Day 1

A view of Mount Tai, Shandong

All on board for a trip to Mount Tai, a sacred site revered for over 3,000 years in Chinese history. Explore ancient temples, inscriptions, and breathtaking vistas while learning about the mountain’s deep ties to Daoism and its role in Chinese spirituality. In the evening, we will explore the Dai Temple in the nearby city of Tai’an, a historic site central to Taishan’s spiritual and cultural significance. Reflect on the influence of Daoism and imperial traditions as you explore this architectural masterpiece.

Itinerary

Time Activity Notes
9:24 AM Depart from Beijing G119 train from Beijing South Station to Tai’an Station
11:32 PM Arrive in Tai’an; transfer to Mount Tai
12:00 PM Lunch at a local restaurant Enjoy Shandong cuisine and fresh seafood.
1:30 PM Explore Mount Tai Take the cable car to the summit; visit temples, inscriptions, and enjoy panoramic views.
5:00 PM Explore Tai’an city center Explore the historic Dai Temple complex, a key site for Mount Tai pilgrimages, and its surroundings.
6:00 PM Dinner in Tai’an
9:07 PM Travel to Qufu G385 train from Tai’an Station to Qufu South Station
9:26 PM Arrive in Qufu; transfer to hotel

Readings

  • Mountain as Material: Landscape Inscriptions in China1
  • Chapter 6, “A Pilgrimage Mountain, 1550–1640”2

Footnotes

  1. Robert E. Harrist, “Mountain as Material: Landscape Inscriptions in China,” in Cultural Histories of the Material World, ed. Peter N. Miller, Bard Graduate Center Cultural Histories of the Material World (Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2013), 151–64.↩︎

  2. Susan Naquin, Gods of Mount Tai: Familiarity and the Material Culture of North China, 1000-2000 (Brill, 2022), 134–52.↩︎