Cultural and Natural Heritage 文化与自然双重遗产 Mount Tai in Shandong Province 山东泰山

庄严神圣的泰山，两千年来一直是帝王朝拜的对象，山中的人文杰作与自然景观完美和谐地融合在一起。泰山一直是中国艺术家和学者的精神源泉，是古代中国文明和信仰的象征。
The stately and sacred Mount Tai has since been the object of worshipping by emperors for 2,000 years. The humanistic masterpieces mingle with natural scenes in perfect harmony. The mountain has been the spiritual source of Chinese artists and scholars, looming as the symbol of ancient Chinese civilization and belief.
泰山位于中国北部山东省中部的泰安市之北。泰山海拔1532.7米，气势雄伟磅礴，享有“五岳之首”、“天下第一山”的称号。
Mount Tai lies in the north Tai’an City in the middle of Shandong Province in the north of China. With the elevation above sea being 1,532.7m, it is grand and overwhelming and claimed as “the first of five famous mountains” and “the first mountain in the world”.
自古以来，中国人就崇拜泰山，有“泰山安，四海皆安”的说法。古代历朝历代不断在泰山封禅和祭祀，并且在泰山上下建庙塑神，刻石题字。古代的文人雅士更对泰山仰慕备至，纷纷前来游历，作诗记文。泰山宏大的山体上留下了20余处古建筑群，2200余处碑碣石刻。
Since ancient times, Chinese people have been worshipping Mount Tai and it is believed when Mount Tai is in peace, the whole world will be peace. Throughout all the dynasties, Buddhist activities and sacrificial ceremonies had been happening on the mountain with temples and statues built with words engraved on them. Men of letters in the ancient past even cherished a deeper reverence for the mountain, coming to pay a visit non-stop with essays written in memory of the events. The gigantic body of the mountain has over 20 places of ancient architectures and more than 2,200 tombstones and engravings.
泰山风景以壮丽著称。重叠的山势，厚重的形体，苍松巨石的烘托，云烟的变化，使它在雄浑中兼有明丽，静穆中透着神奇。
Mount Tai is noted for its scenic grandiosity. The overlapping terrain and massive body, and the supporting giant rocks and ever changing clouds combine to make it look graceful while massive and magic while serene.
泰山日出是岱顶奇观之一，也是泰山的重要标志，每当云雾弥漫的清晨或傍晚，游人站在较高的山头上顺光看，就可能看到缥缈的雾幕上，呈现出一个内蓝外红的彩色光环，将整个人影或头影映在里面，好象佛像头上方五彩斑斓的光环，所以被称为“佛光”或“宝光”。泰山佛光是一种光的衍射现象，它的出现是有条件的。据记载，泰山佛光大多出现在每年6～8月份的半晴半雾的天气，而且是太阳斜照的时候。
The sunrise on the mountain top is a rare scene as well as a symbol of Mount Tai. When clouds and mists pervade early in the morning or at dusk, visitors who watch in a high place along the sun rays will be able to see a colorful ring, blue inside and red outside, against the background of mists and clouds. When the whole profile of a person or his head is cast upon it, it seems as if a colorful ring is glowing above the Buddhist image, hence the name Buddhist Light or Sacred Light. The Buddhist light of Mount Tai is actually a diffraction of light that appears under certain conditions. According to record, the Buddhist Light usually appears from June to August each year on half-sunny and half-foggy days and when the sun is shining slantly.
泰山还以石刻众多闻名天下，这些石刻有的是帝王亲自提写的，有的出自名流之手，大都文辞优美，书体高雅，制作精巧。泰山现存有石刻1696处，分为摩崖石刻和碑刻，既是记载泰山历史的重要资料，又是泰山风景中的精彩去处之一。
Mount Tai is also famous for the stone engravings, mostly done by emperors and celebrities and the essays are mostly beautiful in diction and calligraphy and are of fine workmanship. Now, there are 1,696 places of stone engravings, falling into cliffs and tombstones, which is both important data for recording the history of Mount Tai and the highlight of scenic spots to explore.