Must-Visit in Tai'an|The Autumn of Dai Temple is a Chinese Romance Etched in the Bones
by Bell Lucas93
Oct 17, 2025
Explore Mount Tai with 4000 RMB! I stayed at a mountaintop inn at the summit of the Five Great Mountains, climbed in the dark before dawn to watch the sunrise, and captured stunning “fairyland on earth” shots. Netizens say: This pilgrimage was totally worth it!
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Have you ever dreamed of—
Standing atop the summit of the Five Great Mountains at dawn amidst rolling seas of clouds, waiting for the red sun to burst forth?
As a frontline travel blogger just back from Mount Tai,
I used a budget of four days and three nights, about 4000 RMB per person,
to take you on an in-depth experience:
✅ Hiking the classic middle route
✅ Night climb up the Eighteen Bends + stargazing
✅ Staying overnight at the summit to escape the heat and watch the sunrise
✅ Exploring Dai Temple and Tianwai Village
✅ Sampling all the local specialties of Tai’an
This is not just a mountain climb,
but a cultural pilgrimage spanning a thousand years!
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🗓️ Itinerary Overview: Mount Tai 4 Days 3 Nights · Culture + Nature + Photography Full Experience
| Day | Theme | Highlights |
|------|------|------|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tai’an, warm up for the summit | Dai Temple blessing + old street food |
| Day 2 | Official climb: Red Gate → Zhongtian Gate → Nantian Gate | Night climb Eighteen Bends, stay at summit |
| Day 3 | Sunrise moment + Yuhuang Peak check-in + descend | Sea of clouds, sunrise, cliff inscriptions all included |
| Day 4 | Cultural wrap-up + return | Tianwai Village + souvenir shopping |
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💰 Total Budget: 3980 RMB (per person)
| Item | Cost |
|------|------|
| Round-trip high-speed train (from Beijing/Shanghai) | Beijing → Tai’an: 280 RMB × 2 = 560 RMB (Shanghai about 600 RMB × 2 = 1200 RMB, median 900 RMB) |
| Accommodation (2 nights at base + 1 night at summit) | Base business hotel 300 RMB/night × 2 = 600 RMB; summit inn 600 RMB (shared double room) → subtotal 900 RMB |
| Meals (150 RMB/day) | 600 RMB (including hiking energy snacks) |
| Attraction tickets + transportation | 680 RMB (Mount Tai ticket 115 RMB + shuttle bus round trip 30 RMB + cable car one way 100 RMB + city transport 50 RMB) |
| Others (gear + souvenirs) | 500 RMB (rental of outdoor jacket/warm packs/bottled water/Mount Tai Shigandang cultural products) |
✅ Total: about 3980 RMB
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🏯 Day 1: Arrive in Tai’an, step into the “Gateway to Mount Tai”
- Arrive by high-speed train at [Tai’an Station], taxi to city hotel (15 minutes, about 20 RMB)
- Check in at [Boutique Hotel at Mount Tai’s Foot] (recommended: Lavande/Atour)
- Afternoon visit to [Dai Temple] (ticket 30 RMB, included in Mount Tai ticket combo)
- The “Dongyue Temple” where emperors of all dynasties worshipped the Mount Tai god, featuring ancient cypresses, stele forest, and Han dynasty stone gates
- Dinner: Authentic Tai’an Three Delicacies Feast at [Hongmen Old Street]:
- Stir-fried celery with tofu + stir-fried chicken + Mount Tai wild vegetables, about 60 RMB per person
- Prepare night climb gear: headlamp, gloves, thermos, chocolate, warm packs
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🌙 Day 2: Hiking the mountain, night battle on the Eighteen Bends
- Start hiking from [Red Gate Entrance] in the morning (classic middle route)
- Route: Red Gate → Wanxian Tower → Doumu Palace → Zhongtian Gate (about 3 hours)
- Rest and replenish at Zhongtian Gate, then continue climbing:
- Pass through [Eighteen Bends] (most dangerous section) → [Nantian Gate] → [Tianjie]
- Evening stay at [Summit Hotel/Inn] (such as Nantian Gate Hotel, Meteorological Station Guesthouse)
- Basic conditions but excellent location, book 3 days in advance!
- At night, shoot [starry Milky Way] (low light pollution), vlog soundtrack “Climbing”
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🌅 Day 3: The divine moment of Mount Tai sunrise!
- Depart at 4 a.m. to secure a spot at [Gongbei Stone] or [Sun Viewing Peak] (the earlier the better!)
- Around 5:30 a.m., the sun leaps out from the sea of clouds, golden light floods the mountains, aerial shots of a “fairyland on earth”
- After sunrise, check in at [Yuhuang Peak] (altitude 1545 meters, Mount Tai’s highest peak)
- Capture the classic “all mountains look small” scene
- Optional: take the [back mountain cable car down] (one way 100 RMB) to Zhongtian Gate, then bus back to city
- Or challenge yourself with the full hike down (about 2.5 hours)
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🎁 Day 4: Cultural wrap-up + return
- Morning: stroll [Tianwai Village Square] + [Bailong Pool] to feel the spiritual energy at the mountain’s foot
- Buy souvenirs:
- [Mount Tai Shigandang] small pendants (symbolizing warding off evil, starting at 50 RMB)
- [Mount Tai Lingzhi mushrooms/Cordyceps] (health gifts)
- [Scallion pancake rolls + vacuum-packed stir-fried chicken] (authentic flavors, 100 RMB/set)
- Before leaving, post on social media: “I stand atop Mount Tai, not to conquer the mountain, but to see myself.”
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📸 Blogger’s viral content suggestions
- Titles:
“Climbing Mount Tai at 3 a.m., I saw China’s most stunning sunrise!”
“Others go to Huangshan, I go to Mount Tai—this is the true king of the Five Great Mountains!”
- Tags: `
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Mount Tai is more than just a mountain.
It is the sacred site of imperial sacrifices,
the poetry of literati,
and the pilgrimage path where ordinary people measure their faith step by step.
4000 RMB for a cleansing of body and soul—
This is not just a trip,
but a ritual of dialogue with heaven and earth.
⛰️🌄📸 Come on, be a light chaser who “stands at the summit and looks down on all mountains”!
Post by Aiden Simmons91 $ | Aug 31, 2025























