Zengfu Temple

Zengfu Temple

Zengfu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Not far up the steps from Zhongtianmen on Mount Tai, you’ll find Zengfu Temple, which faces north and south. Though not large in scale, the temple is highly popular due to the worship of the Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness.

Tai’an has a warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 13°C. July is the hottest month, averaging 26.4°C, while January is the coldest, averaging minus 2.6°C. The average annual precipitation is 697 mm. Mount Tai within the territory stands at 1,545 meters above sea level and features distinct alpine climatic characteristics, with temperatures at the summit generally 7–8°C lower than those at the foot year-round, and an average annual precipitation of 1,106 mm.

Tai’an is a well-known cultural tourism city in central Shandong Province, China. Mount Tai within its territory is a national key scenic area and was listed as one of the first group of cities opened to tourism by the State Council in 1982.

Tai’an is a pivotal city in Shandong Province for economic development, bridging the eastern and western parts of the province. A prosperous Dawenkou culture flourished here over 5,000 years ago; in 200 BC (early Western Han Dynasty), the "Tai Shan Commandery" was established, and in 1136 AD (14th year of the Tianhui era of the Jin Dynasty), the "Tai’an Army" was set up.

Tai’an derives its name from the saying “When Mount Tai is at peace, the whole realm is at peace,” symbolizing national prosperity and people’s wellbeing. Since the reform and opening-up, Tai’an’s economy has grown rapidly, social programs have flourished, and residents live and work in contentment. Boasting exceptional tourism resources, Tai’an centers its tourism around Mount Tai—the foremost of China’s Five Great Mountains and a symbol of the Chinese nation’s spirit—and radiates out to surrounding counties and districts. Its attractions blend natural landscapes with cultural heritage. Zengfu Temple is one of the historic temples on Mount Tai.

Zhongtianmen is the junction point for both the eastern and western routes up Mount Tai. It marks the halfway point to the summit and is a necessary passageway both ascending and descending. To the north of Zhongxi Mountain lies Dongxi, commonly known as Dazhigou, which was historically the eastern route to Mount Tai but has since been abandoned.

Built during the Qing Dynasty, Zhongtianmen is a single-arch stone memorial archway with two pillars. In ancient times, tigers were common on Mount Tai, so the ancients built a temple north of the archway to worship the Black Tiger God. Today, the temple enshrines the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, depicted riding a tiger and wielding a whip. To the east is a faux-antique teahouse, to the southwest is Zhongxi Hotel, and to the northwest is the Zhongtianmen Cable Car Station.

Zhongtianmen is situated atop the ridge of Huangxian Ridge, at an elevation of 847 meters. Huangxian Ridge gets its name from its yellowish-red soil. To the east of Huangxian Ridge lies Zhongxi Mountain. In 1989, Taiwanese compatriot Chen Yingjie donated funds to build Cien Pavilion at the mountain’s peak. The pavilion houses stones donated by compatriots from Penghu, along with an inscription expressing the hope for the early reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.