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Mt. Taishan
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 Confucius said when standing on the top of Mt. Tai, you'll feel the earth become smaller. Lies in the central of Shandong Province, spanning the ranges of Tai'an and Jinan Cities. It covers an area of 550 sq. km. It was known in ancient times as Daishan before it was renamed Taishan, and was regarded as pre-eminent among China's Five Holy Mountains. 72 Chinese emperors of various dynasties made pilgrimages to Mt.Tai for sacrificial and other ceremonial purposes. Mt. Tai is endowed with many scenic spots. A great many of them were given names in ancient times. They include 112 peaks, 98 precipices, 18 caves, 58 odd-shaped rocks, 102 streams and valleys, 56 pools and waterfalls, and 64 springs. Vegetation covers 79.9% of the area. The flora is known to comprise 989 species of 144 families. Mt. Tai also boasts cultural heritage with an incessant history of 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, Sutra Rock Valley, and Helong Pool. Mt. Tai is a mountain of outstanding value from the point of view of aesthetics, science, history and culture. |
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