and from the top you can overlook Datong town and the Beichuan River valley. The highlight is the Laoye Mountain Flower Song Festival, held on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month each year, when singers from across Northwest China gather to sing "huar" folk songs. It is an important center for this national intangible cultural heritage. Admission is as posted by the scenic area. It is about 35 km from Xining, and driving takes about 40 minutes.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Yaozigou National Forest Park
- China Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum
- Huzhu Tu Ethnic Homeland Park
- Beichan Temple (Tulou Taoist Temple)
- Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wild Zoo
- Qinghai Provincial Museum
- Mojia Street & Shuijing Lane
- Nanchan Temple, Xining