Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-25
CONFUC|US' MOUNT
LURE TO TOURISTS
Taianfu opes Shan,ung
Mountain Will Rival ia.
pans Sacred Full.
T. a X K ED BY COOLIES
Gate 10 Heaven" Only 5000
Feet High and Easy
to Ascend.

TAIASFU. SHASTUEG. Juno "a
climbing ChinR's sacred mountain
may become one OF tho anusem e nts
81 the American tourist to the Ear
isast. IL tho pinns Of tho villagers OF
TRianfu. In ShantrnK Province, ma.
ieriaiizc. with tho return Of Shun-
lung CONCESSIONS To CHM. certain
evidences OF provincial pride. long
dormant In this province. have be-
gun TO appear. Among these IS n
disposition to let tho outAide world
know that In China. ns we'll ia in
Japan. there ~ sacred mountain.
namely. Taishan. which Contucius
made famous.
IL ono visits the village Of Taian
today he nnds plans for a new hotel
already we'll under way. n group Of
chinese who are organized with the
uerir" TO give publicity TO the
climb Thlshan" movement. and "a
guild Of chair carriers VINO are ready
10 contribute 10 fund for this pur-
pos" 1t Is the statement OF many
WI" visit this place that Noun,
Ta'an. which Is 5000 fee, high and
mus quite possible as a tours,
achievement. wOuid be- NOR. practl-
,ablc as teltur" TO oner the Amer
ican tourist, for example than iy
Noun. Fuii in Japan. which Is IL:
goo feet high. /, Is on the line from
shanghai To Hcking and Tientsin. !s
near tie line which takes the tour
lot from Poking TO TH!ngtau, and IL
has the appeal OF being "A mountain
which one really does no, climb. Bu,
Which one rides 10 the top In :, chair
carried on the shoulders OF Two
oA!iging Chinese.
Carried TO Mountain Top.
II Is difficult for the American
upon first reaching Taianfu 10 he.
Ia -
lhin in the distance ~ reached usual
~ by basket chair. Taianfu IL a
Few stations up from Chuluu. yyher.
IN" Chinese sage Confucius WAS born
ana practced II IL. therefore. ON
N" leaten track for tn. more IN
ems" tourists 10 China From base
OF the mountain TO summit, tho
Gale Of Heaven" one must climb
up approximately 5000 steps which
nay" been placed in such 4, way
mat some az them are faid TO have
been there when Confucius climbed
IN" mountain, and all are there 10
sta% until III" new China has becorn,
thing long accomplished IN his
Tory At tho base j.. one OF the big
Methodist missions ia the Orient. nno
mere one may Had lodging. assist.
ance in arranging the trip. and may
receive uli necessary advice The
start TO the top is usually made at
o'clock in the morning. the tour
iht taking his basket-chaIr and "A
pair or extra coolies who viii trade
with tho regular chair carriers on
inc Trip. II Is a novel experiences
This starting out ola tho hacks Of two
stawiart Chinese. but Il Ia Just an
other one OF the unusual ways OF
transport Ia the Orient. the nrst Of
these being the r!ckshaw. At tn. he.
ginning orc must pass the small
,ytI 81
joss sellers and the Inevitable Chi
nesc he.Sar. Step after step. mile
after mile. up the 5.uOo-foot high
mountain. luncheon at the halfway
house and finally sight OF the beg
gar on the Cliff nearest the Gate OF
Heaven"
Coming Down Is Worse.
With the trip up accomplished Tho
tourist of nerves prepares for his
worst Shoch--hc must come down,
And here Is the place where the rea,
thrill Of the journey may he expert
cnc@d. y steep grade. rather non
chalani chair-hearers who jaunti!y
step oyer the edge OF each step as
though they might be tripping across
field. and there Is some reason 10
wonder why. swung high there in
nidair FAR away from the manikins
h"i"", there - not chance nf the
end ~ things within short notice.
But 10 ihis datc--and the mountain
has been popular for hundreds %:
years there has been no casualty on
tn" mountain itself From Apri! 10
late autumn - the popular time and
Chinese come from every section Of
the republic that they. like the Fun
climbers ot Japan. may have climbed
III" c"untry's sacred mountain at
least once
II the plans for the new Taishan
Hottl maicrialiZc. rnd the publicity
campaign for this place is carried
forth. there viii b. "a new Held of
activitH for the visitor from Amer
lea Certainly. with increasing in
ierest in the shrine OF Confucius
Just few stations TO the south OF
Taian. the sacred mount of Con
fucius VIII receive increased atten-
ton, too. and the long trip up the
stairs will furnish one of ChIna.s
great thrills to the diversion seeker
from far-off foreign lands
&C.. 1922. Public Ledger Coz
.