Mount Taishan

Mount Taishan is centered around Mount Taishan, the first of the Five Great Mountains, with steep and towering peaks, and the views of sunrise and sunset from the summit are breathtaking. Sea of clouds often appear among the mountains, and in winter there are spectacular rime ice views. In addition to natural scenery, the mountain also has numerous historical sites, stone inscriptions, religious temples, and other cultural views, with cliff inscriptions and steles scattered throughout the mountain, which is a major feature of Mount Taishan.

Mount Taishan has its own highlights in each of the four seasons: in spring, peach and pear blossoms bloom across the mountains; in summer, the mountaintop is lush green and cool, making it a great summer retreat; in fall, the leaves are a mix of red and yellow, dyeing the layered forests in brilliant colors.

There are multiple routes to the summit of Mount Taishan. The hiking trail at the Hongmen entrance is the traditional route opened during Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Fengshan ceremony, consisting mainly of stone steps. Walking from Hongmen to Zhongtianmen, you will pass by numerous attractions along the way, including Wanxian Tower, Doumu Palace, Huima Ridge, and Hutiange. This area is also where stone inscriptions are concentrated. After reaching Zhongtianmen, you can take a cable car or walk to Nantianmen and the summit area, where you can see attractions such as Eighteen Bends, Shengxian Archway, Duisong Mountain, Chaoyang Cave, and Wudafu Pines. The Tianwaicun route is a road leading from Tianwaicun to Zhongtianmen, accessible by tour bus, passing by Heilong Pool, Fanzhi Cliff, and Feng Yuxiang's Tomb. After reaching Zhongtianmen, it merges with the latter half of the Hongmen route. Travelers who prefer not to hike can choose this route. The Tianzhufeng route is relatively steep with few visitors, and is a hiking route often taken by outdoor enthusiasts. It features beautiful mountain scenery, including attractions such as Liyu Back, and at the starting point there is also the large-scale live performance "Chinese Mount Taishan: Grand Ceremony of Fengshan." The Taohuayu route is mostly chosen by travelers when descending the mountain. From Tianjie at the summit, take the ropeway to the mountainside, then transfer to a tour bus down to Taohuayu at the foot of the mountain. Along the way, you can enjoy the Colorful Stone Stream scenic area, where the colorful stone patterns at the bottom of the stream are quite magical. Dongyudao is also a walking hiking route, with attractions such as Qingyang Hall, Hanque Gate, and Dongtianmen along the way.

Each route ultimately leads to the Daiding tourist area at the summit. Daiding features the main peak of Mount Taishan, Jade Emperor Peak, the Tianjie Scenic Area, as well as attractions such as Sun Viewing Peak, Daguan Peak, Zhanlu Terrace, Bixia Temple, and Confucius Temple. On clear days at the summit, you can gaze at the Yellow River in the distance and admire the wonder of the "Golden Belt of the Yellow River." The Houshiwu area is rich in varied pines and rocks, and there is a cableway leading to the North Heavenly Gate.

Many visitors who want to watch the sunrise choose to climb Mount Taishan at night, usually setting off from the Hongmen route, and it is advisable to depart around 11 pm. This route is well lit at night, and a hike of about seven to eight hours will allow you to reach Sun Viewing Peak or Jade Emperor Peak at the summit before sunrise, which are ideal spots for watching the sunrise.