The Middle Heavenly Gate (Zhongtianmen) is the halfway point on the traditional climb and the upper end of the road from town. Most contemporary visitors arrive here by bus from the Tianwai Cun terminal, then take the cable car the rest of the way to the summit. Walkers stop for noodles or steamed buns at the cluster of small restaurants before continuing on foot.
From here the staircase steepens dramatically — the most punishing stretch of the climb lies between this gate and the summit, including the legendary 1,633 steps of the Eighteen Bends. There is no shame in taking the cable car. The view from the cable-car station back across the mountain is one of the best on Taishan.