In central China, there is a high mountain range that runs east and west — Qinling (or the Qinling Ridge). It runs from Gansu province in the west, passes through Shaanxi, and reaches Henan in the east. It has a total length of more than 1,500 kilometers and a width that ranges from ten kilometers to more than 200 kilometers.

In the 1st century BC, the Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian wrote in his book Records of the Grand Historian that "Qinling" was the great obstacle in the world”, which is a formal written record of Qinling. “Obstacle” can also be interpreted as “blocking.” Because the Qinling Ridge is like a large tall “windshield”, it blocks the cold air that goes south in the winter, and also blocks the warm and humid air coming from the south in the summer. In the winter, in the north of the Qinling Ridge, the wind blows and the air is dry, while the southern basin of the Qinling Ridge is still green, warm and humid; in the summer, the south of the Qinling Ridge is humid, rainy and lush, but the Loess Plateau in the north is dry and the yellow loess stretches far. The “high wall” of Qinling also hinders the movement of people living on the northern and southern sides of the ridge, causing people’s lifestyles and customs in the north and south to differ. Therefore, the Qinling Ridge can be regarded as the natural boundary between China's North and South, and also the watershed of the two major river systems of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

Mount Taibai is the main peak of the Qinling Ridge. It is 3,767 meters above sea level and is the highest peak inland east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Here is a sea of clouds, forests, amazing peaks and trees, waterfalls, springs, and beautiful scenery. It is called the "back garden" of the ancient capital Xi'an, because it is very close to Xi'an. In this green mountain, rare and diverse flora and fauna resources have become the most important concern for scientists.

The Qinling Ridge boasts beautiful natural scenery, and its special geographical position has a profound impact on peopled economic activities, production activities and production methods. In the course of the development of the Chinese nation, it plays a very important role.

Cultural Notes

Sima Qian and His Records

Sima Qian (145 BC-?) was a historian in the Western Han Dynasty of China. His Records of the Grand Historian is the first general history of China, recording the Chinese history from the ancient Yellow Emperor to the Han Dynasty for more than 3,000 years, and has had a profound impact on the history and literature development of later generations.