Wudang Mountain or Mount Wudang (Chinese: 武當山; pinyin: Wǔdāng Shān) is the most famous Taoist holy site in China as well as in the world, also Wudang Mountain is the cradle of Wudang Kung Fu or Wudang Internal Martial Arts. Wudang Mountain is located in the south of Shiyan city, the Northwest of Hubei Province, China. Wudang Mountain is spreading about 312 square kilometers, it’s a world-famous ancient building complex and 5A-level (the highest level) tourist scenic spot in China, which fully demonstrates human wisdom and efforts and the beauty of architecture. Wudang Mountain has been listed as the “World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site” by the UNESCO in 1994, and one of the “Top 10 Chinese Tourist Areas Favored by Europeans”.
Wudang Mountain has already been an important site for religious activities from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) to the end of Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) in ancient China. During the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong (627 -649 AD), the Wulong Shrine (Five Dragon Palace) was constructed under order. And in later periods, as Taoism developed prosperously, this mountain gradually got its reputation among people under the praise of the emperors and was regarded as the No. 1 Famous Taoist Mountain in Ming Dynasty and the royal temple for the emperor and his family, since which it became the largest Taoist rite nationwide. Under the imperial order of Emperor Zhu Di in Ming Dynasty, Wudang Mountain began its expansion. 33 architectural complexes including 9 palaces, 8 temples, 36 abbeys, 72 rock temples, 39 bridges, 12 pavilions were completed during 12 years.
For thousands of years, Wudang Mountain is and has been the center of Chinese Daoist thought, practice and belief. It is here that Daoist legends like Zhang San Feng cultivated wisdom and attained enlightenment. Through the mountains, many have come in pilgrimage to pay respects to the sacred origin of Daoist practices like Tai Chi Quan and the deities within the Daoist religion. It is here among the misty mountain peaks that Zhang San Feng created the original Tai Chi system. The branches of this system are still studied and taught throughout Wudang Mountain Tai Chi Kung Fu Academy which is located at Nanyan Palace.
Nanyan Palace (or South Rock Palace, Chinese word Nanyan Gong) in Wudang Mountain is listed as the national cultural relic as a famous Taoism palace. According to the related historic records, Nanyan Palace was built in Yuan Dynasty, while it was destroyed in the end of Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in Ming Dynasty (1,413 AD). Later, the whole palace building group was expanded into 640 rooms during Qing dynasty and presented a new look in 1,862 with lots of temples. At present the whole construction and site covers …
Apart from the above top ancient building complexes in Wudang Mountain, there are also other palaces, temples, and so on deserve your visit, such as Tai Chang Temple, Jing Le Palace, Yu Xu Palace, Five Dragon Palace, Qiong Tai Palace, Grind Needle Temple etc.
Purple Heaven Hall or Purple Cloud Temple, Chinese word Zi Xiao Gong) is located on the Zhanqi Peak in Wudang Mountain. Purple Heaven Hall is one of the best preserved palaces on Wudang Mountain, and was first built during North Song Dynasty (1,119-1,125 AD). For several times of repairmen, the whole palace building group is the largest scale well-preserved Taoism architecture in the world. And till now, there are 29 buildings, 182 rooms, with a building area of 6,854 square meters …
Apart from the above top ancient building complexes in Wudang Mountain, there are also other palaces, temples, and so on deserve your visit, such as Tai Chang Temple, Jing Le Palace, Yu Xu Palace, Five Dragon Palace, Qiong Tai Palace, Grind Needle Temple etc.
Golden Palace or Golden Peak (金殿) or Palace of Harmony (Taihe Gong) is located on the highest peak in Mount Wudang, Tian Zhu Peak which is about 1,613 meters high. Golden Palace was built in Ming Dynasty (1416 AD), it was made of golden material in a wooden architectural style, thus its name Golden Hall. This sacred place in Wudang Mountain is the soul and symbol of Wudang Mountain, It represented the peak time and the high position of the Taoism in the ancient royal system.
Apart from the above top ancient building complexes in Wudang Mountain, there are also other palaces, temples, and so on deserve your visit, such as Tai Chang Temple, Jing Le Palace, Yu Xu Palace, Five Dragon Palace, Qiong Tai Palace, Grind Needle Temple etc.
Prince Slope or called Tai Zi Po (太子坡) or Fu Zhen Guan (复真观) was built in Ming Dynasty (1,412 AD) under the order of Ming emperor Zhu Di and later repaired three times in Qing dynasty. At present, 105 rooms remain covering 1600 square meters. According to the legend, the prince of Jingle State came to Wudang Mountain to cultivate himself and lived there on the slope, so it was called Tai Zi Po. Leaning the Lion Mountain, facing deep valley, near natural pool, Prince Slope looks beautiful …
Apart from the above top ancient building complexes in Wudang Mountain, there are also other palaces, temples, and so on deserve your visit, such as Tai Chang Temple, Jing Le Palace, Yu Xu Palace, Five Dragon Palace, Qiong Tai Palace, Grind Needle Temple etc.
Wudang Mountain Tickets: 243 RMB/person = 140 RMB (Scenic Area Entrance Fee, not including the Golden Palace and Purple Cloud Palace) + 100 RMB (Sightseeing Bus) + 3 RMB (Insurance Fee)
Rope Way: 90 RMB for up, 80 RMB for down in peak seasons; 70 RMB for up, 60 RMB for down in off seasons;of course you can also choose to climb the mountain for free.
Golden Palace: 27 RMB;
Purple Heaven Hall: 15 RMB;
Note: 1) if you accommodate out of Wudang Mountain Tourist Area and would enter the scenic spot again on the second or third day, you need to pay the extra entrance fee for about 50 RMB / per time for one person. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us to get help!
