If you are coming from Qingdao, regular trains run to Tai'an and take 6 hours while costing ¥56-65 one way. Express trains also run from Qingdao and take only 3.5 hours, though the ticket price jumps to ¥148. As of July 2009, express trains only leave from Qingdao at 6AM and 10:30AM. Purchasing your train ticket in advance is a must during busy season, unless you don't mind standing in the aisle for the entire trip. Both the regular and express trains pass through Jinan.

Tai'an is centered around the south side of Mount Tai. Tai'an lies in the northern temperate zone and has a continental, semi-humid monsoon climate. The average annual temperatures are -2.6°C (average, in January), 12.9°C (annual average), and 26.4°C (average, in July). The average annual precipitation is 697 millimeter.

Although Mount Tai is the most celebrated of its attractions, other scenic spots, such as the Peach Blossom Ravine and Dai Temple, are also well worth a visit. These sights are well-served by the city's transport network, with buses able to take you there directly and a number of taxis also offering trips to these places.