Autumn is a season suitable for mountain climbing. It is the perfect season to appreciate the beauty of the mountains. We introduce you the Mount Tai, Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains of China.
Mount Tai (Chinese：泰山 tài shān) is a mountain with a long history and a special historic status. Mount Tai locates in the middle of Shandong province in Northeast China. Mount Tai was formally listed in the directory of World Natural and Cultural Heritage in 1987. The reason why people named it as "Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains" is because of traditional religion dating back to ancient emperors, like Qinshihuang-the first emperor in China. It is not the highest mountain among the five, but it has the highest status and regarded as the symbol of power.
Ritual Events
Historically important in the cult of official state rituals, Mount Tai was the site of one of the most spectacular of all the ceremonies of the traditional Chinese empire. Dai Temple (Chinese: 岱庙 dài miào), also called Dongyue temple，is the largest and most complete ancient building complex in Mount Tai area. Dai Temple is located in the north of the city, south side of Mountain Taishan. The temple covers an area of 96,000 square meters. It used to be the venue where emperors to worship heaven and earth and bestow sacrifices to the God of the mountain. Emperors of China such as Qin Shihuang, Han Wudi and Kangxi have come to Dai Temple many times to hold large-scale sacrificial activities. The site contains a number of well-preserved steles, sculptures, carvings, jewelry, golden and bronze wares from different dynasties, attracting millions of tourists each year.
Sunrise and Sunset
The sunrise of Mount Tai is one of the most spectacular wonders. At dawn, visitors stand on the top of Mount Tai and look out to the East. If you don’t plan to spend the night at the top of the mountain, watching the sunset is also a good choice. The best sunset viewing point is near the Tianjie archway.
Tai’an Millet Pancake
Thin, crisp and fragrant are the three features of Tai’an Millet Pancake. This is a stable food for the local people in Shandong. The millet is first ground into power and then undergoes fermentation period before baking in a pan. Local people usually rolling leek pieces with bean sauce in the pancake for a savory meal.
Days Countdown to Chinese New Year
