Man-made wonders of a sacred place

For those whose feet do not ache after ascending Mount Taishan, the Dai Temple in downtown Tai'an is a leisurely stroll. This is where some of the emperors stayed before or after their ascension. But "Qianlong slept here" does not begin to explain the temple's status. The old cypresses and tortoise-supported steles are better testament to its historical value.

Tai'an, the city at the southern foot of Mount Taishan and with jurisdiction over it, is developing more projects to complement the grandeur of the natural scenery and give tourists more reasons to stay the night.

Some 15 km from downtown, a village of springs with a daily spout of 30,000 cubic meters of water is being tapped for a resort. A 580 million yuan ($84.9 million) investment is marked for a salt lake where tourists can float. Victory Reservoir, with an area of 5.2 sq km just for water and 16 sq km total, is coming into shape with a sandy beach, a boardwalk and cruise boats. Local officials have conceived it as the West Lake (in Hangzhou) equivalent, ideal for vacationing.