Mt. Taishan


Mount Tai (Taishan) is located just north of the city of Tai'an and to the south of the provincial capital Jinan. It
extends from 150 to 1,545 meters above sea level and covers an area of 426 square kilometers at its base. It was
known in ancient time as Daishan or Daizong until it was renamed Taishan in the Spring and Autumn Period. In
1987, UNESCO listed Mount Tai as the World Natural and Cultural Heritage.

Mount Tai is one of the birthplaces of the ancient Chinese civilization along the Yellow River. Evidence of human
activities includes two flourishing cultures -- the Dawenkou Culture to the north and the Longshan Culture to the
south of the mountain. During the Warring States Period, a 500-km-long wall was built from Mt. Tai to the Yellow
Sea. Scenic spots related to the famous ancient sage Confucius are the Confucian Temple, places where
Confucius climbed Taishan and viewed the scenery, Menghugou, etc.

Formed about 28 hundred million years ago, Mount Tai is famous for its imposing natural landscape. Besides its
majesty, the Sunrise, Sunset Glow, Golden Belt of the Yellow River, the Sea of the Clouds are its four wonders.
With a bird’s eye view, the mountain is divided by five valleys into six areas, which is features respectively by
seclusion, spaciousness, beauty, mystery, elegance, and wonderful spectacles. Around the main peak, Jade
Emperor, there are smaller 112 peaks, 98 ridges, 102 streams, 72 springs and 36 peculiar stones.

Mount Tai has always been regarded as pre-eminent among China's five sacred mountains. It was also
a symbol of power. Emperors of different dynasties have made pilgrimages to it for sacrificial purposes
shortly after they came to the throne or when the land enjoyed peaceful and prosperous times. Poets and
literary scholars of each dynasty also visited Mt. Tai. 72 Chinese emperors of various dynasties made
pilgrimages to Mt. Tai for sacrificial and other ceremonial purposes. They include Emperor Qin Shihuang,
Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Qianlong of the
Qing Dynasty. Numerous rock inscriptions and stone tablets bear testimony to such visits. Renowned
scholars, including Confucius, Sima Qian, Cao Zhi, Li Bai, Du Fu, composed poetry and prose and left
their calligraphy on the mountain. The currently preserved 97 sites and 22 ancient building complexes
provide materials for research into China's ancient architecture.