Mount Tai｜Not only does it overlook all other mountains, but it also boasts colorful autumn scenery

[Rainbow]Question: Which mountain best represents China? Undoubtedly, it is Mount Tai! As the foremost of the Five Great Mountains, Mount Tai is not only a sacred mountain for ancient emperors' sacrificial ceremonies but also a symbol of the rise and fall of China, embodying the unity of heaven and man, and national peace and prosperity. For thousands of years, countless poets and scholars have written about it. Overlooking all other mountains and standing atop the world is its most representative scenery. However, Mount Tai is indeed difficult to climb and is known for its challenging ascent among China's famous mountains. Whether you choose to bravely conquer the Eighteen Bends or take the cable car for an easy ride, everyone should visit Mount Tai at least once. Moreover, the crisp autumn air replaces the summer heat, leaving only the vibrant autumn colors. [Glister]Must-see highlights: [One] Eighteen Bends—Only the brave climb the ladder to heaven The difficulty of Mount Tai lies in the Eighteen Bends, a stretch of less than 1 kilometer with 1,633 stone steps and a vertical height difference of 400 meters, with very narrow steps. It is not only visually shocking but also a huge test of physical strength. When you finally reach Zhongtianmen and look toward the summit, the Eighteen Bends hang like a ladder to heaven—steep, long, and seemingly unreachable—making people sigh in awe. Many climbers get intimidated, forgetting their bold words from the foot of the mountain. It can be said that those who have not given up here and successfully conquer the Eighteen Bends to reach the summit are all heroes. [Two] Mount Tai Ancient Architecture Complex—Philosophy of unity between heaven and man The Mount Tai ancient architecture complex includes 21 ancient buildings, 7 stone pavilions, 6 stone bridges, and 10 stone archways. It is a national cultural heritage site and an important part of Mount Tai’s World Natural and Cultural Heritage. From the foot of the mountain with the Guandi Temple, Confucius Ascending Archway, Tianjie Archway, Hongmen Palace, and Wanxian Tower, to the mid-mountain with Doumu Palace, Sanguan Temple, Hutian Pavilion, Zhongtianmen Archway, and Panshan Road, and up to the summit with Nantianmen, Bixia Temple, Confucius Temple, Qingdi Palace, and Jade Emperor Temple, ancient buildings are scattered along the climbing route. So don’t just focus on climbing; there is scenery along the way. [Three] Cliff Inscriptions—The supremacy of the Five Great Mountains Another embodiment of Mount Tai’s World Natural and Cultural Heritage is the numerous cliff inscriptions scattered across the mountain. There are more than 2,000 cliff inscriptions and steles, including timeless verses left by poets and records from imperial sacrificial ceremonies. Each has historical significance, and the most famous is the "Supreme of the Five Great Mountains" inscription. Located east of the Jade Emperor Temple at the summit, it is a symbol of Mount Tai and must not be missed! [Four] Overlooking all mountains—Climb Mount Tai to see the world as small Over 2,000 years ago, Confucius climbed Mount Tai, leaving the legend of "Confucius seeing the world as small"; over 1,000 years ago, Du Fu climbed Mount Tai and wrote the famous line "I shall climb to the summit and see all other mountains dwarfed." This 1,545-meter peak may not offer a view of Wu, but seeing 100 kilometers or more is no problem. The city of Tai’an at the foot and the distant Culaishan are clearly visible, and on clear days, even Jinan can be seen. [Fire] Lesser-known highlights: [One] Colorful autumn—Seasonal stunning fall foliage Due to altitude differences, the temperature gap between the foot and summit of Mount Tai can reach 10°C. This vertical mountain climate creates four distinct seasons on the mountain. For example, when the ginkgo trees at Doumu Palace are still green, 300 meters higher at Hutian Pavilion, the ginkgo trees are golden; the trees at the foot are lush, while 500 meters up at Butian Bridge, the trees are colorful. Autumn arrives quietly, but you never know where or when you will encounter it. [Two] The back of the 5-yuan bill—A composite image The back of the 5-yuan bill depicts Mount Tai, but you cannot find an identical scene on the mountain. This is because the image on the bill is a composite of the "Supreme of the Five Great Mountains" inscription, Jade Emperor Temple, Nantianmen, and the Eighteen Bends, which cannot be seen simultaneously in reality. However, you can find a spot with a similar mountain and river layout, such as behind the Jade Emperor Temple. [Pushpin]Tips: [One] Pay attention to the weather Whether watching the sunrise or experiencing the grandeur of "overlooking all mountains," choose a clear day. Don’t rush to book tickets; Tai’an is on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail line, with many trains from Beijing/Shanghai to Tai’an. It’s better to check the weather first. [Two] Be prepared for crowds Besides summer and short holidays, weekends are also a small travel peak, so it is usually crowded. Plan your trip well and don’t miss the cable car operating hours because of the crowds. [Three] Know your limits Anyone can make bold claims, but when you reach Zhongtianmen and see the distant, unreachable Nantianmen, it’s okay to back down. Taking the cable car from here is not shameful; after all, not everyone can hike to the top. [Four] Supplies everywhere Shops are everywhere along the climbing path, offering energy drinks and high-calorie foods, usually about twice the normal price. So there’s no need to carry a heavy load of supplies from the foot of the mountain—save your energy for climbing. [WorldMap]Climbing routes: There are roughly four ways to climb Mount Tai. Hongmen and Tianwaicun are located in the city center and are the most common entrances. Among them, hiking from Hongmen is the classic route, suitable for those with good stamina and a spirit of challenge; the Tianwaicun route with bus plus cable car is the easiest and painless way to the summit. Taohuayu and Dongyudao entrances are farther from the city center and can be ignored for first-time climbers. [One] Regular hiking route: Hongmen - Wanxian Tower (ticket checkpoint) - Hutian Pavilion - Zhongtianmen - Duosongshan Archway - Nantianmen, about 4–5 hours total [Two] Lesser-known hiking route: Dongyudao - Dongtianmen - Zhongtianmen - Duosongshan Archway - Nantianmen, about 4 hours total [Three] Regular bus + cable car route: Tianwaicun - Zhongtianmen - Nantianmen; bus from Tianwaicun to Zhongtianmen takes 30 minutes, cable car from Zhongtianmen to Nantianmen takes 10 minutes, about 1 hour total [Four] Lesser-known bus + cable car route: Taohuayu - Taohuayuan - Beitianjie; bus from Taohuayu to Taohuayuan about 20 minutes, cable car from Taohuayuan to Beitianjie 15 minutes, about 50 minutes total [RoundNails]Detailed address: Daiyue District, Tai’an City 🎫Ticket information: [One] The following tickets can be purchased 7 days in advance via the "Mount Tai Tourism" mini-program or on-site (tickets valid for 3 days after check-in): Hongmen/Dongyudao hiking (ticket only) 115 RMB/person Tianwaicun bus to Zhongtianmen (including ticket) 155 RMB/person Taohuayu bus to Taohuayuan (including ticket) 155 RMB/person Zhongtianmen bus to Tianwaicun for descent 40 RMB/person Taohuayuan bus to Taohuayu for descent 40 RMB/person [Two] The following tickets are only available for same-day on-site purchase: Zhongtianmen cable car/ Taohuayuan cable car one-way 100 RMB/person Houshiwu cable car one-way 20 RMB/person ⏰️Opening hours: Hongmen 5:00–24:00 Tianwaicun/Zhongtianmen bus 7:00–21:00 Taohuayu/Taohuayuan bus 5:00–21:00 Dongyudao: 8:00–16:00 Zhongtianmen cable car 6:00–18:30 Taohuayuan cable car 6:00–18:00 Houshiwu cable car 8:00–16:00 [ThumbsUp]Recommended duration: Total about 7 hours; hiking from Hongmen to the summit plus visiting sights along the way takes about 5 hours (tested) [Car]Transportation guide: Hongmen: Bus lines 2, 11, 45, 49, 67, You 1, You 2, You 3, You 5, stop at Hongmen Tianwaicun: Bus lines 18, 49, You 1, You 2, You 3, stop at Tianwaicun [Compass]Nearby attractions: Dai Temple Dai Temple, 2 kilometers from Hongmen, is the true starting point for climbing Mount Tai. It is where emperors of various dynasties held grand ceremonies to worship the mountain god. The temple complex is vast and is considered one of China’s four great ancient architectural complexes alongside the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Three Confucian Sites in Qufu, and the Chengde Mountain Resort. Inside the temple are ancient cypresses and locust trees, numerous steles from the Song, Jin, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and a small seal script stele from over 2,000 years ago by Qin Li Si, recording the profound history of Mount Tai culture. Community Creation Center Guide Editorial Department Guide Community Scenic Spot Guide