Tai'an

Tai'an (泰安 Tài'ān) is a prefecture-level city in Shandong. It is famous for Mount Tai, a.

Tai'an is in the central part of Shandong, with Jinan, the provincial capital, to the north, Jining to the south, Linyi to the east, and the Yellow River to the west.

The name "Tai'an" is derived from Mount Tai, and it carries the meaning of "when Mount Tai is stable, all is well." The city is situated at the foot of Mount Tai, and the city and the mountain are seamlessly integrated.

Mount Tai, located within the city's boundaries, is a nationally renowned scenic area with the reputation of being the "greatest of the Five Sacred Mountains" and the "foremost mountain under heaven." It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a unique combination of natural beauty and cultural significance.

In 1982, Tai'an City was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of cities for foreign tourism, reflecting its commitment to opening up to the world. Tai'an is a central city in the central Shandong region, recognized as an excellent tourist destination in China, and designated as a national historical and cultural city.

Understand
Tai 'an City is located at the southern foot of Mount Tai in the middle of Shandong Province, with Jinan, Zibo and Linyi cities in the east, Jining City in the south, Liaocheng City and Puyang City in Henan Province across the Yellow River in the west, Taishan and Jinan City as the boundary in the north, between 116°20 '-117 °59' east and 35°38 '-36 °28' north, with a total area of 7762 square kilometers.

By the end of 2022, Tai 'an City has 5.401 million permanent residents, and the urbanization rate of permanent residents is 65.45%.

History
The name Tai'an (泰安 Tài'ān) is from the word 国泰民安 (Peace of the nation and well-being of the people). It lies in the south of the sacred mountain Mount Tai or Taishan (泰山 Tàishān) in local language. This mountain is considered the palace for all the gods, which is similar to Mount Olympus. The city is historically considered a holy city where the three worlds meet: World of Gods (Heaven), World of Human (Mortals), and World of Afterlife (Hell).

Apart from the fact that every year thousands of people visit Tai'an to admire its nature, to tour its slopes, and reach its peaks, historically, if an emperor is to seek peace of his dynasty, a national ceremony which lasts a month shall be arranged in which the emperor himself shall worship the mountain gods and keep on diet.

To study the history of the founding of Tai'an, one needs to go back to the Spring and Autumn Period around 500 BC when the state of Qi founded its first city, Boyi (the site of the old county village), near Mount Tai. After that, the city was moved three times, and Tai'an City (Qianfeng County) was finally established at the foot of Mount Tai in the fifth year of Kaibao in the Song Dynasty (972). If we count from the founding of Boyeup, Taean City has a history of more than 2,500 years, and if we count from the fifth year of Song Kaibao, Taean City has a history of 1,048 years so far.

Flora and fauna
Tai'an Science and Technology Museum 400 square meters of "natural oxygen bar", the introduction of African bullfrogs, Chinese big flat, blue-footed giant centipede, Uganda, such as flowers and more than 30 kinds of rainforest animals, and the introduction of the Palm family, plantain family, the Lily family, the family of Tennessee, such as 14 types of rainforest plants, to create a surprise, strange, live "rainforest".

Climate
Tai'an belongs to the warm temperate continental semi-humid monsoon climate zone, with four distinct seasons, suitable cold and heat, synchronized light and temperature, and rain and heat in the same season. Spring is dry and windy, summer is hot and rainy, autumn is sunny and cool, and winter is cold and snowy.In 2018, the city's average annual sunshine hours of 2117.7 hours, 195.5 hours less than the normal year (2313.3 hours); the average annual temperature is 14.6 ℃, 1.0 ℃ higher than the normal year (13.6 ℃); the average annual precipitation is 785.6 millimeters, 18.2% more than the normal year (664.5 millimeters). 18.2% more than the normal year. Taishan Peak 2018 annual sunshine hours 2550.4 hours, compared with the normal year (2663.8 hours) less than 113.4 hours; annual average temperature 6.6 ℃, compared with the normal year (5.9 ℃) with a high of 0.7 ℃; annual precipitation of 1304.8 millimeters, compared with the normal year (1046.2 millimeters) more than 24.7%.

By train & bus
Booking a train is not an easy job for non-Chinese speakers. Online ticket agency might provide English interfaces but cost an extra. For Chinese speakers, online booking is the easiest way. Tickets can be paid online using Union Pay, Ali-pay or VISA card, at no additional fee. Otherwise, speaking to the ticket office at the station usually means a really long queue.

Online booked ticket can be collected at the ticket machine in ticket halls of a station. Most tickets are fixed-priced. There are no peak hour restrictions. Most tickets are seat-specified.

Ticket are in Chinese only.

During Chinese New Year or summer time or national day holiday etc. purchasing your ticket in advance is highly recommended.

From Beijing
There are several train stations that serves Tai'an including Beijing and Beijingnan (Beijing South), please make sure you are departing from what specified on your ticket. Regular trains (service starting with numbers, K, T, or Z) usually takes 5-7 hours, typically cost ¥78, there are 5 services per day. T31 (towards Hangzhou) is the fastest which takes 5 hours.

High speed services (G services) usually takes 2 hours, with a price starting from ¥214, 22 services per day.

From Qingdao
If you are coming from Qingdao, regular trains run to Tai'an and take 6 hours while costing ¥56-65 one way, there are 11 services per day. Express trains also run from Qingdao and take only 3 hours, though the ticket price jumps to ¥148. As of Dec 2014, there are 6 express trains daily.

You can book the ticket online via 12306.cn (national rail official). Both the regular and express trains pass through Jinan, the capital of Shandong.

Alternatively, you can also take a bus from Qingdao's Sifang long-distance bus station. The trip takes 6 hours and costs ¥116. To book the ticket, call the free landline 4006-916-916.

From Jinan
If you are coming from Jinan, an express train takes only 15 mins, however regular trains, which cost only ¥5, takes 1 hour. Coaches take 1 hour, but usually is more expensive (¥15~¥50).

Train stations
There are two different train stations in the city.

By plane
The nearest airport is Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (JNA) where a shuttle service to the city centre can be found (~¥95)

Get around
Tai'an is a really small town compared to Qingdao and Jinan, however, there are more of places worth your seeing and potentially help you to understand the Chinese traditional beliefs.

As of October 2022, Tai'an City administers 2 district-level cities, 2 county-level cities, and 2 counties. The Tai'an City People's Government is located at 3 Wangyue East Road, Taishan District.


 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).
 * The Mt. Tai is the mountain believed to be the palace of gods. With Mt. Helly (Haolishan, 蒿里山) the palace and entrance of hell. There is a river call River Null (Naihe, 奈河, which sounds like 奈何, means helplessness of the death of a life) which is believed to the boundary of the mortal world (Yang, 阳) and the afterlife (Yin, 阴).There are mainly 3 ways to the top of Mt. Tai, since all are prepared for the royal visit, they are called Royal Way or Okimichi. East Royal Way is from Peak Candle (Peak Tianzhu, 天烛峰), West is from the Blossom Valley (Taohuayu or Tyohwa Valley or Peach Blossom Valley, 桃花峪). The Main Royal Way is the most popular choice since it is in the town centre. It goes from the Red Gate (Hom-Men, Hongmen, 红门), via Goddess Pool (Wangmuchi, 王母池), God's cave (Dongbin Cave, 洞宾洞), Confucius footpath (Kongzi Deng Lin Chu, 孔子登临处), then there are cable way to the Middle Haven Gate (Zhongtianmen, 中天门) and then a sharp mountain way called 18 Turns (Shibapan, 十八盘) to the main gate Haven Gate (Nantianmen, 南天门).On the top there are Biha Palace (bixiaci, 碧霞祠, the palace of goddess and god of the ultimate power and who bless the people).

By bus
Bus route 3 (Hongmen (Hom-Men, Red Gate, 红门) - Fairyland (Tien-wai-cun, Tianwaicun, 天外村)) takes you to most historical sites in the old Tai'an town.

Bus route 16 can take you from the train station (main station) to Blossom Valley where you can find the beautiful rural area and the beautiful nature, especially the Red Flake Fish (赤鳞鱼 Chìlínyú) which is unique in Mt. Tai.

Bus route 19 can take you to Peak Candle where you can find the undeveloped peaceful mountain view which is tremendously different from the European. Also, a commercial program was launched to provide with the revival of how the traditional emperor worship the mountain Tai, where you will find the Chinese etiquette.

Buses might operate with a K in front, it runs the same route as the normal bus but air-coned which takes ¥2. All buses terminates in its fixed destination, no worry that you might take a short service.

See

 * Tai Shan 2015.08.12 11-18-27.jpg
 * Tiger hill.jpg
 * 桃花峪登山道 - Taohuayu Canyon Footpath - 2012.06 - panoramio.jpg
 * Tiger hill.jpg
 * 桃花峪登山道 - Taohuayu Canyon Footpath - 2012.06 - panoramio.jpg
 * 桃花峪登山道 - Taohuayu Canyon Footpath - 2012.06 - panoramio.jpg
 * 桃花峪登山道 - Taohuayu Canyon Footpath - 2012.06 - panoramio.jpg
 * 桃花峪登山道 - Taohuayu Canyon Footpath - 2012.06 - panoramio.jpg

Buy
Supermarket called In-Zone and RT-mart are near the Taishan train station (not the high-speed rail station) where all kinds of Chinese daily foods are available, also KFC therein.

Eat

 * Local food can be found north to Taishan Station, called Kangfu Rd (Hospital Rd, 康复路).
 * Local food can be found north to Taishan Station, called Kangfu Rd (Hospital Rd, 康复路).
 * Local food can be found north to Taishan Station, called Kangfu Rd (Hospital Rd, 康复路).
 * Local food can be found north to Taishan Station, called Kangfu Rd (Hospital Rd, 康复路).
 * Local food can be found north to Taishan Station, called Kangfu Rd (Hospital Rd, 康复路).

Connect
Emergency numbers: 110 - Police, 119 - Fire, 120 - First aid, 122 - Traffic accidents

Go next

 * Linyi (临沂 Línyí) is a city in southeastern Shandong province, China, with a long history. It is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization.
 * Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong, China, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * Jinan (济南 Jǐnán) ， also known as Quancheng, Qizhou and Luoyi, is a prefecture-level city, provincial capital, sub-provincial city, mega-city and core city of Jinan metropolitan Area in Shandong Province. It is a central city in the southern wing of Bohai Sea area approved by The State Council.
 * Qingdao (青岛; Qīngdǎo; also known as Tsingtao), is regarded by some Chinese as one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities in China.