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Mount Taishan
 
 
T130 (1988.09.14.)
Mount Taishan, one of China's five sacred peaks, is situated near the
eastern seaboard, in Tai'an County of Shandong Province.
Rising 1540 meters above sea level, Mount Taishan is a
symbol of loftiness & grandeur. The mountain has numerous majestic
hills & crests,centuries-old pines and cypresses, magnificant temples
and waterfalls. Beginning in the 3rd century, emperors journeyed here to
worship & pray to heaven, & scholars have left many poems
& inscriptions praising its charm.
Spring and Autumn are best seasons for climbing the mountain.
This usually begins with a visit to Taishan Temple at
the foot of mountain. Built in Han dynasty during 3rd century
B.C., Taishan Temple is where emperor offered sacrifices to the sacred
mountain.
Half a kilometer north of Taishan Temple is Dai Zong Archway,
one of the main gates to the mountain park and also the starting point
for ascending the summit by the eastern route. There are 3
routes to the summit, but most tourists prefer
the eastern one, for its nine-kilometer trail offers innumerable
interesting sights.
Further up along the trail is Sutra Stone Valley where,
on a large flat rock, an ancient calligrapher has carved the
text of the Buddhist Diamond Sutra, each character fifty centimeters
high. Over a thousand years of weathering has left about
a thousand characters legible, but these are
probably the most important of the cultural relics on Mount
Taishan.
Further up is Zhongtian Gate, "Gate Half-way to Heaven". This is where
the eastern & western rout meet. Another steep flight of 1200 stone
steps takes one to Nantian Gate, the South Gate to Heaven. This is the
last and hardest stretch of the jounery to the summit. Climbers
call it "the ladder to heaven". Pass this gate and you are on a long
narrow path known as "Paradise Street". At its east end is Azure
Cloud Temple, the most magnificant building on the pinnacle of Mount Taishan.
The climax of whole jounery is to watch the sunrise from the summit.
Before daybreak, early risers are led up to Sun Watching Peak. At
about half past four in summer, dawn breaks, the sky glows red, and
then the sun suddenly emerges through the clouds like a great fiery ball
from out of sea. |
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