If you want to go to Tai 'an from Shanghai, it's better to take a train. It's not convenient to take a bus, and it's also expensive.
When you get out of the train station, take bus No.3 opposite the train station to Tianwai Village, which is not far, and it's not expensive to take a taxi. Then you can buy a ticket from Tianwai Village. Now, the ticket is 135 yuan, and you have to take a bus fare of 3 yuan from the foot of the mountain to Zhongtianmen, if you are physically strong. The ropeway runs from Zhongtianmen to Nantianmen, so I don't recommend you to take the ropeway. You'd better climb it when you go up, because this section is the essence. I recommend you to take the ropeway when you come down, because it's very tiring! It's very close to the Nantianmen and the Jade Emperor's Peak!
As for staying in a hotel for rest, I don't recommend you to stay. The hotel above is killing people ~ It's just a room with a few beds in it, and it's expensive to die ~ You can do it if you have money. There are also good hotels above, but it's expensive ~ ~ You'll know when you climb to the top of the mountain. There are people everywhere. When there are many people, even every stone crack is full of people. It's not easy to watch the sunrise above ~ Go back to the hotel and sleep. Go to Qufu ~ Climbing Mount Tai is very tiring ~
Qufu is very close to Mount Tai. Actually, you can go anywhere first ~
I hope I can help you. I have climbed Mount Tai for more than ten times ~ I am tired ~