Laoshan Folk Stories

Laoshan folk stories circulate around Mount Lao in Qingdao—an oral folk literature passed down through generations about the mountain's landscapes, Taoism and immortal legends, made rich by the mountain's fame and Taoist roots.

Transmitted by word of mouth, the tales tell of immortals and Taoist cultivation, strange figures, the origins of local landmarks and Taoist lore—vivid and imaginative, and famously echoed in tales linked to Pu Songling's classic strange-story collection.

Laoshan folk stories are a national-level item of intangible cultural heritage, reflecting local beliefs, imagination and values, and serving as an important oral vehicle for the culture of Mount Lao and its Taoist heritage.

They live on through oral telling in the rural communities around Mount Lao in Qingdao, where collecting, publishing and performance also help preserve and pass them on.