Dai Temple, Mount Tai.

Dai Temple, located at the foot of Mount Tai in the northern part of Tai'an City, is one of the four major ancient architectural complexes in China and the largest and most complete ancient architectural complex on Mount Tai. Dai Temple, formerly known as "Dongyue Temple" and commonly known as "Tai Temple", is a place where ancient emperors worshipped the god of Mount Tai. It is not only the first temple of the famous mountains in China, but also a place where emperors of all dynasties worshipped. It is known as one of the three major palace-style architectural complexes in ancient China, along with the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Confucius Temple in Qufu. The architectural layout of Dai Temple is rigorous, and the overall design arranges many important buildings in sequence on the central axis, and other buildings are symmetrical on both sides. In front of the temple are Yaocan Pavilion and Dai Temple Square; on the north-south axis of the temple are Zhengyang Gate, Peitian Gate, Ren'an Gate, Tiangong Hall, Houqin Palace, and Houzai Gate; on the east side are Hanbaiyuan, Dongyuzuo, Bell Tower, Dongqin Palace, and Dongdaoyuan; on the west side are Yanxi Hall, Huanyong Pavilion, Drum Tower, West Qin Palace, and Yuhua Dao Yuan. Dai Temple was founded in the Western Han Dynasty, expanded in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and was rebuilt many times. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was renovated many times, making it rejuvenated and radiant. Yaocan Pavilion is the front yard of Dai Temple. Ancient emperors must come here for simple worship before they have affairs in Daizong. There is a stone archway in front of the pavilion, which was built in the 35th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1770 AD). It is a four-pillar and three-bay archway with a sky pillar. A "looking up and roaring" stone beast squats on the top, and the forehead is inscribed with "Yaocan Pavilion". Dai Temple preserves a wealth of cultural relics, including sacrificial vessels, offerings, and crafts for the worship of the god of Mount Tai by emperors of all dynasties, as well as cultural relics unearthed from Mount Tai and revolutionary historical relics. There are also a large number of Mount Tai classics and Taoist scriptures, as well as 330 inscriptions of all ages and 64 Han pictorial stones, making it the third stele forest in China after Xi'an and Qufu. Dai Temple is not only a historical site, but also a beautiful classical garden. In the garden, there are ancient cypresses with dragons coiling around, ginkgo trees that cover the sky, exquisite and exquisite bonsai, and flowers that are vying for beauty, adding a charming charm to the simple and elegant pavilions, terraces, buildings, and pavilions. Dai Temple is picturesque all year round, attracting many Chinese and foreign tourists.