General Overview

Location: It is located at the top of the Eighteen Bends of Mount Tai, in the low - lying area between Feilongyan and Xiangfengling, at an altitude of 1460 meters. When looking up from below, it looks like a celestial palace.

Historical Origin: It was built by Zhang Zhichun in the fifth year of Zhongtong in the Yuan Dynasty (1264). Throughout history, it has been renovated many times, such as in the 15th year of Jiaqing (1810) and the 7th year of Daoguang (1827). After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it was also repaired and protected twice. The existing buildings maintain the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty.

Naming Origin: Taoism emphasizes that "Tao begets one, one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things." One gate is set up for every three - layer heaven. The first gate of Mount Tai is Yitianmen, the second is Zhongtianmen, and the third is Nantianmen. Therefore, Nantianmen is also known as "Santianmen" (the gate of the three - layer heaven).

Architectural Features

Overall Layout: Nantianmen is a gate - tower - style building with two floors. The lower floor is 9.65 meters wide from east to west, 6.26 meters deep from north to south, and 4.7 meters high. It has an ice - tray - style overhanging eaves around. In the middle, there is an arched gate opening that is 3.7 meters wide and 3.25 meters high. On the gate, there is a gilded plaque inscribed with the three characters "Nantianmen". The upper - layer building is the Mokong Pavilion, which is 8.43 meters wide, 5.2 meters deep, and 5.3 meters high in total. It has a double - eave hip - and - gable roof with yellow glazed tiles and a rolled - eave shed.

Surrounding Buildings: Inside Nantianmen, to the north, there is an Iron - roof Hall. It was formerly the "Temple of the Three Spiritual Marquis" and was later changed to the Guandi Temple. It is 11.7 meters wide, 9.6 meters deep, and 7.4 meters high in total, with a five - ridge hard - gable roof. The east and west side halls were rebuilt in 1984.

Couplets and Stone Carvings: On both sides of the gate opening, there is a stone - carved couplet that reads "The gate opens to the nine heavens, ascending to admire the wonders of the three - layer heaven; the steps rise ten - thousand levels, looking down to overlook the spectacular sight of thousands of peaks." The magnificent language of the couplet complements the grandeur of Nantianmen.