Tai'an Travel Guide

Tai'an lies in central Shandong province, south of Jinan, a town spreading at the foot of Mount Tai, held to be foremost of China's Five Great Mountains. Mount Tai has been called the First Mountain under Heaven since ancient times, a sacred mountain where emperors of successive dynasties performed the Fengshan rites to worship heaven and earth, and it was inscribed in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a mixed natural and cultural property.

Along the climbing paths, many stone inscriptions left by emperors and men of letters are dotted about. The best-known route is the stone-step path from the Red Gate to the summit, passing the Midway Gate to Heaven and the Eighteen Bends on the way to the Jade Emperor Peak. Those unsure of their stamina can also ride a cable car from the Midway Gate to near the summit. From the Bixia Temple and the Sunrise Viewing Peak at the top, the sea of clouds at dawn can be seen at a glance.

The Dai Temple at the foot of the mountain is a grand Taoist temple that serves as the starting point of worship at Mount Tai, and is included among the World Heritage site's component parts. It houses cultural relics conveying its long history, such as Song-dynasty murals and Han-dynasty steles, and its main hall is counted among China's three great palace halls.

Tai'an can be reached by high-speed rail, and the trailheads of Mount Tai are reached from the city by bus or car. In Tai'an, where the sacred mountain and the old temple at its foot form a single whole, visitors can encounter the history of Mount Tai not only by climbing but also within the town.