Tai Mountain lies in central Shandong Province, spanning the ranges of Tai'an and Ji'nan cities. It covers an area of 550 square meters. It is regarded as preeminent among China's Five Sacred Mountains. Seventy-two Chinese emperors of various dynasties made pilgrimages to Tai Mountain for sacrificial and other ceremonial purposes, including Emperor Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The mountain is endowed with many scenic spots, a large number of them being given names in ancient times. They include 112 peaks, 98 precipices, 18 caves, 58 oddly shaped rocks, 102 streams and valleys, 56 pools and waterfalls, and 64 springs. Vegetation covers 79.9% of the area, comprising 989 species in 144 families. Tai Mountain also boasts a cultural heritage spanning several thousand years. Currently on the mountain, there are 22 ancient architectural complexes, 97 ruins, 819 stone tablets and 1,800 stone inscriptions, which provide a natural museum for the study of ancient history and calligraphy. Main sites of interest are the Tiankuang Temple, Nantian Gate, Azure Cloud Temple, Peak for Viewing the Sun, and Sutra Rock Valley.
Yet, Tai Mountain is also a mountain of outstanding aesthetic, scientific, historical and cultural value. Giving clear evidence of such an impression, Chinese people tend to describe a situation as being "as stable as Tai Mounatin" or a matter as being "as weighty as Tai Mountain." Tai Mountain was elected to the "World Heritage List" in 1987.

Name:Jinan Tai Mountain (Tai Shan)
City:Jinan
Address:Hongmen Scenic Spot,Taian City
Admission:CNY100
Hours:24hours
Tel:0086-538-8225841

This article was posted on 2007-09-25
This article has been viewed times.