Live For 100 Years. We Promise….
We are all after the secret to immortality, or at least longevity. There are a vast array of wild goose chases to fountains of youth, elusive elixirs, and covert spells to tempt you. Well, Pyrodes knows there are no such easy fixes in this world, except, of course, the ones we advocate here. And so, let us introduce you to an easy fix by the name of Taishan, or Mount Tai for the less Chinese inclined among us. Taishan is the holiest of holy Taoist mountains (so holy, a panda bear in DC’s zoo sports its name), nestled in the middle of China’s Shandong Province, just a short overnight train ride from Beijing or Shanghai. We promise you, as has been the lore for centuries, that if you walk to the top of this very mountainous mountain, you will live at least 100 years. Pyrodes set out to do it, so let’s read the fine print on this offer after the jump…
Taishan stretches over 5,000 feet in the air, but not to worry because in true Chinese fashion (ahem, the Great Wall) all 5,000 feet are covered by a stone staircase. Gorgeous Taoist temples spot the landscape on the way up the mountain, as do calligraphy works from the best and brightest of China’s history books, including Mao himself. The cumulative result is a challenging, yet enriching and humbling, physicaland intellectual adventure. But, as with any mountain, the path up is not the real attraction. The top is.
The mountain is adorned with calligraphy from China's past leaders
At the top of Taishan, you can look down on the clouds below, and if you do the trip right, settle in for one of the world’s most dramatic sunrises. It is here that you will realize that the 100 year blessing….just might be legit. If not, the reward still far outweighs the work. This is a climb not to be missed.
The sunrise that is your reward
Pyrodes Tips:
- At the top, there are small places to stay overnight to see the sunrise in the morning, but we recommend climbing through the night. If you time it right, you can reach the top just in time for the sunrise and save the hotel fee. Work your way down afterwards and have a rest in one of Tai’an’s much more comfortable rest stops.
- It will be cold at the summit, but don’t fret. Rent an old People’s Liberation Army jacket. There is no form of cold that can pierce these elephant-heavy body bags.
- The pineapple lollipops on the way up are delicious. Moving on…
- Check the weather and plan accordingly. A sunrise isn’t assured everyday. Only the worthy are lucky enough to see it. Pyrodes was deemed so worthy.
- You can take a bus up halfway, but don’t, sissy. Besides, you will lose your 100 year offer in such a case.
- If you bail on the mountain, Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius makes a good day trip from Tai’an.
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