Mount Tai Scenic Area is located in Tai'an City, Shandong Province. It is a world cultural and natural dual heritage site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction, known as "the First of the Five Sacred Mountains" and "the No. 1 Mountain Under Heaven". The total area of the scenic area is approximately 426 square kilometers, with its main peak, Jade Emperor Summit, standing at an altitude of 1532.7 meters. It is renowned for its magnificent natural scenery and profound historical and cultural heritage. Its distinctive feature lies in the integration of natural and cultural landscapes, boasting not only spectacular natural attractions such as majestic mountain ranges, unique rock formations, and breathtaking sunrises but also numerous cultural relics including ancient buildings, steles, and cliff inscriptions. Within the scenic area, there are 22 ancient building complexes, 97 ancient sites, 819 steles from successive dynasties, and 1018 cliff inscriptions, mainly distributed along the middle and west routes of Mount Tai, forming a rich cultural landscape system.
Historical Culture
The historical culture of Mount Tai can be traced back to ancient times, with human activities as early as the Neolithic Age. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Mount Tai became a sacred place for emperors of past dynasties to hold fengshan (offering sacrifices to heaven and earth) ceremonies. According to "Records of the Grand Historian", 72 monarchs went to Mount Tai for fengshan in ancient times. Since the First Emperor of Qin, 12 emperors have personally visited Mount Tai to hold fengshan ceremonies or sacrificial rituals, making Mount Tai an important carrier of the symbol of imperial power and divine mandate in ancient China.
Mount Tai also has a profound religious culture. Taoism regards Mount Tai as the "Second Small Cave Heaven", and Buddhism has left many relics here, such as Lingyan Temple, forming a cultural characteristic of the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Scholars and poets of all dynasties have flocked here. Confucius, Du Fu, Li Bai and others have left famous works eulogizing Mount Tai. Du Fu's "When shall I reach the top and hold all mountains in a single glance" is an eternal masterpiece. In 1987, Mount Tai was listed as a world cultural and natural heritage by UNESCO, becoming the first scenic spot in the world to receive this honor. Its characteristic of "dual heritage of nature and culture" embodies the achievements of the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature.
Main Attractions
Jade Emperor Summit
Jade Emperor Summit is the main peak of Mount Tai, with an altitude of 1532.7 meters. It gets its name from the Jade Emperor Temple located on the summit. The Jade Emperor Temple, first built in the Ming Dynasty, consists of structures such as the mountain gate, Jade Emperor Hall, Sun-Watching Pavilion, and River-Viewing Pavilion, with a total construction area of approximately 280 square meters. A statue of the Jade Emperor is enshrined in the Jade Emperor Hall. In front of the hall stands the "Summit Stone", inscribed with the four characters "The Summit of Mount Tai", which marks the highest point of Mount Tai. Standing atop Jade Emperor Summit, one can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding mountains: watching the sunrise over the Yellow Sea to the east, the golden ribbon-like Yellow River to the west, the scattered mist-covered peaks (known as "Nine Spots of Qi Smoke") to the north, and the Wen River winding like a belt to the south. The scenery is extremely spectacular, making it an ideal spot to admire the sunrise and sea of clouds on Mount Tai.
Southern Heavenly Gate
Southern Heavenly Gate is located at the end of the Eighteen Bends of Mount Tai, with an altitude of 1460 meters. It is the end of the mountain-climbing path and one of the landmark buildings of Mount Tai. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty, and the existing building was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, consisting of a city gate-style building and side houses on both sides, with a total construction area of about 120 square meters. The three characters "Southern Heavenly Gate" on the lintel were written by Hu Zanzong, a calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty. On both sides, there are stone-carved couplets: "The gate opens to the nine heavens, looking up at the wonders of the three heavens; the steps are as high as ten thousand levels, overlooking the magnificent scenery of a thousand peaks", vividly depicting the steepness and grandeur of the Southern Heavenly Gate. There is the Weiliao Pavilion inside the Southern Heavenly Gate, and a group of cliff inscriptions on the west side outside the gate, which are important parts of the cultural landscape of Mount Tai.
Eighteen Bends
Eighteen Bends is the steepest section of the mountain-climbing path on Mount Tai, located between the north foot of Dui Song Mountain and the Southern Heavenly Gate. It is about 0.8 kilometers long, with a vertical height of about 400 meters, and has 1827 stone steps. It is famous for its steepness, with a slope of more than 70 degrees, and the steepest part can reach 80 degrees. It is divided into three sections: "Slow Eighteen", "Neither Slow nor Tight Eighteen" and "Tight Eighteen". The cliffs on both sides of the Eighteen Bends are steep, covered with inscriptions. Looking up, the stone steps are like a ladder straight into the sky; looking down, it is like facing an abyss. It is a test of the climber's physical strength and willpower, and also a typical embodiment of the "majesty" of Mount Tai.
Dai Temple
Dai Temple is located at the southern foot of Mount Tai. It is a sacred place for emperors of all dynasties to worship the god of Mount Tai, and also the largest and most complete ancient building complex on Mount Tai, known as the "Small Forbidden City". Dai Temple covers an area of about 96,000 square meters, with a construction area of about 16,000 square meters. It is surrounded by a wall about 6 meters high, with four gates. The main buildings in the temple include Tiankuang Hall, Ren'an Gate, Peitian Gate, and the Stele of Song Tiankuang Hall. Among them, Tiankuang Hall is the core building of Dai Temple, 22.3 meters high, 48.7 meters wide and 19.7 meters deep. It is known as one of the "Three Great Halls of China" together with the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Dacheng Hall of Confucian Temple in Qufu. The mural "The God of Mount Tai's Journey to and from the Palace" inside the hall is 62 meters long and 3.3 meters high, depicting 697 figures, with a grand scene, and is a treasure of ancient Chinese mural art.
Middle Heavenly Gate
Middle Heavenly Gate is the midpoint of the mountain-climbing route of Mount Tai, with an altitude of 847 meters, and is the hub connecting the upper and lower parts of Mount Tai. The terrain here is open, with facilities such as the Middle Heavenly Gate Archway, God of Wealth Temple, and cableway station, with a construction area of about 500 square meters. From the Middle Heavenly Gate, you can go up to the Southern Heavenly Gate, down to Dai Temple, and there is a cableway to the back stone valley in the north, which is an important station for tourists to rest and transfer. The scenery around the Middle Heavenly Gate is beautiful, with Phoenix Ridge on the west and Zhongxi Mountain on the east. Climbing here, you can take a rest and feel the experience of "halfway up the mountain, having gone through mountains and rivers".
Bixia Temple
Bixia Temple is located on Bixia Peak at the top of Mount Tai, with an altitude of 1480 meters. It is a sacred place of the Quanzhen School, the mainstream of Taoism, dedicated to the Goddess Bixia. The temple was first built during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, and the existing buildings were built in the Qing Dynasty, consisting of the mountain gate, main hall, side halls, bell tower, drum tower, etc., with a total construction area of about 3900 square meters. The buildings of Bixia Temple are covered with copper tiles and iron tiles, which are resplendent in the sun, and are the ancient building complex with the highest altitude on Mount Tai. A statue of the Goddess Bixia is enshrined in the main hall, where incense is prosperous, making it an important place for folk believers to pray for blessings. Its exquisite architectural craftsmanship has extremely high historical and artistic value.
Food
Three Delicacies of Mount Tai
Three Delicacies of Mount Tai is a characteristic dish of Tai'an, with "Chinese cabbage, tofu and water" as the main raw materials. It gets its name because Mount Tai Chinese cabbage is tender and sweet, tofu is delicate and smooth, and mountain spring water is sweet and refreshing. When making, the three are boiled together with a little salt for seasoning. The soup is clear, and the taste is delicious, reflecting the "light and natural flavor" of Mount Tai's diet. This dish is available in restaurants in Tai'an urban area and Mount Tai scenic area. It is a must-try to experience Mount Tai's food culture, with a price of about 30-50 yuan per serving.
Surrounding Food
Tai'an Stir-Fried Chicken
Tai'an Stir-Fried Chicken is a local folk characteristic dish. It is made of local free-range chicken, with green peppers, red peppers, potatoes and other ingredients, stir-fried in a traditional iron pot. The meat is firm and chewy, with a strong sauce flavor. There are many time-honored stores in the "Stir-Fried Chicken Street" (near Longtan Road) in Tai'an City, such as "Jinling Stir-Fried Chicken". A serving of stir-fried chicken is about 80-120 yuan, suitable for sharing among many people, and is a favorite food of locals and tourists.
Flaky Pastry
Flaky Pastry is a traditional snack in Tai'an with a history of 100 years. It is made of flour, sesame, salt and other raw materials through kneading, layering, baking and other processes. The outer skin is crispy, the inner filling is soft, and it is salty and delicious. It can be bought in the old street at the foot of Mount Tai and the snack stalls around Dai Temple, with a unit price of about 2-3 yuan. It can be used as a convenient dry food during mountain climbing, and tastes better when paired with tofu pudding.
Tickets
Ticket: 115 yuan per person (for hiking from Hongmen).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "泰山景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
It is open 24 hours a day, but some scenic spots and cableways have fixed operating hours. The opening hours of Dai Temple are 8:00-17:30 (April-October) and 8:00-17:00 (November-March of the next year). The operating hours of the cableway from Middle Heavenly Gate to Southern Heavenly Gate are 7:30-17:30 (April-October) and 8:00-17:00 (November-March of the next year); the operating hours of the cableway from Taohuayuan to Southern Heavenly Gate are the same as those of the Middle Heavenly Gate cableway. It is recommended that tourists arrange their time reasonably to avoid missing the opening hours of some service facilities when climbing at night.
Tour Routes
There are four main mountain-climbing routes on Mount Tai. The most classic one is the middle route (Hongmen Route): starting from Dai Temple, passing through First Heavenly Gate, Confucius' Climbing Place, Middle Heavenly Gate, Eighteen Bends, Southern Heavenly Gate, and finally reaching Jade Emperor Summit. The whole journey is about 10.5 kilometers, with about 6290 steps, and it takes 5-6 hours on foot. This route has concentrated cultural landscapes, suitable for first-time climbers with good physical strength.
If you have limited physical strength, you can choose to take a tourist bus from Tianwaicun to Middle Heavenly Gate (the journey is about 30 minutes, with a fare of 30 yuan per person), then walk or take the cableway (100 yuan per person for a one-way trip) from Middle Heavenly Gate to Southern Heavenly Gate. The whole walking journey takes about 2.5 hours, suitable for tourists with tight time or average physical strength.
The Taohuayuan Route is mainly about natural scenery. Take the cableway from Taohuayuan to Southern Heavenly Gate (100 yuan per person for a one-way trip), then walk to Jade Emperor Summit. It is suitable for tourists who prefer natural landscapes, and the whole journey takes about 3 hours.
The back mountain Tianzhufeng Route is relatively steep with few tourists, suitable for experienced hikers. The whole journey is about 5.4 kilometers, taking 4-5 hours on foot.
Transportation
- Bus: In Tai'an City, you can take buses No. 3, 4, 19, K3, etc. to Hongmen Station (starting point of Hongmen Route); take buses No. 15, K15 to Tianwaicun Station (starting point of tourist buses); take bus No. 2 to Dai Temple Station. From Tai'an Station (high-speed railway station), you can take K37 bus to Hongmen Station, with a journey of about 1 hour and a fare of 2 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from Jinan, take the Beijing-Taipei Expressway (G3) to Tai'an Exit, get off the highway, go straight east along Dongyue Street for about 5 kilometers to reach Tianwaicun or Hongmen Parking Lot. The charging standard of the parking lot is 5 yuan per hour for small cars during the day (8:00-18:00) and 10 yuan per time for large cars at night (18:00-8:00 the next day).
- Taxi/Online Car-Hailing: Taking a taxi from Tai'an Station to Hongmen costs about 30 yuan, with a journey of 30 minutes; taking a taxi from the center of Tai'an City to Hongmen costs about 10 yuan, with a journey of 15 minutes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Jade Emperor Summit: The main peak of Mount Tai, with an altitude of 1532.7 meters. It is the best place to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds on Mount Tai. The Jade Emperor Temple and "Summit Stone" on the summit are landmark landscapes.
- Eighteen Bends: It is 0.8 kilometers long with 1827 stone steps and a steep slope. It is the steepest section of Mount Tai, embodying the characteristic of "majestic, strange and steep" of Mount Tai, and is the core part of the mountain-climbing experience.
- Dai Temple: The largest ancient building complex on Mount Tai. Tiankuang Hall, together with the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City and the Dacheng Hall of Confucian Temple, is known as the "Three Great Halls of China". The mural "The God of Mount Tai's Journey to and from the Palace" inside the hall has extremely high artistic value.
- Southern Heavenly Gate: A landmark building of Mount Tai, located at the top of the Eighteen Bends. It is an important node before reaching the summit. There are many cliff inscriptions inside and outside the gate, and you can overlook the mountains after reaching the summit.
Tour Suggestions
- To watch the sunrise on Mount Tai, you need to check the weather forecast in advance. The best viewing time in summer is 4:30-5:30, and in winter is 6:30-7:30. It is recommended to arrive at Jade Emperor Summit or Rizhao Peak 1 hour in advance to wait.
- Before climbing the mountain, you need to prepare comfortable climbing shoes, enough drinking water (the price on the mountain is higher, it is recommended to bring 2-3 liters by yourself), high-calorie snacks (such as chocolate, beef jerky). Do a good job of sun protection in summer and keep warm in winter (the temperature on the top of the mountain is 8-10℃ lower than that at the foot of the mountain).
- Those with average physical strength can carry climbing sticks (sold at the foot of the mountain for 10-20 yuan each) to reduce the burden on the knees; when climbing at night, they need to carry flashlights or headlamps.
- If you plan to stay to watch the sunrise, you can choose Meteorological Observatory Hotel, Jade Emperor Summit Hotel, etc. on the top of the mountain, with a price of about 300-800 yuan per night, which needs to be booked in advance; you can also choose to stay overnight in the rest room near the Southern Heavenly Gate (charged about 50 yuan per person).
- It is recommended to arrange 2 days for the visit. Climb to the top of the mountain on the first day, watch the sunrise the next day and then go down the mountain. You can savor the scenery along the way to avoid the trip being too hasty.
Matters Needing Attention
- When climbing the mountain, you should abide by the principle of "don't look at the scenery while walking, and don't walk while looking at the scenery". Especially on steep sections like the Eighteen Bends, pay attention to your footing and avoid passing during crowded hours.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. It is strictly forbidden to carve on rocks or ancient buildings to protect the natural and cultural environment.
- Commodities on the mountain are relatively expensive. You can purchase drinking water, food, etc. in full at the foot of the mountain; there is no mobile phone signal in some sections, so it is recommended to travel in groups and keep in contact.
- Avoid climbing in thunderstorm weather, as the mountain top is prone to being struck by lightning; some sections will be icy in winter, and you can buy crampons (10-20 yuan per pair) at the foot of the mountain to prevent slipping.
- There are medical stations in the scenic area (such as the Middle Heavenly Gate and the Southern Heavenly Gate). If you feel unwell, you can seek help in time.