One of China’s ‘Five Sacred Peaks’, Tai Shan was the stage for elaborate religious rites performed by the Emperor in ancient times. It is just as fascinating a destination today, luring domestic and international tourists alike.
Worshippers have been practicing here in a major way for at least 3,000 years. When the first Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huang) unified the kingdom, he staged a lavish ceremony here and left a famous inscription. The emperors who followed him would pay homage to Earth at the base of Tai Shan and then to Heaven at its 5,000 foot peak.
Over the years, all of this high-profile attention prompted a massive influx of funds from China’s wealthy elite. The result is an array of ancient structures, carvings and temples, the greatest of which is Dai Miao. This temple was built in the Qing Dynasty but came of age an era later when the Hans ruled. It still contains many historic artifacts.
A great way to enjoy these sites is to climb Tai Shan. It is actually a collection of five peaks, and there are many routes. The best is the east route, starting from Taishan Arch (in Tai’an). The ascent takes anywhere from 3 to 6 hours depending on the hiker’s fitness level. There are intermediate observation points along the way that make excellent return points for those who’d rather not scale the entire peak.
Getting There & Away
Access is through the town of Tai’an at the foot of Tai Shan. From here travelers can take the train to Beijing (6 hours) or Qinddao (5 hours). It is also convenient to take the train to Ji’nan (1 hour) and then transfer to the airport for a 1-hour flight to Beijing’s large international airport.