The Shandong Tai Mountain Scenic Area – The Eighteen Bends

The Eighteen Bends to Mount Tai is what Badaling is to the Great Wall, and what the Terracotta Army [...]

The Eighteen Bends to Mount Tai is what Badaling is to the Great Wall, and what the Terracotta Army is to Xi’an. It is one of the most perilous sections of the climbing trails on Mount Tai, one of its main symbols, and a must-visit scenic spot. The mountain path from the bottom of the Pine Valley to the South Heavenly Gate is collectively known as the ‘Eighteen Bends’, consisting of more than 1600 steps. The first 393 steps are called the slow Eighteen Bends; the middle 767 steps are the moderate Eighteen Bends; and the last 473 steps are the steep Eighteen Bends. There is a local saying, ‘Steep Eighteen, slow Eighteen, neither slow nor fast another Eighteen.’
The three sets of Eighteen Bends, less than a kilometer in length, have a vertical height of over 400 meters with a slope of approximately 70-80 degrees, taking about 2 hours to climb, making its steepness evident. The cliffs on either side seem as if a piece has been cut away, with the steep path embedded within, resembling a heavenly ladder when viewed from afar. After passing by the Pine Mountain, visitors will begin the Eighteen Bends. The path cuts through the mountain, with the eastern cliffs known as the Flying Dragon Rock and the western ones as the Soaring Phoenix Ridge, both extremely steep and perilous.

There are climbing chains on both sides of the Eighteen Bends to assist visitors. Along the way, one can see the gurgling springs and plants growing against the rocks close by. Further away, the verdant mountains and towering rocks amidst the clouds can be seen. The pine and cypress trees along the path have iron trunks and dragon-like branches, rooted in the rock crevices, standing alongside the cliffs, with branches reaching high as if about to take flight. On both sides of the stone valley, there are inscriptions such as ‘Heavenly Gate Howl’, ‘Layered Cliffs and Empty Valleys’, ‘Heavenly Ladder’, and ‘As if Climbing to the Sky’.

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Climbing the Eighteen Bends requires full concentration, with the entire process feeling like ‘one person stepping on another’s head, and the latter supporting the former’s foot’, which is very arduous. The scenic area is open all year round, 24 hours a day. Essential tips:

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1. The Eighteen Bends are very steep; when climbing, hold onto the chains on both sides and pay attention to safety.

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2. It is recommended to bring hiking sticks, which can also be purchased on the mountain for about 2 yuan each.

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3. If you have limited physical strength, you can choose to take the cable car from the South Heavenly Gate down to the Middle Heavenly Gate when descending. The cable car fare at the Middle Heavenly Gate is 100 yuan for a one-way trip. Operating hours: April 1st – October 31st from 7:00 to 17:30; November 1st – March 31st of the following year from 8:00 to 17:00.

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