Mt Tai (Tai Shan)

Mount Tai (or Tai Shan) is a majestic mountain located in Shandong Province. It spans two cities – Tai’an and Jinan – and is the principal mountain among the five most significant in China. In 1987, Mount Tai was listed as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site and later in 2006, a World Geopark.
Mount Tai has been climbed by the emperors of China’s dynasties for ceremonious events and in particular to signify they were the sole ruler of the country at the time. These days it’s the most climbed mountain in China because of its history, majesty, and the spectacular views it presents.
There are a number of ways to climb Mount Tai but the most popular – and the one favoured by the ancient emperors – is via the Red Gate/Imperial route, which involves ascending more than 6,000 steps.

Practical Info

While you can climb Mount Tai at any time of the day (or night!) there’s a cable car from the halfway point, which can be accessed by a taxi or bus, and the first car starts just after sunrise and stops just before sunset.