The tourist Scenic Area from the Middle Way, also called the Calm Area of Taishan Mountain, is the main sightseeing area of Taishan Mountain since ancient times. The scenery is beautiful and bright, and most of the famous historic and cultural sites are situated here. The way here for climbing is wide and in alignment, and it has been completed during many dynasties on the oasis of the imperial way established during the period of Emperor Li Longji of Xuanzong in Tang Dynasty. Starting from Daizongfang Archway, the mountainous gate of Taishan Mountain, reaching the South Gate to Heaven on the top of Taishan Mountain, the whole length is 6.5 kilometers. The stone stairs swing the path winds along the mountain ridges, the trees are planted one by one on both sides of the path, the streams and waterfalls flow down vigorously, and pavilions, terraces and open halls stand here and there-what a beautiful landscapel Steles and carved inscriptions can be easily seen along both sides of the path, and the most famous ancient buildings includes Daizongfang Archway, Guandi Temple, the First Heaven Gate, Confucius Visiting Site, Hongmen Palace, Wanxian Building, Doumu Palace, Sutra Stone Valley, Hutiange Pavilion, the Middle Gate to Heaven, Yunbu Bridge, Five-pine Pavilion, Watching Pine, Duisong Mount, Dreaming Fairy Shrine, Shengxian Archway, and Shibapan Path etc. Touring this area by walking along the middle way where the natural and human is tic landscapes add radiance and beauty to each other, tourist can fully enjoy the magnificence of Taishan Mountain, and experience the great spirit it contains.
Daizongfang Archway
Daizongfang Archway, located in the middle section of the Hongmen Road, it a four-pillar and three-gate type archway, with ancient and simple structure and uncommonly imposing manner. It started to be built during the Period of Longqing of Ming Dynasty, and was rebuilt in the eighth year of Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty (1730 AD). The place where three golden seal characters "Daizongfang" are carved, is just the starting point of climbing Taishan Mountain.
Confucius' Visiting Site
Confucius' Visiting Site is located to the north of the First Heaven Gate of Taishan Mountain, where a four-pillar and three gate type stone archway is built over the road. With the ancient vines setting it off, it looks so elegant and decorous, and five big Chinese characters "Kong Zi Deng Lin Chu" are carved on its horizontal inscribed board. The archway started to be built from the thirty ninth year of the period of Emperor Jiajing of Ming Dynasty (1560 AD). The couplet on the pillars writes "that the Emperor walks here will be remembered forever, and that the Emperor coming remotely visits here will make the people happy for many years". The two-pillar and one-gate Heaven Stair Archway is at the north of the stone archway.
Hongmen Palace
Hongmen Palace is located to the north of the stone archway "Confucius Visiting Site", on the west of the Middle Stream, and on the east of Dazang Hill on which there is a red wall like a gate, hence the palace's name. The year of its first establishment can not be determined, and the palace was rebuilt in the sixth year of Emperor Tianqi of Ming Dynasty (1626 AD). It takes the bend path as the boundary, and is divided into the eastern yard and western yard which are connected by the over head cross-way, named Flying-cloud Pavilion. The western yard, used for offering sacrifices to the goddess of Taishan Mountain, is the Middle Temple of Bixia Primary Goddess. The eastern yard, consecrating the Buddha of Maitreya, is the "Maitreya Yard".
Wanxian Building
Wanxian Building, being located at the north of the Hongmen Palace, is a cross path penthouse type building, and started to be built in the forty-eighth year of Emperor Wanli of Ming Dynasty (1620 AD), called "Wangxian Building" in the past. It offered sacrifices to the goddess of Wangmu originally, and changed to the goddess of Bixia later. The reason that the horizontal in scribed board on the gateway writes "Thanks Place" is that, after the ancient emperor toured the Taishan Mountain, the local officials saw him off here. The emperor ordered them to go back, and the officials thanked him. While according to another legend, the pilgrims who paid respect to the mountain gods came back here, and thanked the Goddess of Taishan Laomu for her blessing.
Middle Gate to Heaven
The Middle Gate to Heaven, situated on the back of Huangxian Ridge, with an altitude of 847 meters, is the joint point of the eastern way and the western way of Taishan Mountain. The two-pillar and one-gate type of stone archway was built here in Qing Dynasty, with the horizontal tablet carved "Middle Gate to Heaven". High ridge peaceful valleys and beautiful landscapes are collected at the Middle Gate to Heaven. It is said that the tourists who reach here have already arrived at the "Middle Heaven", and none of them can not have a sense of excitement and delightfulness.
Watching Pine
The Watching Pine is one of the symbols of Taishan Mountain. Proudly standing on the cliff behind the Five-pine Pavilion, the pine is eight meters high, and has a giant crown. There exists a long branch drooping toward the bend path as if sending its greetings to the tourists, so it is also called the "Greeting Pine". The crown looks like baldachin, and the tree, with luxuriant foliage, stands toward the sky as if it would fly away. Although it has already lived more than five hundred years, it still keeps its vigorous spirit. How a spectacle of Taishan Mountain it is!
Shibapan Road
The Shibapan Road is the most dangerous section of the bends on Taishan Mountain, with over 1,600 stone stairs, and is one of the important symbols of Taishan Mountain. The cliffs on both sides of the mountain seem to be cut by sharp machines, and the abrupt bends seem to be inlaid into them, which looks like an aerial ladder leading to the sky if being viewed far away. The majesty of Taishan Mountain just lies in the Shibapan Road, and the magnificence and beauty of Taishan Mountain just lie in climbing it.