A Trip to Mount Tai

Mount Tai holds a prominent position in Chinese culture, being considered the king of mountains. Many are drawn to its imposing grandeur and unique charm. The sunrise from Mount Tai is particularly captivating. Below is a 600-word essay sharing my experiences on a trip to Mount Tai.

The idea to visit Mount Tai this summer vacation was a spontaneous decision. My main purpose was to make a wish, and I also wanted to explore Shandong province. For a trip to Shandong, Mount Tai, the first of the Five Great Mountains, is naturally the top choice. As the place where ancient emperors held sacrifices and performed the Feng and Shan rituals, it holds extraordinary significance.

I consulted some online travel guides and booked a train ticket, setting off alone.

The train journey from Huayuan to Mount Tai lasted fourteen hours. I arrived at Mount Tai station in the late morning, around nine o’clock. After having breakfast nearby, it was already ten o’clock. Climbing Mount Tai at that time seemed impractical, so I decided to explore the area and find a place to stay.

I asked a young man wearing a shirt with the words “Serve the People” about how to get to Mount Tai. He told me that the Red Gate was the entrance, and Mount Tai was located near the train station. Perfect! I found a hotel near the train station, a Jinjiang Inn, and checked in. I consulted the bus stop sign and also asked the hotel receptionist. The number 3 bus went directly to the Red Gate.

I woke up at around seven in the morning and arrived at the Red Gate at eight. After getting off the bus, I walked a few hundred meters towards the main entrance of Mount Tai. The deep red gate, with its ancient charm, emanated a strong cultural vibe.

As I walked through, I noticed shops selling hiking gear and souvenirs on both sides. Interestingly, they even sold walking sticks! They were inexpensive, only two yuan each. Many people were buying them, and most of those coming down from the mountain were holding a walking stick. I thought, “No way, that’s too much. And besides, it looks so awkward!” So, I decided against buying one.

The first building on the left was the Guan Yu Temple. Ah, my General Guan, the Great Saint, Guan Yu, the god I admire most! When I was reading “Old Things of the South City,” I learned that Yingzi’s mother had made a wish at the Guan Yu Temple. I entered, bought an incense stick, and under the staff’s guidance, burned it in the incense burner, paying my respects. Afterward, I went to the place where Guan Yu was enshrined, made a wish, and bowed. Under the staff’s explanation and persuasion, I spent one hundred yuan on a lock. They put the money in a red envelope and placed it in a glass case beneath Guan Yu’s statue. They then gave me the lock, explaining how to lock it, along with some other instructions.

I knew I had been taken the moment I handed over the one hundred yuan. However, making a wish should be a joyful occasion, and climbing Mount Tai shouldn’t be done with negative emotions. Oh well, I thought, consider the one hundred yuan a red envelope for Guan Yu. With this in mind, I felt a sense of relief and my mood improved.

I continued forward, passing through the First Gate, Confucius’s Landing Place, the Heavenly Steps, the Red Gate, and finally reached the Ten Thousand Immortals Pavilion, officially entering Mount Tai. Stone tablets stood tall on both sides, and strange rocks dotted the landscape. Initially, the path was relatively flat, paved with stones in some places and concrete steps in others. As I ascended, the mountain became steeper, and fatigue started to set in. Seeing people coming down with damp hair, shaky legs, and weary expressions added to my apprehension. However, I had come to climb this mountain, so I had to reach the top. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to Mount Tai and myself.

Eventually, I couldn’t hold back anymore and began gasping for breath. So, I climbed for a while and rested for a while. I saw families with children climbing Mount Tai, including one where the grandparents, mother, and a two or three-year-old girl were climbing. Encouraged by her mother, the little girl climbed quite quickly, often surpassing me. Wow, that kid is amazing!

I passed the Doumu Palace, the Water Curtain Cave, the Cloud-Stepping Bridge, and finally reached the Midheaven Gate. Reaching the Midheaven Gate marked halfway through the climb, but it was still worth celebrating. I rested for about four minutes, taking photos and eating something. After passing the Five Great Pines, I finally arrived at the legendary Eighteen Bends, said to be the most difficult part of the climb. This section was extremely rugged and steep, with a vertical height of over 400 meters and over 1,600 steps. The climb was dizzying and made me feel like I was about to collapse.

Here, I encountered the “porters” I had read about in elementary school textbooks. It was an elderly man carrying two cardboard boxes, likely containing bottled water or something similar. His back was stooped, almost bent in half. When he unloaded his burden and took a short break, his back didn’t straighten. Many people looked at him, but he didn’t look back at anyone. He simply took out the towel from his arm and wiped his sweat. I stopped too, observing him intently. He had a sausage and some other things in his pocket. My heart warmed. I wanted to do something for him. Giving him some money seemed inappropriate; offering him a bottle of water felt too presumptuous. Would he think I was showing off my privilege? Like the “Old Wang” described by Yang Jiang, it would be a lucky person’s guilty conscience toward an unfortunate one, but in reality, it would be a manifestation of a certain intellectual arrogance. I wasn’t an intellectual, and I wasn’t arrogant. Since I felt conflicted, I decided to leave it alone. I silently wished him well. At that moment, I understood why things on the mountain were so expensive, like a bottle of Nongfu Spring costing ten yuan.

After passing through the “Ghost Gate,” I reached the South Heaven Gate, welcoming the victory ahead. When I was just a few dozen steps away, I heard people on the South Heaven Gate cheering and shouting. People down below even responded, causing everyone around to laugh. The laughter infused the climb with a lively energy and gave me the confidence to keep going.

Upon reaching the South Heaven Gate, I took a few pictures and felt a refreshing coolness as the mist below rolled up the mountain. I had a sense that I was close to the peak.

Sure enough, after climbing the South Heaven Gate, a five-minute walk brought me to the legendary Heavenly Street. I had only seen pictures of it on my phone’s Baidu app. Now, I stood before it in person. The street, a bustling market, was lined with shops on both sides. When I arrived, the area was enveloped in mist, creating a fairyland atmosphere. The thick fog surged and billowed constantly, obscuring people and objects just a few steps away. It reminded me of Guo Moruo’s poem “Heavenly Market.” I wandered around, taking pictures, admiring the sights, and marveling at it all. In the end, I bought a peace charm with a bell that clinked happily with every step.

I was exhausted, so I took the cable car down, getting off at the Midheaven Gate and then taking a bus to Tianwaicun, returning to the mortal world. My legs were numb, and my mind was still filled with the beautiful scenery and delicious food. Even though it was already past six in the evening, I wasn’t ready to head back on the train.

So, I stayed in the area around the Jinjiang Inn and the Dalian Wanda, savoring the local cuisine and culture, completely content. To my surprise, the Dalian Wanda had a free photo printing service. Perfect! I could print six photos free of charge by scanning a QR code. A pleasant surprise and a rewarding discovery.

I took a few pictures of the blue sky and white clouds at the foot of Mount Tai. Farewell, majestic Mount Tai and beautiful Taian. I will return again.