Help! 7 pitfalls you must know before climbing Mount Tai at night! (Local people’s best advice)

Mount Tai, formerly known as Daizong, is known as the "First of the Five Mountains". It is a sacred place for ancient Chinese emperors to offer sacrifices and ceremonies, and carries the spiritual core of Chinese civilization's "harmony between man and nature". From the Qin Shihuang to the Qing Dynasty, a total of 12 emperors ascended Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, leaving behind more than 2,000 stone carvings and ancient buildings. In 1987, Mount Tai was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. Its sunrise, sea of ​​clouds, stone carvings and ancient pines are collectively known as the "Four Wonders of Mount Tai" and have become an important symbol of Chinese culture. Itinerary planning and scenic spot guide Dai Temple (Tai'an City) Opening hours: 8:00-17:30 (until 18:00 in peak season) Tickets: 20 yuan/person (115 yuan discount with Mount Tai ticket) Transportation: About 10 minutes by car from Tai'an City, there is a parking lot at the door (5 yuan/hour). Travel tips: As the starting point of Mount Tai, Dai Temple is the palace where emperors of all dynasties used to stay before their Fengshan rituals. Focus on visiting the Song Dynasty murals in Tianfu Hall and the thousand-year-old trees in Hanbai Courtyard. It is recommended to take photos with the red wall and ancient cypress as the background, and the light and shadow are best in the early morning. Lunch recommendation: Taishan Tofu Banquet (Dai Temple South Gate Store): 50 yuan per person, must-order Taishan Three Beauties (cabbage, tofu, water) and pancakes wrapped with green onions. Lu Cai Gen (Laoxian Ya Store): Traditional nine-turn large intestine, Taishan red-scale fish, ancient courtyard environment, 80 yuan per person. Hongmen-Zhongtianmen (starting point for climbing) Opening hours: open all day (reservation required for night climbing) Tickets: Taishan ticket is 115 yuan (including Hongmen entrance) Transportation: It takes 8 minutes to drive from Dai Temple to Hongmen, and the parking lot is 10 yuan/day. Travel tips: The classic hiking route from Hongmen Palace to Zhongtianmen takes about 2.5 hours. There are many steles along the way, and you can stop at Wanxian Tower and Doumu Palace. Those who lack physical strength can drive to Tianwai Village and take the scenic area bus (30 yuan) directly to Zhongtianmen. Zhongtianmen-Nantianmen (ropeway experience) Ropeway operation: 8:00-17:00 (100 yuan one way, 10 minutes) Photo spots: Zhongtianmen platform to take panoramic views of the Eighteen Bends; aerial photos of the sea of ​​clouds and pine waves in the cable car. Travel tips: It is recommended to take the cable car to save energy and reserve time to reach the top. It takes 1.5 hours to hike up the Eighteen Bends. The steps are steep so you need to bring a trekking pole. Yuhuangding (the top of Mount Tai) Opening hours: all day (it is recommended to arrive before 15:00) Tickets: included in the Mount Tai ticket Must-see: Five Sacred Mountains Stone Carving: RMB 5 background, side backlighting to avoid the crowd. Riguan Peak: Occupy the viewing platform 1 hour before sunset and use a slow shutter speed to shoot when the sea of ​​clouds rolls. The Inscriptionless Stele: The mystery of how Emperor Wu of Han erected the stele, suitable for wide-angle upward shooting. Dinner recommendation: Shanding Shenqi Hotel Restaurant: Simple meals are 40 yuan per person, and viewing seats must be reserved in advance. Recommended after going down the mountain: Taishan Wild Vegetable Banquet (Huanshan Road Store): cold alfalfa and locust flower cakes, 60 yuan per person. Taishan Fried Chicken (Laotun Branch): Chicken stewed in a wood-fired iron pot with pot stickers, 70 yuan per person. Traffic route and time Dai Temple→Hongmen: 8 minutes, go straight along Dongyue Street. Hongmen→Tianwaicun Parking Lot: 12 minutes, go west on Huanshan Road. Tianwai Village → Zhongtianmen Bus: 20 minutes, frequent buses. Zhongtianmen→Nantianmen Cableway: 10 minutes, each car carries 8 people. Yuhuangding → Go down the mountain: Ropeway + bus return trip about 1.5 hours. Safety and Practical Tips Equipment: Light hiking shoes, thin down jacket (the temperature difference on the top of the mountain is large), flashlight (essential for night climbing). Ticket purchase: Make reservations in advance through the official account "Taishan Scenic Area" and enter the park with a mainland China ID card. Note for self-driving: There are many bends on the mountain road, so arrive at the parking lot before 7 am during the peak season (April to October). Cultural taboos: Do not step on the base of the stone tablet, and do not point your finger at the "Five Sacred Mountains" stone carving when taking photos. Summary of the one-day itinerary: Read history at Dai Temple → depart from Hongmen → watch clouds at Zhongtianmen → admire the scenery at Yuhuangding. The whole journey takes about 10 hours. If you have enough energy, you can choose to climb at night to watch the sunrise and take a bus down the mountain the next morning. Mount Tai is not only a mountain, but also the spiritual totem of Chinese civilization. Every step it takes carries the echo of thousands of years of culture.