6-Hour Night Climb of Mount Tai · Double Buff of Starry Sky and Sunrise, No Muscle Soreness 😆

My boyfriend and I spontaneously decided to do a night climb of Mount Tai and unexpectedly caught the "last bus to watch the early winter sunrise." The whole journey was full of surprises. After the climb, we braced ourselves for two days of muscle soreness, but in the end, there was none?! 11.15 9:00 PM Ticket Check and Rush to the Summit (It’s recommended to check tickets before midnight; we started a bit early. Later, we rented military coats at the summit while waiting for the sunrise but still froze for two hours.) I originally thought the 6-hour night climb would be exhausting enough to make me question life, but we powered up the mountain using our glutes, getting more and more energized as we climbed! Along the way, there were other climbers, and a handsome guy carried a speaker playing music. Walking to the rhythm made the journey far from boring. The biggest surprise was the starry sky at midnight! On the pitch-black mountain path, looking up revealed a sky full of stars, even more breathtaking than the sunrise. My phone couldn’t capture even a fraction of its beauty! Around 6:45 AM on 11.16, we caught a stunning sunrise, with orange-red light spreading over the sea of clouds. At that moment, all the fatigue felt worth it! Even more amazing, we thought we’d be punished by muscle soreness for a week after climbing Mount Tai, but our legs didn’t hurt at all! This physique gave us confidence to plan Huangshan next month, and a friend’s recommendation of Huashan is already on our itinerary. The day after our climb, the temperature at Mount Tai dropped sharply. We were really lucky to catch this sunrise! I’ve put together a super practical guide for anyone eager to try it👇 🌙 Night Climb of Mount Tai Guide - Timing: Choose a clear day. Before mid to late November, the temperature is still bearable; after that, it drops significantly. Remember to check the weather forecast and sunrise probability. We waited from 6:00 to 6:30 AM, thinking we wouldn’t see the sunrise, but it came around 6:45 AM ☀☀ - Departure Time: Check tickets before midnight. A leisurely 6-hour climb to the summit is just right to catch the sunrise without waiting too long in the cold. - Essential Gear: Non-slip sports shoes (most important!), thin down jacket + windbreaker (the summit is very windy and cold), gloves, headlamp (or borrow light from others; there’s dim lighting along the stone steps), a small amount of chocolate/energy bars (don’t bring too much to avoid heavy load), thermos (hot water feels great). Hang in there until you reach Zhongtianmen, where there’s a Mixue Ice Cream & Tea shop. - Energy-Saving Tips: Use your glutes throughout, avoid bending over or hunching your back, keep pace with the crowd, rest for 5 minutes when tired, but don’t sit too long or it’s hard to get up. - Pitfalls to Avoid: No need to buy trekking poles (most people throw them away after climbing). I didn’t use any; they can disrupt your rhythm. My boyfriend used two, broke one, and threw the other away. Water and snacks on the mountain are reasonably priced, so don’t carry too much. Eat well and have something warm at the foot of the mountain before the climb; you won’t feel hungry during the whole trip. I really love the feeling of night climbing! From the pitch-black persistence to the healing sunrise, unlocking a new experience with someone you like fills you with happiness to the max~