Tai Shan
From the most ancient times Tai Shan as been the premire sacred mountain of China. It is the Taoist sacred mountain of the East - the pillar linking Heaven and Earth. From here life originated and where the souls of the dead return. Tai Shan has been a place of pilgrimage throughout Chinese history - Confucius, Lao Zi, the emperors of China and even Mao Ze Dong have all paid their respects here. The pilgrims path begins in the town of Taian at the sprawling Dai Miao Temple. From here the Broad Road to Heaven (Pan Lu) leads the pilgrim up to the summit of Tai Shan and the Temple of the Jade Emperor (Yu Huang Ding) at the highest peak. The pilgrims path is some 7.5km long and can be a difficult climb with its 7000 stairs leading to the 5069 ft. summit - it is more a broad staircase than a mountain trail. Along the path there are many sights for the weary pilgrim to take in; rock inscriptions, temples, grottoes and commemorative sights provide places of rest so that one can take in the spiritual essence of Tai Shan. Guarding the entrance to the summit area is the magnificent Southern Heavenly Gate (Nan Tian Men). Scattered about the summit are several temples. The Temple of the Princess of the Azure Clouds is a center of Taoist activities and one of the nicest of Tai Shan"s temples. Near by is the Confucian Temple and at the very summit is the Temple of the Jade Emperor. Tai Shan provides the traveler with a great collection of ancient temples and a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside