Mount Tai
Do
- Hiking up the mountain can be tiring (about 4-7 hours of stairs) but there are plenty of places to stop along the way, buy water and drinks (prices get higher as you go up the mountain). The bottom of the trail starts here.
- A highlight is watching the morning sunrise from the top of the mountain
Buy
add listing Shops and vendors line the first steps at the base of the mountain as well as on top of the mountain with the usual assortment of trinkets found at tourist destinations. A common purchase is a red headband giving a blessing of long life and prosperity to those climbing Tai Shan.
Eat
- A restaurant and various vendors are located as you climb up the mountain.
- Multiple restaurants are available on top of the mountain.
- A variation of the famous Shandong "Jian Bing" is readily available from various stands on the mountain; it is made with egg, spread with a thick soy sauce and wrapped around a stalk of green onion.
- For those that spent the excessive prices of the 3-star hotel, they provide a morning buffet for all guests for ¥30 (though they conveniently forget to tell you this!)
Drink
- Beverages are available along the hike from vendors
- A teahouse serves drinks mid-hike up the mountain
- For those looking for alcoholic beverages, the 3-star hotel found above the Confucius temple does have a restaurant with a well stocked bar. The restaurant is found on the second floor of the hotel.
Sleep
Lodging
add listing Hotels and hostels exist on top of Tai Shan, giving you the ability to sleep overnight to watch the famed sunrise the next morning. Sales people will meet you to rent available rooms or reservations can be made in advance. Hot water is usually only available at certain times for showers, but is available all hours for the more expensive three star hotel. Check with the hotel on hours of availability before renting to coordinate availability with your schedule. Be aware the hotels at the top will often times charge 3 times the normal rate during holiday seasons (Oct. 1-8 and May 1-7). ¥1600 is the price we were quoted. There are plenty of hotels at the base of the mountain in Tai'an. There are also hostels in the city. The International Youth Hostel was clean and about an hour walk to the bottom of the mountain, although cabs are readily available to take you to the bottom of the mountain from the town. Prices on Tai Shan and in Tai'an often are negotiable.
Camping
add listing Camping is no longer permitted on Mount Tai due to concerns for forest fires. Toilets are provided on the mountain top but be wary when walking off the beaten track for places where people have not felt inclined to make use of the facilities. You can rent large bulky military jackets at the top for ¥20 plus a ¥30 deposit and ID. These are very popular and well worth the money though you can also sometimes rent or buy them while climbing though this means you have to carry them up and down again.
Stay safe
The mountain is very safe, with many tourists. Just be careful of steep ledges and if you are hiking, of dehydration and the cold at the top of the mountain (vendors rent or sell Chinese military coats if you need one). Walking up the mountain is, while physically demanding, very achievable, though walking down the mountain should be done with caution as the steps are very steep with few landings near the summit. Also, you should avoid if at possible attempting to climb the steps in wet conditions.
Go next
The same options available up the mountain (bus-cable car or hiking paths) are available for the trip down the mountain. Hikers will often take an alternate path down from the path taken up the mountain. The cable car closes at 5:30PM, well before sunset. The cable car also closes when there is thunder in the area, so it is vitally important to check the weather report beforehand. After climbing the most sacred mountain, it is only natural to pay respect to the wise man, Confucius. Qufu, his birthplace, is only 1 hour away by bus. This park travel guide to Mount Tai****usable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page. --- Hidden categories:
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