Hongmen Tourist Route: The most classic hiking route

■ Route Features: The Taishan Middle Road Sightseeing Route is the classic hiking route with the most concentrated cultural and natural scenery on Mount Tai, representing the essence of the mountain. The total length is 9.5 kilometers, with over 7,000 winding runs, and there are almost no flat roads along the way. Because emperors of successive dynasties also climbed this path, it is also called the Imperial Path of Mount Tai. Along the hiking route, shaded by trees lining the path, stone steps winding, peaks competing in beauty, springs and streams competing, creating a magnificent and beautiful natural landscape. Along the way, there are numerous historical sites, including 8 ancient temples, over 200 steles, and over 300 cliff inscriptions, rich in traditional cultural charm.


■ Touring method: Walking along the stone steps and winding path.


■ Main attractions: (Dai Temple — Daizong Archway —) Hongmen Palace — Wanxian Tower (mountain ticket office) — Doumu Palace — Jingshiyu — Hutian Pavilion — Huimaling — Zhongtianmen — Kuaihuo Sanli — Yunbu Bridge — Wudafu Pine — Shibapan — South Heavenly Gate — Tianjie — Bixia Shrine — Tang Cliff — Five Great Mountains Supreme — Jade Emperor Peak — Gongbeishi


■ Tour itinerary:


Starting from the Red Gate, the hike begins and passes through attractions such as the Guan Di Temple, One Day Gate, Confucius Ascending Shrine, and Red Gate Palace, before arriving at the mountain ticket checkpoint—Wanxian Tower. After entering the mountain, walk past Doumu Palace, Jingshiyu, Hutian Pavilion, Huimaling, and other scenic spots to reach Zhongtianmen. You are already halfway to Zhongtianmen, so you can rest here for a while. If you are exhausted, you can transfer to a cable car here to reach Dai Peak. Continuing upward, passing scenic spots like Kuaihuo Sanli, Yunbu Bridge, and Wudafu Pine, you arrive at the most difficult section of Mount Tai—the Eighteen Bends. The Eighteen Benuses of Mount Tai are the essence of the entire scenic area. Its majestic grandeur, magnificent scenery, and ancient relics will bring you an indescribable spiritual shock that will be unforgettable for a lifetime! Ascending the Southern Heavenly Gate via the Eighteen Bends, you will feel as if you have ascended to heaven, suddenly enlightened. At this point, you have reached the summit of Mount Tai. You can slow down and leisurely tour the Heavenly Market—Tianjie; visit the Upper Temple of Mount Tai—Bixia Shrine—to worship and make wishes; and reach the highest point of Mount Tai—Yuhuang Peak—to experience the majestic aura of "seeing all mountains below." After touring Dai Peak, you can descend and return the same way.





■ Friendly Reminder:


(1) If you haven't walked this route to climb Mount Tai, you can't truly have visited Mount Tai. Highly recommended for first-time climbers.


(2) Walk from Hongmen to Daiding, about 4–6 hours; Alternatively, you can use Dai Temple as the starting point for hiking, which requires an additional 1–2 hours of sightseeing. The descent takes about 3 hours.


(3) The entire climb requires physical strength and perseverance, so be mentally prepared before climbing. If you feel exhausted during the climb, you can transfer to the cable car after hiking to Zhongtianmen to reach Dai Peak.


■ Transportation: If you are taking the train to Tai'an, you can take bus No. 3 directly from the train station (2 yuan) or a taxi to Hongmen (fare is about 10 yuan); If you get off at Tai'an High-Speed Rail Station, you can take Bus 37 to Hongmen, or take a taxi from the station to Hongmen, which takes about 40 minutes and costs around 35 yuan.