Series of Mountain (2): Travel to Taishan

In China, there are many exquisite and scenic mountains. Among them, China's Five Sacred Mountains are the most famous, including Taishan, Huashan, Hengshan(Hunan), Hengshan(Shanxi), and Shongshan. They all have typical sceneries. Today, we will visit the first one ---Taishan.

Taishan, regarded as the leader of China's Five Sacred Mountains, becames a World Heritage Site in 1987. It lies in central Shandong Province, spanning the ranges of Tai'an and Jinan cities.

With so much to do and see, let’s start with its cultural heritage. Taishan is a symbol of loftiness and grandeur. In ancient times, the first thing for an emperor to do on ascending to the throne was to climb Mount Taishan and pray to heaven and earth or their ancestors. There was 72 Chinese emperors of various dynasties made pilgrimages to this mountain.

Poets and literary scholars of each dynasty also visited Taishan. Numerous rock inscriptions and stone tablets bear testimony to such visits. It’s said that Taishan provides a natural museum abounding with cultural relics and artworks. Heavenly Queen Pool, Red Gate Palace, Mid-Heaven Gate, Azure Cloud Temple are powerful examples. Stone carvings include the Buddhist Diamond Sutra in Jing Shi Valley, the Scripture of Mt. Tai and the Mo Ya Tablet.

Be sure to see the Confucian Temple, which is a scenic spots related to the famous ancient sage Confucius. It’s the places where Confucius climbed Taishan and viewed the scenery. And the Tiankuang Temple, Azure Cloud Temple are also must see.

Besides historic relics, Taishan is endowed with many unique natural scenery. Of course, a trip to Taishan would not be complete without a visit to the four wonders of the mountain, which are Sunrises from the East, the Sunset Glow, the Sea of Clouds and the Golden Belt along the Yellow River. It would be a great pity to miss the four wonders. Also, The lofty peaks, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls, enchanting rocks and the centuries-old pines and cypresses will undoubtedly encourage you linger with no thought of leaving.


Futher information : according to travelchinaguide.com, there are four ascents of the mountain.

East Route

This route is considered to be the Imperial Route because the emperors all took this way to make sacrifices. With elegant natural scenery, palaces, stone inscriptions are also scattered along the winding path. You set off from Dai Temple, and then you will see Dai Zong Archway, Red Gate Palace, Jing Shi Valley, Hu Tian Pavilion and Eighteen Bends, etc. Dai Temple is the place where emperors stayed and offered their sacrifices. The temple was built in the Han Dynasty and expanded in the Tang and Song Dynasties. After several renovations, it has become the biggest and most complete temple on the mountain.

There are 6000-plus steps along this route and it takes about four hours at an average to reach the peak. This classical route is an ideal choice for most people.

West Route

The west route is made up of two parts. The first part is the highroad from the Heaven and Earth Square to Mid-heaven Gate. The other part is the cable way from Mid-heaven Gate to the top of the mountain. This route is well equipped with modern facilities and is the most fashionable way to reach Jade Emperor Summit. Attractions concentrated on this route are Heaven and Earth Square, Black Dragon Pool, Tomb of General Feng Yuxiang and Longevity Bridge, etc.

Peach Blossom Ravine Route

This route is the most convenient way to climb the mountain, especially for tourists who drive or take a bus from northern places. Peach Blossom Ravine can be accessed by taking the No.104 national highway, then setting off from the big parking lot by bus to the cable-car stop. From there you reach the top in a few minutes. The ropeway is designed for sightseeing from the air giving a clear view.

The best time to take this route is in spring and summer. The flourishing peach blossom, falling petals and limpid steams will make you feel like you are in heaven.

Tianzhu Peak Route

Just as its name implies, Tianzhu Peak was named because it is shaped like a candle, with a pine tree standing on top like a flame. This route is the most rugged one and is suitable for the adventurous. You will enjoy General Peak, Eight Immortals Cave, Big Tianzhu Peak and Small Tianzhu Peak, etc. It is also a better way to appreciate the pine trees in Hou Shi Wu (a spot where most of the old pine trees are growing).

Fujian Tulou,Misunderstood As Nuclear Reactor By FBI

Tulou has some other names, like Hakkas’ Earthen Buildings, The Earthen Buildings of Hakkas, Round-Dragon House, Round house.

A brief introduction
Tulou is a traditional communal residence of the Hakka and other people in the mountainous areas in southwestern Fujian, China. They are mostly built between the 12th to the 20th centuries. Tulou is usually of a circular configuration surrounding a central shrine. These vernacular structures were occupied by clan groups. There is something funny about it. It is not famous, until FBI and spy’s satellite found it and considered it as a kind of secret nuclear reactor in China for its unique look.

Although most tulou were of earthen construction, the definition "tulou", is a broadly descriptive label for a building type and does not indicate construction type. Some were constructed of cut granite or had substantial walls of fired brick. Most large-scale tulou seen today were built of a composite of earth, sand, and lime known as sanhetu rather than just earth.

Tulou are mostly located in the mountainous regions of Yongding County of Longyan City and Nanjing County of Zhangzhou City, both in the Fujian province of Southern China. 46 Fujian Tulou sites including Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Hekeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, Dadi tulou cluster, Hongkeng tulou cluster, Yangxian lou, Huiyuan lou, Zhengfu lou and Hegui lou have been inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, "as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization, and, in terms of their harmonious relationship with their environment".

Effective Defense Function

Besides living, Tulou has some other Effective Defense Function for its special physics structure and building material. It can be used to defense against bandits, and play an important role in quakeproof, fire prevention, guard against theft etc.

The Most Famous Fujian Tulou

Zhengcheng lou

Zhenchenglou, nicknamed "the prince of tulou", belongs to Hongkeng Tulou cluster. It is located in Hongkeng village, Hukeng township of Yingding county. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage 1113-002 It was built in 1912 by the descendents of a rich tobacco merchant. Zhenchenglou is a double ring tulou, its outer ring is 4 storey high, total 184 rooms, the inner ring is 2 storey with 32 rooms. The outer ring was partitioned into four segments according to Bagua concept of Chinese Fengshui.

Western influence is evident in the Greek style columns of the ancestral hall, and in the wrought iron railing of the second level corridor.

Chengqilou

Chengqilou, nicknamed "the king of tulou", of Gaobei Tulou cluster at Gaotou village was built in 1709. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site 1113-003 in 2008. It is massive rotunda tulou with four concentric rings surrounding an ancestral hall at the center, the outer ring is 62.6 meter in diameter and 4 storey tall 288 rooms, with 72 rooms on each level, circular corridor on 2nd to 4th floor, with 4 sets of staircases at cardinal points connecting ground to top floors. A big roof extending out ward covers the main ring. The ground floor rooms are kitchens for family branches, the second level rooms are grain storage rooms, and the 3rd and 4th floor rooms are living quarters and bedrooms. The second ring of 80 rooms is 2 storey high, with 40 rooms on each level, the third ring served as community library, one storey with 32 rooms; there are 370 rooms in all. The 4th ring is a circular covered corridor surrounding the ancestral hall. If a person stay only one night in each room, it would take more than a year to go through all the rooms[4]. The ancestral hall is at the center. Chengqilou has two main gates and two side gates. 15th generation Jiang clan with 57 families and 300 people live here. At its heyday, there were more than 80 family branches lived in Chengqilou.

Chuxi Tulou cluster

Located as Yongding county Xiayang township Chuxi village. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site 1113-001.

Jiqinglou

The largest rotunda tulou also the oldest in this cluster, built in 1419 during the reign of Emperor Yongle Ming dynasty. It consists two concentric rings, the out ring building is 4 storey tall, with 53 rooms on each level. The outer ring has 72 staircases. The second ring is one storey building.