by BI Yantao, China
Basic Information
Location: Spanning Tai’an City and Jinan City, Shandong Province, China
Height: 1545 meters above sea level
Mount Taishan (“shan” means “mountain” in Chinese), with its main peak in Tai’an City, Shandong Province, China, is famous for being the “First of the Five Sacred Mountains” although it ranks third among the five mountains in terms of height. In Chinese history, Mount Taishan has been held in high esteem mainly due to its unparalleled position in Chinese culture. Since the Zhou Dynasty of China (1066 B.C.-256 B.C.), Mount Taishan has become a sacred halidom haunted by emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven. Historical records reveal that a total of 72
Chinese emperors visited it.
The official website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) describes Mount Taishan as follows:
The sacred Mount Tai was the object of an imperial cult for nearly 2,000 years, and the artistic masterpieces found there are in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. It has always been a source of inspiration for Chinese artists and scholars and symbolizes ancient Chinese civilizations and beliefs. (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/437)
Dai Temple, closely at the foot of the mountain, is among the most famous palace complexes in China. The Azure Clouds Temple, near the top of the mountain, is a splendid religious building complex. On the way from Dai Temple to Azure Clouds Temple scatter countless stone tablets and inscriptions as well as ancient buildings. From the Red Gate at the foot of the mountain to the South Heaven Gate at the top, there are approximately 7,000 stone steps, winding their way up to the mountain.
In 1987, Mount Taishan was listed among both the world natural and cultural heritage by UNESCO. In 2006, Mount Taishan was listed as a World Geopark by UNESCO.
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