Mt Tai,the first of the "Five Sacred Mountains", is located in the central part of Shandong Province, within the precincts of Jinan, Licheng and Tai'an, covering an area of 426 square kilometers. The highest peak of this mountain, ranging about 1545 meters above sea level, lies within Tai'an City. Mt Tai abounds in lofty peaks, deep valleys and rare cultural relics of the old days.
Taishan Mountain
Taishan Mountain
It was said that 72 emperors of different dynasties made pilgrimages to this mountain. These special ceremonies and sacrifices earned the mountain widespread fame. In addition, many poets and literary scholars also visited the mountain to gain inspiration. Mt. Tai also is famous for it is the cultural combination of Buddhism and Taoism.
It is hard to know when Daoism came to Mt. Tai. The Biography of Hermits in the History of the Jin Dynasty recorded that Daoist priest Zhang Zhong retired to Mt.Tai, which was the earliest record of Daoism here. At present, the main structures of Taoism are Daiyu Temple, Queen Mother Pond and Temple of Primordial Lady of the Emerald Cloud.
The Buddhism appeared on Mt. Tai later than Daoism. It began on the Wei and Jin Period and flushed during the Tang Dynasty. Mt. Tai now still is the center of Shangdong Buddhism. The main structures of Buddhism on it are the Lingyan Temple, Yuquan Temple and Puzhao Temple.
The grandiose temples, the numerous stone inscriptions and stone tablets are the best testaments to these visits.