Shantung Hills

The Shantung Hills, now known as Shandong, are a significant geographical feature in China, primarily consisting of two hill masses. These hills are composed of ancient crystalline shales, sedimentary rocks, and hard, ancient rocks with granitic intrusions, representing remnants of China's oldest geological core.1

The western hill mass is the more extensive, featuring three parallel faulted ranges: the Yi, Lu, and Tai. Mount Tai, part of the Tai massif, is the highest point at 5,000 feet (1,534 meters) and is revered as one of China's five sacred mountains. The eastern peninsular mass is lower, with hills rarely exceeding 700 feet (210 meters), characterized by deeply cut valleys and rounded hills. These hills were once islands in an inland sea and are connected to the Liaodong Peninsula by a submerged ridge.1