Tai Shan is not the highest mountain in China — not even close — but it is the most climbed, the most venerated, and by many reckonings the most important. The five sacred Taoist mountains each represent a cardinal direction, and Tai Shan holds the east, which in Chinese cosmology means it represents birth, spring, and the power to confer legitimacy on rulers. Seventy-two emperors made the ascent to perform the feng and shan sacrifices at the summit; so did Confucius, who reportedly observed from the peak that the world below seemed small. The mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the stone-paved staircase to the top is lined with inscriptions, archways, temples, and carved prayers accumulated over three millennia.
The main trail from the base to the summit runs roughly 7,500 stone steps and takes between four and seven hours depending on pace and fitness. Most Chinese pilgrims do it at night to reach the summit in time for sunrise, which is worth the effort: when the clouds below catch the first light it is easy to understand why generations of poets reached for superlatives. The South Gate of Heaven and summit temples mark the final approach, and the summit has a handful of temples, a weather station, and several overpriced hotels that exist entirely to allow you to be there at dawn. The trail itself is lined with imperial inscriptions and steles — three millennia of carved text that make the mountain one of the world's largest open-air archives.
For those who prefer not to walk, buses run from Tai'an city to the midpoint, and the cable car covers the upper section in both directions. Don't miss the Dai Temple at the mountain base in Tai'an — its Song Dynasty main hall and 62-metre mural are among the greatest surviving pieces of pre-modern Chinese architecture. The western trail offers a quieter alternative for those who want to escape the main tourist flow. Base yourself in Tai'an, a 20-minute bus ride away, and arrive early to beat the worst of the crowds on weekends and holidays.