Taibai Mountain

Taibai Mountain

Brief Introduction
Mount Taibai is a mountain located on the border between Mei, Taibai and Zhouzhi counties in the south west of Shaanxi Province, China. The 3,767-meter-high Taibai Mountain is one of the highest peaks of the Qinling mountain chain. The range consists of a series of parallel ridges, all running roughly west to east. These mountains are significant because they geographically divide China proper into two parts, the North and the South. The mount's highest point, Baxian Tower, rises to a height of 3,750 m (12,300 ft) and is the tallest in the Qinling Range, as well as the watershed between the Han River and Wei River. Mount Taibai is also the highest mountain in Eastern China. Taibai means "too white" in Chinese. The name derives from the color of the snow-capped mountain peak. Perennially cold weather on the mountain ensures that thick layers of snow and ice have always covered the summit year round. 

Taibai is known as a Taoist mountain; a prominent Taoist temple sits at its north foot. The area is rich in flora and fauna, thanks to the fact that it is not as well traveled as the other five sacred mountains of China. In fact Taibai Mountain National Forest Park boasts more than 2,000 species of plants and over 270 species of animals. Rare plant and animal species exist here, such as Katsura trees, Chinese Larches, Giant Pandas, takins and leopards. 

There are numerous panoramas available as you ascend the mountain, from the Bodhisattva Temple to Baxian Tower at the summit, with a couple of elevated lakes and pools to add diversity to the rocky scenery. There are also a number of cultural relics (old buildings, temples, etc.) scattered about the mountain, which is a national forest park, as well as a great variety of flora and fauna (think creatures like leopard and panda) that result from the extreme elevation change within the park.

There are many many emperors ruling during past dynasties came here for vacation. Throughout Chinese generations rulers and artists have acknowledged the mountain via abundant cultural relics, poetry and folklore. Many Chinese ancient poets, including the two most prominent writers of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Li Bai, and Du Fu, as well as Su Shi, a famous poet of Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), traveled to Taibai Mountain and wrote some notable poems. The park also abounds in ancient architecture, including 14 temple sites, 32 ancient houses, 5 stone steles, 10 iron tablets, over 110 iron Buddhist statues, 64 woodcarvings and several iron bells and furnaces.

Main Highlights

Tiejia Taoist Temple
Tiejia Taoist Ecology Temple stands at approximately 1500m. On the exact spot where one can today find the Tiejia Taoist Ecology Temple once stood the old Tiejiashu Temple, hidden amongst the foliage of age-old trees. The Tiejiashu Temple was built at the time of the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220) and remained there until the Cultural Revolution. It was one of the oldest temples dedicated to the gods of Mount Taibai and the first temple on the route taken by pilgrims along the south side of the mountain. 

Next to the Tiejia Taoist Ecology Temple stand the Ecology Education Center. Respect for nature has always been deeply rooted in Taoist thought and is crucial to China in the present era of ecological crisis. Through the Ecology Education Center, the Taoist monks of the Tiejia Taoist Ecology Temple would be able to organize meetings and training programs designed to help people think in terms of sustainability, not only local visitors but also monks from other temples.

Taibai Temple
Taibai Mountain is the 11thfascinating place among the 36 fascinating places of Taoism, and it has been worshiped by people for several thousand years. As early as in the 1st century BC, the imperial court of that time constructed the Taibai Temple here, and every dynasty that followed repaired and expanded it. Especially, as it is said that the God enshrined here is able to relieve people away out of disasters, the temple has been expanded repeatedly.

The architectural complex of the Taibai Temple includes three layers, and has a compact layout. Entering the Temple Gate, you can directly see the Linggong Hall. It is believed by Taoism that Wang Linggong (a Taoist immortal) enshrined in this hall can distinguish good and evil, dispel monster, subdue evil spirit, disperse pathogen, treat diseases, control climate and so on. The Erlang Temple (God Erlang is the God of the Water) is on the right of the Linggong Palace. 

Transportation
How to get to Taibai Mountain
Bus Routes
Take Tourist Bus No. 2

Travel Guide
Admission fee: CNY 70 (Apr - Oct) 
                      CNY 50 (Nov - Mar)
                      CNY 3 Taibai Taoist Temple
Opening Hours: 08:00-19:00