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Climbing China's Sacred Mount Taishan |
| Section: LIFE / ADVENTURE |
| Author: Joyce Major |
| Publication:
The World & I Online |
| Issue Date: 1/1/2006 |
| Size: 1,996 Words, 11,272 Characters |
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Walking up the 6,566 steps to the top of Mount Taishan in ancient China traditionally meant you would live to be one hundred years old. The original treadmill test has been going on for three thousand-plus years, with seventy-two emperors successfully having made the climb.
I decided to join this auspicious group, curious to know if I would live to be one hundred or even survive the day's hike! Located in Shandong Province, Taishan is the most revered of the five sacred Taoist mountains believed to have been formed by the head of Pan Gu, who separated the earth and the sea and then fell apart in exhaustion.
Hundreds of people joined me on this 7.5-kilometer climb to 1,545 meters above sea level. It was a beautiful April day with a cool breeze. I looked around at grandparents, children, lovers, and friends, all with the same mission. We were to climb from the First Gate Under Heaven, midway to the second gate, Zhong Tian Men, to the third and final gate, Nan Tien Men, a physical challenge signifying the ability to overcome difficulty. Spending the night at the top, we would rise early to view the sunrise ...
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...y bus along the West Route and find more greenery, a waterfall plunging into the Black Dragon Pool, and the Longevity Bridge.
I leave Mount Taishan inspired by the culture and the people, who still honor this ancient tradition. This most sacred of mountains has been a source of inspiration for thousands of years, a symbol of Heaven to emperors and of happiness today, as it will be tomorrow.
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Publication Details
(The World & I Online) |
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The World & I Online is a
comprehensive academic resource that encompasses a broad range of
articles by scholars and experts in the areas of Global Studies,
Liberal Arts, Fine & Applied Arts, General Science, and Spanish.
Originally published monthly in print as The World & I, our site
includes the complete contents since 1986 and continues to publish
a new issue online each month. |
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