Atlas of China
Mount Tai 泰山Tài Shān
China's most sacred peak, climbed by emperors and by night hikers chasing sunrise
- Best time
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Days to budget
- 1 day
- Stay in
- Tai'an
- Region
- Shandong
- Type
- Culture
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Mount Tai
First among China's Five Great Mountains, Mount Tai has drawn pilgrims for some 3,000 years. A stone stairway of thousands of steps climbs past temples, memorial archways and cliffs carved with calligraphy to Jade Emperor Peak at the top; many hikers set out in the dark to arrive for sunrise, while cable cars cover the upper section.
The story
From Qin Shi Huang onwards, emperors climbed Tai Shan to perform the feng and shan sacrifices, announcing to heaven and earth that their rule was legitimate. Confucius is said to have looked down from the summit and found the whole world small.
What to see at Mount Tai
- Dai Temple 岱庙: The huge temple complex at the foot of the mountain in Tai'an, laid out like an imperial palace. Its Hall of Heavenly Blessings holds a 62 m mural of the Mount Tai god's grand procession, and the courtyards hold cypresses said to date from the Han.
- Midway Gate to Heaven 中天门: The halfway point of the climb, where the bus road ends and the cable car to the summit begins.
- Sutra Stone Valley 经石峪: A rock slope carved with the Diamond Sutra in huge characters, about 50 cm across, believed to date from the Northern Qi.
- South Gate to Heaven 南天门: The great gateway at the top of the stairs that marks the entry to the summit area.
- Azure Clouds Shrine 碧霞祠: A grand shrine near the summit to the Lady of Mount Tai, the mountain's best-known goddess, combining metal, wood and stone.
- Jade Emperor Peak 玉皇顶: The highest point, with the Jade Emperor Temple and its Wordless Stele, and nearby Sun Viewing Peak and Gazing-over-Lu Platform, where Confucius is said to have remarked the world looked small.
How to visit Mount Tai
Begin at Dai Temple in Tai'an, then take the east route from the Taishan Arch gate: roughly 7,200 stone steps, reaching Midway Gate to Heaven in 1 to 2.5 hours and the summit in about 2.5 to 6 hours in all. A bus runs to Midway Gate to Heaven, and a cable car covers the upper section, which is how most visitors do a day trip. The less-used west route is more scenic but has fewer cultural sights.
How to get to Mount Tai
Tai'an is on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line, about two hours from Beijing; from the station, a taxi or bus brings you to the Red Gate at the foot of the main path.
Where to stay
Tai'an city at the foot of the mountain is the base, close to Dai Temple and the east-route trailhead and good for an early start.
What to eat
- Three-beauty tofu 泰山三美豆腐: A Tai'an speciality built on local cabbage, tofu and spring water, simple and mild.
- Dry-fried red-scale fish 赤鳞鱼: A Mount Tai fish dish, crisp outside and tender inside.
- Mount Tai pine-mushroom chicken 泰山松莪鸡: Local free-range chicken cooked with pine mushrooms from the mountain, a hearty dish in the restaurants at the foot of Mount Tai.
Tips for visiting Mount Tai
- Climbing overnight for sunrise? Rent a padded coat at the top, as the summit is cold even in summer.
- Short on time or energy, take the bus to Midway Gate and walk or ride the cable car from there.
- Avoid weekends and public holidays, when the steps turn into one long queue.
Nearby
- Qufu, Hometown of Confucius 曲阜三孔 70 km
The temple, mansion and forest cemetery of Confucius and his descendants
Also within 30 km: Dai Temple 岱庙 (under 10 km), Fantawild Adventure, Tai'an 泰山方特欢乐世界 (under 10 km), Lingyan Temple 灵岩寺 (20 km), Tomb of Xiao Daheng 萧大亨墓地石刻 (20 km), Taishan Baotailong Tourist Area 泰山宝泰隆旅游区 (20 km), Jiudingta Chinese Ethnic Park 九顶塔中华民族欢乐园 (20 km).
On the map
Open Mount Tai on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Mount Tai on the map