65km (40 miles) northeast of the city of Yantai
is Penglai, a magical place that is often associated with mythological
gods. In a popular legend the ‘Eight Immortals Crossing the Seas’,
Penglai is portrayed as a mystical wonderland.
The castle (penglai ge) found on the cliff
is a complex pavilion dating from the Northern Song period (960-1127AD)
and overlooks the seas. The main hall has a golden statue of the
Sea Goddess, behind which is a stunning mural of the seas, clouds
and magnificent dragons.
The area is also famous for the Penglai mirage, which is said to occur every few decades. Reports vary, but some witnesses have likened the phenomenon to a hazy mist while others claim to see entire towns complete with people, buildings and vehicles for roughly 40 minutes.
