China Travel Guide Mount Tai

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of "China Travel Guide"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-09-01
Features: Mount Tai stands majestically in the central part of Shandong Province. Anciently known as "Dai Mountain" or "Dai Zong," it was renamed "Mount Tai" during the Spring and Autumn Period. To the east of Mount Tai lies the hometown of Confucius, Qufu, while to the west is the "Spring City" of Jinan. Covering an area of 426 square kilometers, its main peak, Yu Huang Ding, reaches an altitude of 1,547 meters, rising dramatically from the ground with the grandeur of "the Mountain under Heaven." In 1987, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What makes Mount Tai particularly captivating is that it is the only mountain in Chinese history to have been honored with imperial sacrifices (fengchan). At the same time, it is a flourishing site for both Buddhism and Taoism, revered as a mountain where emperors of past dynasties paid homage. Wherever emperors traveled, they built temples, sculpted statues, inscribed stones, and left behind numerous cultural relics and historical sites. Generations of famous scholars and masters have admired Mount Tai, visiting it to explore its wonders. Over a thousand poems and odes praising Mount Tai have been composed throughout history. To walk through Mount Tai is to walk through history. From the Shoushou Mountain and Haoli Mountain in the southwest of Tai'an City, where sacrifices were held, to the Yu Huang Ding, where offerings to heaven were made, countless scenic spots and inscriptions are scattered throughout the mountain.
Inside the Dai Temple, the cypress trees planted by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sway gracefully in the breeze. Before the Hongmen Palace, the lingering echoes of Confucius's reflection, "To ascend Mount Tai is to see the world," still resonate. On Huima Mountain, the timid hesitation of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty as he turned back on horseback is vividly captured. Beside the Yunbu Bridge, the Five Great Officials Pine, decreed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, stands tall and slender. Along the 18-Round Path, the laughter of Li Bai and Du Fu and other literary figures as they composed new verses on the red cliffs lingers, their (heroic spirit) still palpable. In the Bixia Temple, the solemn fengchan ceremony is about to begin.
In addition to the Dai Temple, Puzhao Temple, Wangmu Pool, Jingshi Valley, Bixia Temple, Riguang Peak, Nantianmen, and Yu Huang Ding, there are many other major historical sites. The natural scenery of Mount Tai is equally captivating. Its towering peaks and magnificent forms make it both a "natural mountain park" and an "abbreviation of Eastern Chinese history and culture." The valleys of Mount Tai are deep and secluded, with pines and cypresses covering the landscape. Famous scenic spots include Tianzhu Peak, Riguang Peak, Bai Zhang Cliff, Xianren Bridge, the Five Great Officials Pine, the Watching-people Pine, Longtan Waterfall, Yunqiao Waterfall, and Santan Waterfall.
When visiting Mount Tai, one must see four wonders: the sunrise, the jade plate-like clouds, the sunset glow, and the golden belt of the Yellow River.