This morning, you will be met by your private Mount Tai hiking guide at your hotel in Tai’an or train station, then set out for your classic Mount Tai hiking.
Today’s hike starts from Dai Temple and ends at Jade Emperor Summit on the top of Mount Tai, which is famous as “the imperial route” because there used to be 13 ancient Chinese emperors hiked this route to offer their sacrifices to Gods. With a distance of about 9km over 7000 stone steps, it needs about 5~6 hours to finish the hike.
You will spend some time exploring Dai Temple first which is one of four largest existing ancient building complexes in China. Originally built in the Han Dynasty, it is the place where ancient Chinese emperors worship the gods of Mount Tai and hold the ceremony of sacrifice. Then walk about 30 minutes on the flat road to Hongmen (the Red Gate) where you will officially enter on the mountain area of Mount Tai. The rest hike can be divided into two parts. The first parts start from Hongmen and stops at Zhongtianmen (the Middle Heaven Gate) with a distance about 4km. The path heads up gradually without many ups-and-downs, and can be done in 1.5~2 hours. There are many featured Taoist temples, ancient Buddhist texts carved on rocks and many giant cypress trees with bizarre shapes for you to stop to take a rest and explore the profound culture of Mount Tai. Take a rest at Zhongtianmen (880m) where you can get water and food supply if you need, then start hike the trail of the second part hike from Zhongtianmen to Nantianmen (the South Heaven Gate) which is the most highlighting part of Mount Tai hiking with more than 2000 uprising steps that demand much energy and time. Finally, you will get to Nantianmen (South Heaven Gate 1460m), which means you have already put your steps on the top of Mount Tai. It’s time to slow down your steps to explore the essence of Mount Tai. You can wander leisurely on the Heavenly Street, worship in the Jade Emperor Hall which has a centuries old altar used for worshiping ceremony, appreciate rock inscription of Chinese calligraphy, look out over the peaks, enjoy the sea of clouds, etc.
After enjoy the magnificent sunset (if weather permits), then check in to your hotel on the mountain.