China has many great mountains,

among them Mount Taishan in

Shandong, Mount Hengshan in Hunan,

Mount Huashan in Shaanxi, Mount

Hengshan in Shanxi and Mount

Songshan in Henan which are re

garded as sacred mountains guarding

the country's east, south, west, north

and central areas respectively, thus the

term Five Sacred Mountains.

Towering Mount Taishan stands

rooted in the east and mirrored in the

sea. Rich in relics and with profound

historical associations, it was honored

as Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains

and Watch Guard of the State. From

antiquity right up to the late 18th

century, it was the first place that rul

ers would come to inspect and hold

sacrificial ceremonies.

Encompassing the geological for

mation of Mount Taishan historical

records about imperial ceremonies on

the mountain, Mount Taishan culture,

religion and folk customs, tales about

the ancient philosophers, statesmen,

poets and scholars who visited the

great place ... of all the books about

Mount Taishan, this is indeed the most

comprehensive.

The book is lavishly illustrated,

with 220 pictures vividly depicting the

seasonal changes and the magnificent

buildings on this sacred mountain.