The millennium-old royal temple will move you to tears—Dai Temple

Imperial aura reigning for a thousand years! The Forbidden City at the foot of Mount Tai has me kneeling! 👑

Dai Temple, known as the "Eastern Peak Divine Mansion," predates the Forbidden City by 700 years! With red walls, yellow tiles, and towering ancient cypresses, visiting Mount Tai without coming here is like not coming at all!

📍Address: No. 191 Dongyue Street, Taishan District, Tai'an City
🚌 Travel tip: A 10-minute taxi ride from Taishan Railway Station; it’s recommended to visit on the same day as Mount Tai

1️⃣ Yaocan Pavilion ➡️ Zhengyang Gate
Start from the ancient emperors’ altar to heaven! The characters "Dai Temple" on the archway are written by Emperor Qianlong himself—don’t forget to check in and take photos
2️⃣ Peitian Gate ➡️ Ren’an Gate
Experience the symmetrical beauty of the "Three Halls" central axis! The Nine-Dragon Gate nails in front of Ren’an Gate hide a secret ranking code
3️⃣ Tiankuang Hall
The centerpiece building you must see! Northern Song Dynasty murals + Kangxi’s inscribed plaque; the terrace in front of the hall is a perfect spot for shooting Hanfu photos

📸 Must-shoot spots:
- Tiankuang Hall flying eaves with beast figures: find the angle to capture Mount Tai in the background
- Han Cypress Courtyard: The cypress tree planted by Emperor Wu of Han is 2,100 years old, with stunning trunk textures

💡 Fun fact:
The four corners of Dai Temple’s city wall have corner towers, exactly like the Forbidden City’s style! But this was built seven centuries earlier...

⚠️ Note:
- Don’t miss the city wall! For 5 yuan, you can climb it and enjoy views of Mount Tai
- After 4 PM, the lighting is stunning, and the red wall shadows make for easy great photos