Travel to the most famous Taoist mountain – Wudang Mountian, learning Chinese culture and Wudang Martial Arts in nature with the original Wudang disciple masters. We have been assisting students from all over the world as they make their initial journey to Wudang Mountain. Many of them become quite well traveled, repeating the voyage over the years as they return to the academy to continue their study and self cultivation.
It is always beneficial to have a good, clear plan and to communicate this, along with any questions you may have, to our office staff by getting in touch by email at wudang.school@outlook.com. We can assist you and offer advise on how best to proceed with your travel plans.
Below, you will find answers and guides through the most common pathways that students arrive here at the Wudang Mountain Tai Chi Kung Fu School. We hope you can find the answers you are looking for and more.
First, deciding on when to come and what time of year suits your practice and time schedule is very important. Making plans to travel to China and to Wudang Mountain requires only a few things. Most important, you will need a passport, a Chinese visa, flight tickets, and any clothing and items that you wish to bring. Things that you may consider taking with you but that are not necessary are things like an international phone, electronic adapter if necessary, clothing that is appropriate for the season, any electronics that you will use during your trip (be sure to remember the chargers!), and possibly things like sunscreen as we spend a large portion of training outdoors (you can buy this locally but the Asian skin tone and preference may be different for international students).
All persons intending to enter The People’s Republic of China from outside countries must first have a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity) and a Chinese visa (most likely a tourist visa). We can help you with obtaining your Chinese tourist visa by providing you with an invitation letter to hand in with your tourist visa application. Any other circumstances or special needs for visa application can be communicated to Wudang Kung Fu Academy via e-mail by clicking here.
Tourist visas can be extended here in town for up to one year. After one year, foreigners are required to leave the country in order to apply for a new tourist visa. Most students who stay for more than one year simply travel to Hong Kong, Taiwan, or a neighboring country to do so.
*A SPECIAL NOTE*
Most likely when you apply for a Chinese visa, they will direct you towards applying for a tourist visa. There are occasions, however, that you will be directed towards applying for a student visa. In some instances this is fine. Although be aware that just because you are traveling with the end goal of ‘studying’ in China, this does not necessarily mean that you will or will be able to apply for a student visa. A student visa occasionally comes with special parameters and certain documents that our school is unable to provide. An example of this is the JW202 form. This is a document stating the acceptance of a student into a university asked for during a student visa application. The main thing that we can provide in its place is an invitation letter. Some embassies will not accept this and will require the JW202.
It is best to go into your local consulate or visa service center and clearly explain your situation as well as provide all of the required documents. They will use their own discretion as to whether you will apply for a tourist or student visa. We have students who arrive with either one. Travel once you receive the visa is identical. Just a note to be aware of as you begin if this is your first trip internationally or to China.
We recommend you purchase a major medical/travel insurance to cover possible injuries(sports injuries), illnesses and home transport from your stay in China. The academy assumes no responsibility for injuries occurring before, during or after training, while under the academy’s supervision. In many countries martial arts are considered a dangerous sport and and extra fee might occur regarding this matter, you should consult your insurance company, or a professional travel agency before departure from your country.
According to the requirements of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, the COVID-19 vaccine is necessary. It is best to consult your doctor, a travel clinic or your local Chinese Embassy in advance of leaving. There might be other vaccinations you’d like to take, such as the Hepatitis and tetanus vaccine (recommended).
If you want the convenience and speed of taking a domestic flight from your port of entry to Wudangshan, you can arrive directly to the new Wudangshan airport. The code for the airport is WDS. There are a few flights daily to major ports like Beijing and Shanghai. This will put you a short 40 minute taxi ride to the front of the school. Be sure to not confuse Xi’An city with Shiyan city. Shiyan is closer to Wudang (about 1 hour) while Xi’An is around 4 – 5 hours away and a taxi will be too expensive from this distance. You will have to take a long distance bus. The bus ticket has to be bought at the local station and can be confusing for students who are not familiar with the Chinese language.
There are daily flights from main cities like Beijing, Wuhan, Shanghai, and Chongqing. Alternating daily flights from Xi’An, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are also available. A good website to use for domestic flights purchase is www.trip.com. Cheaper flight tickets and hotels than from your home country can often be found on this traveling website.
The train system in China is very reliable. There are major train stations traveling in every direction from most major destinations and Wudangshan is no different. You can book train tickets from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wuhan (all major international airport locations) on a daily basis with trains departing at all times of the day.
The nearest train station to our academy is Wudangshan East Train Station/武当山东站 or Wudangshan West Train Station/武当山西站, it will takes about 30 minutes from Wudangshan east or Wudangshan west train station to the main gate of Wudang Mountain scenic area. Shiyan Train Station/十堰站 or Shiyan East Train Station/十堰东站 is farther and it will takes about 1 hour to the main gate of Wudang Mountain Scenic Area. Pick up from Wudangshan East or Wudangshan West train station costs $15; from Shiyan or Shiyan East Train Station costs $30.
There are two ways to buy a train ticket. You can just take your passport at the train station when you arrive and buy the ticket straight at the station, most likely you will just have to wait a few hours and then you will be on your way. However, this method will not work during Chinese national holidays where train tickets are completely sold out several weeks in advance.
The other option is book a ticket in advance either via the academy (free service) or book a ticket in advance at the official website, it has multiple languages available. You can also ask a Chinese friend or the academy to help you book the train tickets. If you book a ticket in advance make sure you have at least 4 hours from your plane lands until your train departs. It takes time to get from the airport to the stations, and at the stations you need to collect your ticket at a ticket office where the line very often is long and you need to check in for your train up to 40 minutes before your departure.
1. When travelling, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings. Keep your passport, money, and other valuables on your person at all times.
2. Make sure that you keep the Academy updated on your travel plans in case of changes. This will also ensure that someone is waiting at the train station or airport to pick you up, if requested.
3. Be aware of the Great Firewall of China. Some social media sites, like Facebook and YouTube, are blocked. If you wish to setup a VPN, it is best to do so prior to your travel.
4. Travel according to the seasons. While cloths can be bought in Wudang, larger size shoes can be more difficult to find. Make sure you come prepared with proper footwear and clothing.
5. Overall, have a good plan that is well communicated with the staff of Wudang Mountain Tai Chi Kung Fu School. We have experience coordinating students from countries all over the world! We hope to see you soon!