The 18 Zigzags of Taishan is the most perilous section of the mountain - climbing path on Taishan. It is located within the Taishan Scenic Area in Tai'an, Shandong Province. The following is a detailed introduction to it:

General Situation

The 18 Zigzags of Taishan starts from Duisong Pavilion and ends at Nantianmen. It has a total length of 0.8 kilometers, a vertical height of more than 400 meters, and consists of over 1,600 stone steps. Seen from afar, it resembles a ladder to the Heavenly Gate. The 18 Zigzags is one of the main symbols of Taishan, and also a key scenic spot and a difficult section during the mountain - climbing journey.

Origin of the Name

The "18" in the 18 Zigzags is an approximate number, indicating a high degree of twists and turns of the path, rather than exactly 18 bends. In fact, the 18 Zigzags is divided into three parts. From Kaishan to Longmen is the "Slow 18", from there to Shengxianfang is the "Neither Slow nor Fast 18", and from Shengxianfang to Nantianmen is the "Steep 18". In total, there are more than 1,600 steps. The slope is steep, making the climb rather difficult.

History and Culture

Taishan has been regarded as a sacred mountain since ancient times and is a holy place for emperors to perform sacrifices to heaven and earth and for ordinary people to pray for blessings. As an important passage for climbing the mountain, the 18 Zigzags carries rich historical and cultural connotations. Countless men of letters, pilgrims, and tourists have left a large number of cultural relics such as poems and inscriptions during their climb of the 18 Zigzags, which have become an important part of Taishan culture.