I am not sure how many times I have climbed Mount Taishan, but every climb impresses me with different aspects. What the mountain gives me is not only majestic scenery but an insight into ancient culture. It is both educational and inspirational. "Weathering thousands of years, Mount Taishan is a mountain that scales China's history," said Tang Guiren, an expert on its history and geography.

The best way to appreciate the mountain in Taian, Shandong province, is to scale its 6,600 steps, along which steles and tablets are frequently seen among luxuriant cypresses and pines.

Taishan was a place of imperial pilgrimage for more than 2,200 years, according to UNESCO. More than 6,000 sites with inscriptions have been found, including 2,516 carved in stone, 500 tablet inscriptions and 800 carved into its cliffs.

At its highest peak a stone inscription proudly proclaims "Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains".

In ancient China, it enjoyed a unique status, one reason why emperors made Taishan the altar for "Fengshan Sacrifices" (pilgrimages to the gods), to pray for the "nation's stability". Twelve emperors, beginning with Qin Shihuang, the first emperor to unify China in 221 BC, paid homage during the "sacrifices".

The mountain also inspired poets. One famous line reads: "Reaching the top of Mount Taishan, then you can hold all mountains in a single glance." It was written by Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) and has entered the popular imagination.

Famous Chinese who left inscriptions at Mount Taishan include Confucius, Guan Zhong (719-645 BC), Si Maqian (135-86 BC) and Li Bai (AD 701-762).

Published in 2012, the Collection of Poetry at Mount Taishan contains more than 16,000 poems, with more than 2 millions words. Many works have been carved into its cliffs, making them an immortal stone book.

An inscription at Mount Taishan.

The Dai Temple at the foot of the mountain is guaranteed to leave a lingering impression for each visitor. Built during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), it's where emperors held ritual ceremonies for the gods. The temple, 405 meters by 236 meters, was expanded and renovated by rulers of the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (AD 960-1279) dynasties.

The Tiankuang Hall houses a Taoist mural 3.3 meters high and 62 meters long. It depicts the god of Taishan Mountain and details forests, palaces, bridges, animals and 675 people and was painted during the Song Dynasty.

At the summit of the mountain is an address by Emperor Li Longji, who reigned from AD 712-756 during the Tang Dynasty.

There is also an inscription by the emperor who took part in the "Fengshan Sacrifices" and carved his address, with more than 1,000 gilded characters, over an entire cliff.

Emperor Qianlong (who reigned from 1711-1799) during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) visited Mount Taishan on ten occasions, leaving more than 140 poems and 130 stone inscriptions.

The Diamond Sutra, carved out of a 3,000 square meter rock at Jingshi Valley at Mount Taishan, was the work of An Daoyi, a monk of the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550-577). Only 1,067 characters remain. In summer, streams flow over the carved stone, giving an impression of an immersion into the mysterious atmosphere of Buddhism.

Stone carvings of the Diamond Sutra at Mount Taishan.

Lv Jixiang, an expert on stone inscriptions on Mount Taishan, said the Diamond Sutra is a unique Buddhist masterpiece.

Mount Taishan is described by UNESCO as "a world-renowned treasure house of history and culture".

It is a natural calligraphy museum, recording changes through the ages, and it was named as a Mountain of Chinese Calligraphy by the China Calligraphers Association in 2007.

Every year, calligraphy lovers from China and different countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong come to the mountain to see them.

The International Mount Taishan Climbing Festival is held every September in Taian, Shandong province.

Last year, more than 53 million tourists visited the mountain, of which 5.46 million were from overseas.