泰山

Why this place

Mount Tai is not the highest or the hardest mountain in China, but it is the most important: for two thousand years emperors climbed it to perform the fengshan sacrifices that legitimised their rule. The result is a mountain covered in inscriptions, temples and gates from every dynasty, on a single enormous stone staircase of 6,600 steps.

What to see

• The Dai Temple at the foot, with its Song-dynasty mural of the emperor's procession
• The 6,600-step ascent — or the bus and cable car if you prefer your knees
• The sunrise from the summit, the classic Chinese mountain experience
• The stone inscriptions lining the whole route, in every major script
• The Bixia Temple on the summit ridge, and the 'sea of clouds' below it

What to eat

• Taishan's 'three beauties': cabbage, tofu and water from the mountain springs
• Shandong pancakes and the local mutton soup at the foot of the mountain

How to plan

One day: climb overnight for the sunrise, or take the bus and cable car and walk only the top section.

Best time

April–June and September–November; the climb is extremely crowded on the May and October holidays

Practical tips

• Climbing at night to catch the sunrise is the local custom — bring a torch and warm layers, the summit is much colder