What's it like to climb Mount Tai alone?

My advice for solo hiking: Get a good night's sleep before the climb! Don't follow my example of taking an overnight train with little sleep and heading straight up the mountain... ✅ Essentials: - Documents: ID card, student ID/military officer ID, etc. - Basic gear: Phone, power bank, hiking shoes (comfortable and non-slip), windbreaker (cold at the summit), flashlight (essential for night hikes), trekking pole. - Supplies: Electrolyte drinks, high-energy snacks (chocolate/beef jerky) for energy replenishment. 🎫 Tickets & Cable Cars: 【Scenic Area Ticket】: Adult ticket 115/person, free for seniors over 60. 【🚌 Shuttle Bus】: One-way 40/person, 20 for seniors over 60. ➡️ Tianwai Village → Zhongtianmen, operating hours 6:00-21:00; Taohuayu → Taohuayuan, operating hours 7:00-17:00. 【🚡 Cable Car】: One-way 100/person, free for children under 1.2m, 50 for seniors over 60. ➡️ Zhongtianmen → Nantianmen, operating hours 6:30-17:30; Taohuayuan → Tianjie North, operating hours 7:00-17:00. ✅ Transportation: 📸【Tai'an Station】: Recommended buses: Tourist 1, 2, or 3, alight at Taohuayu, Tianwai Village, or Hongmen Station; taxi fare approx. 20-40. 🎬【Taishan Station】: Take Bus 3 to Hongmen or Bus 39 to Tianwai Village; Buses 4 or 16 to Taohuayu; taxi fare approx. 10-35. ✅ Hiking Route Options: 1️⃣ Hongmen Route: Hongmen → Hongmen Palace → Wanxian Tower → Doumu Palace → Jingshi Valley → Hutian Pavilion → Huimaling → Zhongtianmen → Yunbu Bridge → Five Pines → Eighteen Bends → Nantianmen → Tianjie → Bixia Temple → Cliff Inscriptions → Five Sacred Mountains → Yuhuang Peak (total ~9.5km, 4-6 hours hike). 📸 The Hongmen to Nantianmen trail showcases the best of Mount Tai's cultural and natural scenery, a classic and historic route ideal for fit hikers. ⚠️ PS: From April 1 to October 31, Hongmen Route closes from 24:00-5:00. 2️⃣ Tianwai Village Route: Scenic bus → Zhongtianmen → Nantianmen → Tianjie → Bixia Temple → Five Sacred Mountains → Yuhuang Peak. An easier route; from Zhongtianmen, choose cable car or hike the Eighteen Bends. 🫣 I took the bus to Zhongtianmen and hiked up—the Eighteen Bends were effortless. 3️⃣ Taohuayu Route: Scenic bus → Cable car → Nantianmen → Bixia Temple → Five Sacred Mountains → Yuhuang Peak. Fully motorized, great for those with limited stamina. 4️⃣ East Imperial Path: Ancient imperial route of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, rich in historical sites, the most ecological trail. Hike 2 hours to Zhongtianmen, then choose cable car or walk to the summit. ✅ Descent: Return the same way or take the bus from Zhongtianmen. ❤️ Tips: 🌞 Day hike: Start early, reach the summit in 4-6 hours. 🌙 Night hike: Start around 10 PM, reach the summit in 4-6 hours for sunrise. Stay safe at night! Bring a flashlight and hike with companions if possible 👭👬. ✍🏻 The biggest takeaway from solo hiking Mount Tai: Where are all the handsome hiking buddies from TikTok? Why didn’t I see any? 🥹 And where are those 6'1" Shandong hunks everyone talks about? 😠😤