During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Tai'an has followed a distinctive development path by integrating resources, blending culture with tourism, and strengthening partnerships. This approach has transformed the city from a brief stopover into a major destination, with the average visitor stay now exceeding two days.

Taishan Mountain, the city's flagship attraction, has experienced sustained growth. From 2023 to 2024, the number of annual visitors surpassed 8 million for two consecutive years, with satisfaction rates over 99.8 percent. Its ticket revenue consistently ranks among the top for mountain scenic areas nationwide.

This enduring appeal stems from a strategic shift from a ticket-based model to an experience-oriented industry, with a focus on service and regional integration.

A key driver of this success is the innovative adoption of technology. The introduction of 500 AI-powered exoskeleton robots on steep trails like the Shibapan (18 Steepest Stairs) has been a phenomenon. Weighing only 1.8 kilograms, these robots reduce climbing time by half and physical exertion by over 30 percent, with a daily rental rate exceeding 80 percent.

Guided by a holistic tourism vision, Tai'an promotes the "Taishan Mountain+" brand to achieve integrated regional development. In the south, the creation of the Taishan Mountain – Yellow River/Dawen River cultural-tourism corridor connects over 33 major attractions, weaving together elements of national cultural parks and local heritage.

The results speak for themselves: domestic tourist arrivals grew from 64.1 million in 2021 to more than 86.28 million in 2024, with tourism revenue increasing from 65.05 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) to 83.87 billion yuan in 2024. This marks a fundamental shift from transient traffic to substantial, lasting economic growth.

Tai'an follows a distinctive development path by integrating resources, blending culture with tourism, and strengthening partnerships. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]