Mount Tai

According to the Chinese ancient mythology, When Pangu, the ancestor of all things, died, his head turned into Mount Tai, his belly turned into the Central Mountain, his left arm turned into the South Mountain, his right arm turned into the North Mountain and his feet turned into the West Mountain. Mount Tai thus has become the head of all mountains. As the symbol of China national spirit, Mount Tai is no doubt the most significant mountain under heaven as well.
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Esteemed as prior to other four ancient renowned mountains, Mount Tai was called "Daizong" in the ancient times. The mountain was formed 2,500 million years ago with the earth's primeval orogenic movement. Located in the central part of Shandong Province, and in the east of North China Plain, Mount Tai Range stretches eastwards for more than 200 kilometres along south bank of the Yellow River. The main peak of the mountain in Tai'an which is 1545 metres above sea level is located 65 kilometres south of Jinan, the capital of Shandong. Facing the East sea as well as the Yellow River, it cuts a conspicuous figure in China with its magnificence, loftiness, long history, numerous cultural relics and natural beauty. It is the first place in China to be listed as the world's cultural and natural heritage site by UNESCO.

Mount Tai is closely related with the forming of Chinese nation's psychology and spirit. The reason why Mount Tai was named "Ancestor of all mountains as well as the Head of the Five Mountains" lies in the ancient people's geographical concept that dwelling in the centre of the universe was the most desirable. From this point of view, the original worship of Mount Tai was linked essentially with the forming of the nation's thinking model of centrality. The centrality and achievement-maintaining thinking models thus have played an important role in the unity of the country and in the solidarity and prosperity of the nation. As the materialization of the national spirit, Mount Tai has often been taken to symbolize the greatness, diligence, honesty, intelligence and tenacity of the Chinese people.

From ancient times up till now Mount Tai has been regarded as the resting place of the human spirits by the Chinese people, And a concept has been thus formed that all spirits (souls) ought to go back to Mount Tai for a peaceful rest, which has exerted an far reaching influence on the Chinese culture and derived the patriotism - the national spirit.

The old saying goes "One has eyes but may fail to recognize Mount Tai". This may emphasize the depth and magnificence of the mountain. Mount Tai is no longer only famous in China. Its great influence, which has passed the limits of space and time, has become world wide.