While I was working in Suzhou, China, I visited Mount Tai (Taishan) on a 3-day, 2-night trip by high-speed train.
About Mount Tai
Mount Tai is one of the Five Great Mountains of China. It is located in Tai’an City, Shandong Province, and its main peak, the Jade Emperor Peak, stands 1,545 meters above sea level.
For about 2,000 years, Mount Tai has been honored as a sacred mountain by Chinese emperors, from Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han to Emperor Taizong of Tang, Emperor Taizu of Song and the Ming and Qing dynasties. Emperors held the Feng and Shan ceremonies here to report to Heaven that the country had been unified, and the whole mountain is dotted with shrines, temples and palace buildings.
Because of its many stone inscriptions and the historic sites left by poets and artists, Mount Tai is often called an “open-air history museum.” Along the way you can see ancient trees and famous spots such as Dai Temple, Puzhao Temple, Bixia Temple, the Jade Emperor Peak and the Sunrise-Viewing Peak.
Climbing Mount Tai
The main hiking route is about 9 km long and is made up of thousands of stone steps. If you do not want to climb all the way, a ropeway runs from Zhongtianmen (Middle Gate of Heaven) to Nantianmen (South Gate of Heaven). The sunrise and sunset from the summit are especially beautiful and attract many visitors every year.
