Tai Shan, situated about an hour's drive outside Jinan, is the most revered of China's 'Five Sacred Mountains'. Its main peak is about 1532 meters (5,029 feet) high. Tai Mountain has been an important religious and spiritual site for over three thousand years. On ascending to the throne, emperors would come to the mountain, paying homage to the earth at the base of the climb. Those who made it to the summit would then pay homage to heaven. Over 70 emperors from various dynasties are said to have come to the mountain.
Tai Shan is a cultural treasure house of temples, ruins, stone tablets and cliff face and rock inscriptions. Key sites include Red Gate Palace, Azure Cloud Temple and carvings such as the Buddhist Diamond Sutra which can be found in the Jing Shi Valley.
The scenery in Tai Mountain is as beautiful and evocative as its history would imply. Waterfalls and ancient pine forests, jutting rocks, hidden valleys and fragrant cypresses make for impressive viewing. The "Four Wonders"of Tai Mountain are the view of Yellow River, the sea of clouds that swirls about the highest peaks, the view into the rising sun seen from the east side of the mountain, and the glow of the setting sun in the west.
There are several routes to the summit. The East Route is the one many people choose, and is often called the Imperial Route, as this was the route emperors would take on their way up the mountain at the beginning of their reign. The Dai Temple at the beginning of the climb dates from the Han Dynasty, and was the spot where emperors would offer sacrifices before they climbed the mountain. The 6000 steps of this route take around four hours.
The west route is a much easier way up, as the second half of the ascent is by cable car. The climb starts at Heaven and Earth Square and the cable car goes from Mid-heaven Gate. The Peach Blossom Ravine Route, despite its lyrical name, is a pretty prosaic affair: take a bus to the cable car station and admire the view during the rapid ascent to the peak. The final route is the Tianzhu Peak Route, which provides a rocky and exhilarating climb and is the best route for adventurers.
Admission: RMB125 (Feb. 1 to Nov. 30), RMB 100 (Dec. 1 to Jan. 31)
Getting there: buses leave the Jinan Coach Terminal and the Railway Station Square Coach Station frequently, taking one hour to reach Taian from where visitors can catch buses 10, 15, 31 and 32 to Tai Mountain.
Tai Shan, situated about an hour's drive outside Jinan, is the most revered of China's 'Five Sacred Mountains'. Its main peak is about 1532 meters (5,029 feet) high. Tai Mountain has been an important religious and spiritual site for over three thousand years. On ascending to the throne, emperors would come to the mountain, paying homage to the earth at the base of the climb. Those who made it to the summit would then pay homage to heaven. Over 70 emperors from various dynasties are said to have come to the mountain.
Tai Shan is a cultural treasure house of temples, ruins, stone tablets and cliff face and rock inscriptions. Key sites include Red Gate Palace, Azure Cloud Temple and carvings such as the Buddhist Diamond Sutra which can be found in the Jing Shi Valley.
The scenery in Tai Mountain is as beautiful and evocative as its history would imply. Waterfalls and ancient pine forests, jutting rocks, hidden valleys and fragrant cypresses make for impressive viewing. The "Four Wonders"of Tai Mountain are the view of Yellow River, the sea of clouds that swirls about the highest peaks, the view into the rising sun seen from the east side of the mountain, and the glow of the setting sun in the west.
There are several routes to the summit. The East Route is the one many people choose, and is often called the Imperial Route, as this was the route emperors would take on their way up the mountain at the beginning of their reign. The Dai Temple at the beginning of the climb dates from the Han Dynasty, and was the spot where emperors would offer sacrifices before they climbed the mountain. The 6000 steps of this route take around four hours.
The west route is a much easier way up, as the second half of the ascent is by cable car. The climb starts at Heaven and Earth Square and the cable car goes from Mid-heaven Gate. The Peach Blossom Ravine Route, despite its lyrical name, is a pretty prosaic affair: take a bus to the cable car station and admire the view during the rapid ascent to the peak. The final route is the Tianzhu Peak Route, which provides a rocky and exhilarating climb and is the best route for adventurers.
Admission: RMB125 (Feb. 1 to Nov. 30), RMB 100 (Dec. 1 to Jan. 31)
Getting there: buses leave the Jinan Coach Terminal and the Railway Station Square Coach Station frequently, taking one hour to reach Taian from where visitors can catch buses 10, 15, 31 and 32 to Tai Mountain.
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