Mount Dinghushan

The Dinghushan massif, 18km/11mi northeast of Zhaoqing, has been visited by pilgrims for more than 1000 years. It is situated in the middle of some 1200ha/3000acres of land which has been declared a nature reserve and is home to more than 2000 species of plants and animals including some very rare and valuable ones such as the Indian antelope, silver pheasant and scaly ant-eater.

On the top of the largest mountain, the 1000m/3300ft high Cockscomb (Jilong Feng), lies Three-legged Stool Lake (Dinghu). According to legend the Yellow Emperor often came here to show the locals how to make three-legged stools, and that is how the lake got its name.

Numerous Buddhist temples are hidden among the dense trees, including the Ming period (1368-1644) Qingyun Si Temple, now a guest house.

It boasts a beautiful bronze bell weighing 500kg/1100lb and a giant iron cauldron in which rice was cooked for 100 people.