Culaishan Scenic Area in Tai'an City

Culaishan Scenic Area in Tai'an City

Culaishan Mountain is located southeast of Mount Tai, spanning several towns and townships including Fangcun, Liangzhuang, Culai, and Huamawan in the suburbs of Tai'an City, as well as Tianbao and Dadongzhuang in Xintai City, covering a total area of 250 square kilometers.

Culaishan National Forest Park is 20 kilometers north of Mount Tai, often regarded as its sister mountain and also known as "Southern Mount Tai." It lies 30 kilometers south of Qufu and 20 kilometers west of the birthplace of the Dawenkou Culture, with a total area of 250,000 mu, of which 79.6% is forested. The main peak stands at an elevation of 1,027 meters, making it one of the largest forest parks in Shandong Province.

Culaishan enjoys very convenient transportation. To the east, National Defense Road 09 runs through the mountain; to the north, a road is built along the mountainside; to the west, there are the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway and the Tianjin-Pukou Railway. Within the scenic area, there is a 30-kilometer trunk road running east-west that leads directly to the main peak—Taipingding, as well as branch routes to various attractions.

The area is rich in historical relics and cultural landmarks. There are over ten scenic spots and historic sites, including Zhongjunzhang (Central Army Tent), Zhuxi Liuyi Hall, and Culaishan Academy. Legend has it that King Wu of Wu once stationed his troops at Zhongjunzhang during his campaign against the Qi and Lu states. Laozi and Confucius also met and conversed here, leading to the construction of the Ersheng Palace (Palace of the Two Sages). Culaishan is a sacred site for Taoism and Buddhism, and it is said that the hometown of the "Taoist Patriarch of Mount Tai" is located here. There are over ten temples and shrines, such as Sichan Temple, Guanghua Temple, Ersheng Palace, Lvzu Pavilion, Dabeian Nunnery, and Yinxian Temple. The mountain also boasts numerous stone inscriptions and carvings, including 15 famous engraved stones featuring clerical, cursive, and seal scripts, such as the "Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra," "Alchemy Furnace," "Poor Joy Rock," and "Crouching Dragon." Historical literary figures such as Cao Zhi, Li Bai, and Du Fu have left their footprints and inscriptions here.

Culaishan Forest Park features undulating green peaks, deep valleys, and diverse landforms. The highest peak, Taipingding, rises 1,027 meters above sea level with a relative height of 800 meters. The area currently hosts 797 plant species, 134 bird species, 7 mammal species, 3 reptile species, and over 700 insect species.

Culaishan’s natural landscape is pleasant, with dense forests, majestic mountains, overlapping ridges, rugged terrain, and meandering streams. It is home to precious ancient trees such as thousand-year-old pines, cypresses, ginkgos, and wisterias. Notable peaks include the famous "Swing Frame," "Duxiu Peak," and "Nobles’ Peak." The mountain is full of peculiar rocks, caves, and springs, with the Dawen River encircling three sides of Culaishan. Pine trees are abundant on the mountain. As recorded in the "Odes of Lu" from the Book of Songs, there is a line about "the pines of Culaishan," and the Commentary on the Water Classic also notes that "the mountain is covered with pines and cypresses." Both the sunrise at Mount Tai and the sunset at Culaishan are among the "Eight Great Scenic Spots of Tai'an." The area’s rich diversity of plants, birds, mammals, and valuable medicinal herbs forms a complete natural ecosystem. Visitors to Culaishan often feel a deep sense of returning to nature.

Culaishan is a sacred site of anti-Japanese and revolutionary history. On January 1, 1938, the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China launched an armed uprising here, firing the first shot of the anti-Japanese resistance in Shandong. In 1987, on the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Culaishan Uprising, the Shandong Provincial Committee and Government erected a monument commemorating the armed uprising, with the inscription personally written by Marshal [Name].

Address: Dashe Village, Fangcun Town, Daiyue District, Tai'an City

Opening Hours: All day

Recommended Visiting Time: About 8 hours

Price: 50 RMB per person

Highlight Attractions: Zhongjunzhang (Central Army Tent), Swing Frame, Natural Great Buddha, Thousand-Year-Old Pine, Thousand-Year-Old Ginkgo, Culaishan Sunset, Wenshui Ancient Ferry

Recommended Tour Route: Monument — Swing Frame — Zhongjunzhang — Taipingding

Supporting Facilities:

The scenic area has shops where visitors can purchase local specialties, as well as accommodation facilities at the Culaishan Resort.