North Heavenly Gate

North Heavenly Gate

Descending northward from the Old Man Peak along the slope, you’ll reach a mountain hollow where there once stood a stone memorial archway inscribed with the original name “Yuanwu.” It collapsed in the late Qing Dynasty but was rebuilt in 1984. This double-pillared, single-gate stone archway bears the inscription “North Heavenly Gate” and serves as the essential passageway from the summit of Mount Tai to the Houshiwu area.

In front of the archway, following the slope eastward down to the spoon-shaped valley floor is the “Rubble Gully.” Crossing the gully leads to the One-Legged Plank Path, and further ahead you’ll reach various scenic spots in Houshiwu. The original name of the archway, “Yuanwu,” refers to Xuanwu, the deity of the north, which was abolished during the Qing Dynasty. To the north of the archway lies Moyun Ridge, with soaring red cliffs. On the eastern side is the Eight Immortals Cave, perched precariously like a falcon’s nest. Legend has it that Lü Dongbin once practiced Taoist arts and alchemy here. A temple dedicated to Lüzu was built at the cave entrance during the Qing Dynasty but collapsed during the Republican era.

To the south of the archway is the Houshiwu Cable Car Station. From here, walking 0.8 km westward along the mountain’s shady footpath will bring you to the upper station of the Taohuayu Passenger Cable Car Station. Both cable car lines commenced construction in April 1992 and, after 500 days and nights, officially opened on August 28, 1993. The Houshiwu line is a double-chairlift system with a total length of 518 meters, while the Taohuayu line is a gondola system stretching 2,196 meters, with each cabin accommodating six passengers. Walking southward from the North Heavenly Gate along the footpath and proceeding eastward along the valley for about 0.5 km will bring you to the rugged Rubble Gully. During the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, the minister Lü Kun built the Dust-Avoiding Bridge here, which was destroyed in the late Qing Dynasty.

Water flows down from here into the deep ravine, turns eastward, then flows past the northern side of Crane Mountain before continuing east to form Wash Crane Bay. The valley is flanked by steep cliffs, with ancient pines lying across them. The stream meanders eastward before entering Xili Valley.

To the east of the Rubble Gully lies the One-Legged Plank Path, part of the circular trail around the northern side of Mount Tai, established during the Ming Dynasty. The farther you walk along the One-Legged Plank Path, the more perilous the road becomes, the more spectacular the mountains, and the more breathtaking the scenery. To the left are elegant gateways with cascading pines hanging upside down from the cliffs; to the right are deep ravines with splashing waterfalls; above are pine forests that shade the sun, with birds chirping; below are flourishing flowers and fruits. Looking across the valley to the south, you’ll see sheer peaks and oddly shaped rocks jutting out in striking beauty. On the northern cliff, there are inscriptions by the Ming scholar Lin Gudu reading “Yellow Flower Plank Path,” Zhong Xing’s “The Unnameable Depth of Emerald Green,” and Li Yuanding, Vice Minister of War from the Qing Shunzhi era, who wrote “Pine Whispers and Cloudy Valleys.”

Along the path, you’ll also find attractions such as the Reclining Dragon Pine and Reclining Tiger Pine. Legend has it that Zhuge Liang studied military texts here in his youth.

Located northwest of Jade Emperor Summit, the Old Man Peak earned its name due to its resemblance to an elderly man with a stooped back. Nearby, several smaller rocks complement the main formation, giving rise to the nickname “Old Man Playing with Grandchild.” The peak features inscriptions such as “The Finest Mountain Under Heaven,” “Soaring to the Heavens,” “Standing Alone in Mid-Sky,” and “The First Sacred Area of the East Pillar.” There is also an imperial poem inscribed by Emperor Qianlong: “Among the Five Great Mountains, the Old Man comes from Qingcheng; why borrow a name for the summit of Tai?”

Attraction Location

Taishan Scenic Area, Tai’an, Shandong Province