Xiao Mountains Explained

Mount Xiao or Mount Yao is a range of mountains in western Henan, China north of the Luo River and south of Sanmenxia. Major peaks include Qīnggǎngfēng (青崗峰; 1903 m) and Guānyúnshān (冠雲山; 1666 m).

The range is part of the Xiáo (Chinese: ) historical region on the border of Hénán and Shānxī provinces in China. The area between Yáo and the strategic Hángǔ Pass was called Xiáohán (Chinese: 崤函).

Name

There is a dispute over the pronunciation of its name. According to one of the most authoritative Mandarin Chinese dictionaries, the Cihai (Chinese: 辭海), xiáo should be yáo according to ancient pronunciation. However, other dictionaries such as Ciyuan (Chinese: 辭源), Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn, Hànyǔ Dà Cídiǎn, and Xiàndài Hànyǔ Cídiǎn use the pronunciation of xiáo.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://edu.wz16300.com/edu/pxzl_new/show_pxzl_new.vm?col=14&id=15678 新編高中語文課本指誤(論壇精華帖)-溫州教學文摘