Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TAI'AN
0538 / POP 1.05 MILLION
Gateway to Tai Shan's sacred slopes, Tai'an's tourist industry has been in full
swing since before the Ming dynasty.
Though there's not much to see outside of the magnificent Dai Temple, you
will need the better part of a day for the mountain, so spending the night here
or at the summit is advised.
Sights
DAI TEMPLE
( Dai Miao; Daimiao Beijie Lu; admission adult/child ¥30/15; 8am-6pm sum-
mer, to 5pm winter)
This magnificent Taoist temple complex is the place in
town where all roads lead, being the traditional first stop on every pilgrimage
up the mountain. It is dedicated to the Lord of Tai Shan, whose responsibilities
include deciding the length of every person's life. The main hall is the colossal,
twin-eaved, nine-bay-wide
Hall of Heavenly Blessing
( Tiankuang Dian; shoe
covers ¥1)
, which dates to AD 1009. The dark interior houses a marvellous
62m-long Song-dynasty fresco depicting Emperor Zhenzong as the god of Tai
Shan. Take time to scale the walls over the
Hou Zai gate
to see what's in
store for your pilgrimage up the mountain.
Taoist
Sleeping
TAISHAN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HOSTEL $
( Taishan Guoji Qingnian Lushe; 628 5196; 65 Tongtian Jie; dm ¥40-60,
d/tw/tr ¥228/160/180; )
Tai'an's first youth hostel has clean spartan
rooms with pine furnishings and old propaganda posters. Dorms are a bargain.
Hostel
YUZUO HOTEL $$$
( Yuzuo Binguan; 826 9999; 50 Daimiao Beilu; tw/d/ste ¥360/780/1680;
)
This pretty hotel next to the Dai Temple's north gate was purposely kept
Hotel
