by Lucy Maguire

Created on: November 03, 2011   Last Updated: November 07, 2011

Enshrouded by a billowing cloak of semi-opaque clouds, the mystical Jade Emperor rarely offers a glimpse of Taishan, a legendary mountain kingdom said to be the birthplace of Chinese culture. According to Taoist legend, Jade Emperor (Mount Taishan) represents the reigning head of the Five Sacred Mountains, tucked away in the heart of Shandong Province, less than ten miles North of

Tai'an City. Listed as a UNESCO site of World Heritage and Culture in 1987, Mount Taio'Shan lures thousands of Taioists and Buddhists to its slopes each year, all eager to retrace the pilgrimage routes of philosophers such as Confucius, Lang and Emperor Wu Di.

Of the many temples littering the slopes of Mount Taio'Shan, the Lang and Divine Rock Temples are without doubt the most impressive. Situated atop the Jade Emperor Peak at 1,532 meters (5,029 feet) above sea-level, they constitute the oldest and highest sites of religious significance in Shandong Province, completed around 351 BC. Reached by a graduating stairwell carved into the mountain slope, the pilgrimage alone takes from 3-4 hours. Locals have dubbed the route “Peach Blossom Ravine Route”, since the entire climb takes on a heavenly aesthetic during late Spring / early summer. The gentle waft of peach blossom and wildflowers prompts many to pause along the way, just to take in these stunningly efflorescent surroundings. Remarkably intact given their age, the Divine Rock Temples strike an impressive contrast to the surrounding landscape, clad in the signature stucco and vivid red paint common amongst temples of the region.

Guarded by two impressive lions at its gate, Divine Rock Temple is the larger of the Lang constructions. Despite its age, one can still make out the elaborate inscription work carved into the wood of the main door, prayers once uttered by dynastic emperors seeking approval from the Gods on ascension to the throne. Its interior is sparsely decorated with wooden statues and petroglyphs, many of animals revered in Taoist culture.

Slightly North of Divine Rock stands the Azure Cloud (or Bixia) Temple. Visible for up to thirty miles beyond the city of Tai'an, Bixia Temple stands out due to the rich redness of its exterior and sheer massive scale in comparison to the other structures. According to ancient Chinese folklore, the grandiose building was once the home of Goddess Yuanjun – the gilded bronze sculpture of whom may be found within the main hall. A spiritual Earth Mother and daughter of the Mountain God, Yuanjun is synonymous with fertility, luck and maternal development, prompting many thousands of women to make the pilgrimage each year, just to give thanks for these blessings.

Architecturally, Azure Cloud Temple is in a league of its own compared to the other humble temples of Mount Taishan. With its curved, gabled roof, twin courtyards and Ming Dynasty Fragrance Pavillion, the holy shrine was incepted to receive worshipers of far greater class and importance than its developers would admit. The bronze tiled roof is particularly fascinating, since there features one tile for every day of the year. Each fold and rivet divides the sections in accordance with months of the lunar calendar, with each illuminated at sunrise during a particular calendar phase. Many day-trippers to Taishan embark upon their climb of the mountain the evening before, sleeping beneath the stars just to catch a glimpse of Heaven's Gate! Even if you're unable to experience this wondrous moment, Mount Taishan is a spiritual and cultural awakening that will truly inspire and uplift the soul.

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