L-R: Ching Neng Bin, Chew Leng Soon, Tay Seok Hooi, Bernard Lee at Taishan International Youth Hostel.
Day 12 (10.12.2011) Taian (Shandong) day trip to Mt.Tai Shan 泰山
We took a taxi (Y8) to the bus station at the foothill to take our breakfast at KFC. We boarded the park bus at Y30pp and pay entrance fee (Y105 pp) up to the cable car station at halfway gate. The cable car is Y80pp one way or Y140pp return trip. After walking to all the Taishan temples, Bernard Lee and Ching Neng Bin decided to trek all the way down by way of the East Route to our hostel. We took 55 minutes to trek down the 6,500 steps to the bottom cable car station and another 2 hours to reach our hostel at 4pm.
Temperature: -6°C (min) and -3°C (max)
Accommodation: Taishan International Youth Hostel (Y130 a room for two)
We took a taxi (Y8) to the bus station at the Mt.Tai Shan 泰山 foothill to take our breakfast at KFC.
Tai Shan (Peace Mountain) is one of the five Taoist sacred mountains in China. With nearly 3 billion years of natural evolution, Mount Taishan was formed through complicated geological and biological processes, which resulted in a gigantic rock mass covered with dense vegetation towering over the surrounding plateau. This dramatic and majestic mountain is an outstanding combination of a beautiful natural landscape dominated by the cultural impacts of thousands of years of human use.
The entrance to Mount Tai at the Red Gate Palace. Mount Tài Shān 泰山 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
The entrance to Mount Tai at the Red Gate Palace. We boarded the park bus at Y30pp and pay entrance fee (Y105 pp) up to the cable car station at halfway gate. The cable car is Y80pp one way or Y140pp return trip.
The cable car is Y80pp one way or Y140pp return trip up Mt.Tai Shan 泰山.
The Mt.Tai Shan 泰山 view by cable car.
The Mt.Tai Shan 泰山 view by cable car.
The Mt.Tai Shan 泰山 is one of the five Taoist sacred mountains in China.
The Mt.Tai Shan 泰山 is one of the five Taoist sacred mountains in China.
Most visitors reach the Tai Shan summit area by climbing the 6,660 steps.
The top cable station of Mt.Tai Shan 泰山.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path from cable car station up to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
This is “South Gate” 南天門 where one can trek down the 6,660 steps from Tai Shan (height about 1,400m). 
Most visitors reach the Tai Shan summit by climbing up the 6,660 steps (the vertical gain is about 1,400m).
The temple complex at the top of Mount Tai.
The temple complex at the top of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Walking the snow path to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
A beautiful pine tree at the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Looked back at how far we had walked from cable car station, but there was still some walking to reach the top.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
Going up the “Road to Heaven” 天街 to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of Mount Tai.
After we passed the gate at the top of the stairs we were greeted by this Bixia Temple (碧霞祠). 
After we passed the gate at the top of the stairs we were greeted by this Bixia Temple (碧霞祠). 
A beautiful bird at Bixia Temple (碧霞祠). 
Looked back at how far we had walked at Mount Tai.
Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) is located south of the summit of Mount Taishan.
Three of us praying for good health and safe journey at Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) Taishan.
Three of us praying for good health and safe journey at Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) Taishan.
Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) Taishan.
Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) Taishan.
Bixia Temple (Azure Cloud Temple) Taishan.
Poetic calligraphy on rock inscriptions at Mount Tai. The writings by famous people through the centuries have been carved on the rocks cliffs.
Poetic calligraphy on rock inscriptions at Mount Tai. The writings by
famous people through the centuries have been carved on the rocks
cliffs.
Poetic calligraphy on rock inscriptions at Mount Taishan.
A view from Mount Taishan Jade Emperor Temple is a rewarding sight.
A view from Mount Taishan Jade Emperor Temple is a rewarding sight.
A view from Mount Taishan Jade Emperor Temple is a rewarding sight.
A view from Mount Taishan Jade Emperor Temple is a rewarding sight.
Jade Emperor Temple, which was built in honor of the Jade Emperor of Taoism.
Jade Emperor Temple, which was built in honor of the Jade Emperor of Taoism. There is a big stone in the middle of the yard in front of the temple, with the engraving: “The Summit of Mount Tai 1532.7 meters. Rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty, it consists of Jade Emperor Hall, housing the bronze figure of the Jade Emperor; Sun View Pavilion, lying to the east where tourists can enjoy the sunrise; River Enjoyment Pavilion, to the west, which is a perfect place for tourists to appreciate sunset clouds and the golden belt of the Yellow River.
Poetic calligraphy on rock inscriptions at Mount Taishan.
Poetic calligraphy at Mount Taishan.
Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong.
Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong.
Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong.
Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong.
Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is a sacred mountain in Shandong.
The main sunrise vantage point is the North Pointing Rock; if you’re lucky, visibility extends over 200km to the coast.
The main sunrise vantage point is the North Pointing Rock; if you’re lucky, visibility extends over 200km to the coast.
After walking to all the Taishan temples, Bernard Lee and Ching Neng Bin
decided to trek all the way down by way of the East Route to our
hostel. We took 55 minutes to trek down the 6,660 steps to the bottom
cable car station and another 2 hours to reach our hostel at 4pm.
Bernard Lee and Ching Neng Bin trekked all the way down Taishan by way of the East Route to our
hostel.
East Route also known as the Imperial Route because all emperors took this way to Taishan.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The frozen waterfalls along the winding Taishan East Route.
The Red Gate Palace is the Dai Temple, arguably the most important Taoist temple in China. Most hikes up Mount Tai start from here, and go through the Red Gate Palace.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The elegant natural scenery, stone inscriptions are scattered along the winding Taishan East Route.
The Red Gate Palace is the Dai Temple, arguably the most important Taoist temple in China. Most hikes up Mount Tai start from here, and go through the Red Gate Palace.
An area of 96,000 sq. meters, the Dai Temple adopts the architectural style of an imperial palace.
The shrine of Taoism and a place for emperors to hold worship ceremonies and offering sacrifices to the God of Mount Tai.
The shrine of Taoism and a place for emperors to hold worship ceremonies and offering sacrifices to the God of Mount Tai.
Total expenses for day 12 is Y344 or RM172 per person
Day 01 (29.11.2011) AirAsia Kul - Hangzhou D7-306 17552225 hrs
Day 02 (30.11.2011) Hangzhou (West Lake walking)
Day 03 (01.12.2011) Hangzhou (West Lake cycling)
Day 04 (02.12.2011) Hangzhou by bus to Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake)
Day 05 (03.12.2011) Qiandao Lake - ferry - Shendu - bus - Tunxi (Huangshan City)
Day 06 (04.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - day trip to Mt.Huangshan
Day 07 (05.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - day trip to Hongcun & Xidi
Day 08 (06.12.2011) Tunxi (Huangshan City) - by train to Nanjing
Day 09 (07.12.2011) Nanjing
Day 10 (08.12.2011) Nanjing by train to Taian (Shandong)
Day 11 (09.12.2011) Taian (Shandong) - day trip to Qufu
Day 12 (10.12.2011) Taian (Shandong) - day trip to Mt. Taishan
Day 13 (11.12.2011) Taian by train to Shanghai
Day 14 (12.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to Suzhou
Day 15 (13.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to The Bund
Day 16 (14.12.2011) Shanghai - day trip to Zhujiajiao the ancient water village
Day 17 (15.12.2011) Shanghai - Tian Zi Fang, Yuyuan garden & shopping
Day 18 (16.12.2011) Shanghai by train to Hangzhou AirAsia D7-303 to K Lumpur 14101910 hrs
///Backpacking to Shanghai 18 winter days in China 29 Nov - 16 Dec 2011
| EXPENSES | . . RMBY | . . . .RM | . .Total | Per pax |
| a. | B'fast - KFC | 60.50 | 30 | ||||
| Day12 | b. | Taxi to Mt Taishan base | 8.00 | 4 | |||
| c. | Entrance fees - Mt Taishan | 408.00 | 204 | ||||
| d. | Mountain bus to cable car stn | 120.00 | 60 | ||||
| e. | Cable car fare | 440.00 | 220 | ||||
| f. | Dinner | 85.00 | 43 | ||||
| g. | Room - Taishan IYH | 256.00 | 128 | ||||
| Y1,377 | Y344.38 |
looks frightfully chilly ! Ironmen like Bernard & yourself will definitely take the steps ... macho ma !
ReplyDeleteIt's winter wonderland all over.
ReplyDeleteAfraid it's too cold for us Tropicanas. Of course once you're
at outdoors, you got to take up the challenge to face the cold.
Alan Kok