It is overland tour to Mt. Wudangshan in Hubei province from Xian. Hubei province is located in mid China connecting many provinces in China by convenient transportation of railway, cruise, and flights......
Mt. Wudangshan
A. Brief Introduction
Mt. Wudangshan, also called Mt. Taihe or Mt. Xianshi in the past, is located near the city of Danjiangkou, in central Hubei Province. There are 72 peaks, 36 cliffs, 24 gullies, 3 lakes, 9 springs and 10 ponds there. The main peak, Tianzhu Peak, has an altitude of 1,612 m.
Mt. Wudangshan is well vegetated and boasts rich plant resources. About 600 kinds of Chinese herbs, one third of the total recorded in the encyclopedic Compendium of Materia Medica written by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, grow on the mountain. For this reason, the mountain is also famous as a natural drugstore.
Wudangshan is a scenic resort perfectly integrating natural landscape with man-made buildings. Taoist temples are prominent here. During the reign of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty (627-649), the Wulong (five dragons) Temple was built. And in 1412, Emperor Zhu Di, an enthusiastic Taoist, ordered the construction of 33 temples, which were completed in 1423. The various Taoist structures cover a total area of 1.6 million sq. m. Among them, the most magnificent temple is the Golden Hall, which is made of fine copper on a granite foundation. The seated Taoist figure in the hall is cast so exquisitely that it is regarded as a masterpiece representing the highest level of ancient China's copper casting.
B. Cultural Heritage
B. Cultural Heritage
There are four Taoist palaces, remains of two other palaces, two temples and a number of cliff temples and halls of worship remaining on Mt. Wudangshan. The original features of these constructions are well preserved in terms of layout, design, style, materials and technique. Taoist halls are mainly built in secluded nooks or on terraces, surrounded by nunneries and halls of worship. And cliff temples are usually built on prominent peaks, with which the mountain abounds. The temples and halls are architecturally superb, and have great cultural and technological value. They are invaluable material for the study of the politics of the early Ming Dynasty, the religious history of China and ancient Chinese buildings.
The major characteristics of ancient groups of buildings on Mt. Wudangshan can be summed up as follows:
Superb Techniques The buildings vary in style, and are constructed with different materials. There are wooden temples, copper halls and stone cliff temples. Statues made from copper, wood, stone and earth are noted for their delicate techniques and artistic creativity.
Treasure House of Taoist Architecture The Taoist buildings on the mountain were planned by emperors, and managed by imperial officials. The buildings were designed on such a grand scale, constructed with so much care, and furnished with so many lavish statues and items of worship that they are regarded as unprecedented masterpieces among China's existing Taoist constructions.
Treasure House of Taoist Architecture The Taoist buildings on the mountain were planned by emperors, and managed by imperial officials. The buildings were designed on such a grand scale, constructed with so much care, and furnished with so many lavish statues and items of worship that they are regarded as unprecedented masterpieces among China's existing Taoist constructions.
Historical Significance The extensive construction on Mt. Wudangshan was carried out when Emperor Zhu of the Ming Dynasty was making great efforts to expand external contacts and promote Taoism in the country. He intended to consolidate his rule by instilling into his subordinates the idea that the imperial power is endowed by Heaven. Therefore, these Taoist buildings are of great significance for the study of the history and religious belief of that period.
C. Wudangshan Attractions:
Taizi Slope:
The Taizi Slope scenic area on Wudang Mountain is situated on its mid-slope and serves as a key transportation hub.
According to legend, when the Crown Prince of Jingyue Kingdom was 15 years old, he received enlightenment from his master Ziqi Yuanjun and came to Wudang Mountain for cultivation, initially residing on this slope, hence the name "Taizi Slope." After practicing there for some time, the prince once fell into despair and considered returning to social life. Upon reaching the Needle-Milling Well, Ziqi Yuanjun transformed into an elderly woman who used an iron rod to grind needles to enlighten him; thereafter, he returned to the mountain to continue his spiritual practice, leading to the site's alternative name "Fuzhen Temple." Covering an area of 16,000 square meters, it includes attractions such as Huilong Temple, the Needle-Milling Well (Chunyang Palace), Laojun Hall, and Baxian Temple. In the tenth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di ordered the construction of 29 structures, including the Xuan Di Hall, mountain gate, and corridors.Zixiao Palace:
Located at the foot of Zhanqi Peak northeast of Tianzhu Peak, the main summit of Wudang Mountain, Zixiao Palace comprises 29 buildings with a total floor area of 6,854 square meters and covers a site area of approximately 274,000 square meters. It faces several peaks including Zhaobi, Santai, Wulao, Luomao, and Xianglu; to its right lies thunder god Cave, while to its left are Yujichi Pond and Baozhu Peak. The surrounding mountains naturally form a scenic formation resembling two dragons playing with a pearl, which was bestowed the title "Zixiao Blessed Land" by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty.
The Zixiao Hall, the main hall of the Zixiao Palace, is the only surviving double-eaved hip-and-gable wooden structure hall on Wudang Mountain. This Taoist architectural masterpiece, featuring a rare raised-beam timber construction among China's ancient buildings, demonstrates scientifically sound structure and layout, harmonious artistic style, and seamless integration with its natural surroundings, presenting a unique aesthetic within the ancient architectural complex of Wudang Mountain.
What is most breathtaking and widely praised is the interior of the main hall: adorned with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, it exudes grandeur and elegance through its ingenious design, expansive and graceful forms, simple yet refined decoration, and solemn, meticulously arranged furnishings. The hall houses five shrines containing hundreds of precious artifacts, predominantly various statues and ritual vessels crafted during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties—each uniquely shaped, vividly lifelike, and a true feast for the eyes.
The central shrine houses a statue of the deity Zhenwu, a Ming Dynasty clay sculpture adorned with polychrome painting and gilded details, standing 4.8 meters tall and representing the largest surviving clay statue on Wudang Mountain.
Nanyan
Nanyan is the legendary site where Zhenwu God practiced his cultivation. For 42 years, he sat there immobile;
birds built nests and laid eggs atop his head, yet he remained utterly indifferent. Thorns pierced through his feet and penetrated his body, eventually growing back from his chest—he paid no attention to them. Ultimately, he achieved perfect spiritual fulfillment and attained enlightenment, ascending to heaven.The existing structures and archaeological sites of Nanyan Palace cover an area of 61,187 square meters, comprising 83 temple buildings with a total floor area of 3,539 square meters. These primarily include the Nanyan Rock Hall, South Heavenly Gate, Stele Pavilion, Liangyi Hall, Imperial Scripture Hall, Bafeng Pavilion, Longhu Hall, as well as relics such as Yuanjun Hall, Nanxun Hall, and Yuanguang Hall. On the peaks south of the rock formation, there are ancient sites like the Beauty Salon Platform and Ascension Platform. Inside the mountain gate of Nanyan Palace lies the Small Heavenly Gate, along with relics including Taishang Temple, Five Masters Hall, Abbot's Chamber, and Dining Hall. The courtyard of Longhu Hall features the Sweet Dew Spring, surrounded by other historical sites such as Dripping Water Rock, Immortal Companion Rock, Black Tiger Rock, Red Army Cave, Thunder God Cave, and Dragon Pond.
The Great Sage Nan Yan Palace was originally constructed on Nan Yan, the most scenic of the thirty-six cliffs of Wudang Mountain, renowned for the saying "the scenery becomes even more serene upon entering the southern cliff." Walking through the mountain feels like strolling within a painting. Built on a sheer cliff face, the palace appears to be embedded within the towering precipice. This stone hall, designed in a wooden-style imitation, soars into the clouds above and overlooks a deep ravine below, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape as if crafted by divine hands. The hall measures three bays in both width and depth; its interior houses statues of the Three Pure Ones with solemn expressions, while the walls are adorned with five hundred iron-cast spirit figures each with distinct designs. To the right of Zhenqing Palace lies the Liangyi Hall; behind it to the right stands the Imperial Scripture Hall and the Scripture Repository; to the left is the "Prince's Dragon-Protecting Bed," containing a statue depicting a dragon guarding the prince's sleeping bed.
The Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain stands at 1,612 meters above the mountain's peak, embodying an unprecedented grandeur and a triumphant declaration of conquest. The unique topography of Wudang Mountain creates a spectacular scene where peaks cluster together and devotees converge from all directions, vividly symbolizing the supreme authority of imperial power.
The Taihe Palace of Great Peak is situated on the Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain, representing its highest scenic highlight. Whether for Taoist practitioners, devotees, pilgrims, or visitors, only by ascending to the summit and entering the palace can one truly consider having visited Wudang Mountain. In the tenth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di ordered the construction of the Taihe Palace; upon completion, he bestowed upon Wudang Mountain the title "Great Peak Taihe Mountain" and granted this Taoist temple perched atop the summit the name "Taihe Palace of Great Peak." This imperial decree elevated Wudang Mountain's status to that of the foremost among the Five Sacred Mountains.
D. Taoist Culture
The history of Taoism at Mt. Wudangshan can be traced back about 2,000 years. It began to prosper in the Tang and Song dynasties, and reached its heyday in the Ming Dynasty. Taoism witnessed a decline in the ensuing Qing Dynasty, but it was revitalized after the founding of New China in 1949.
Taoist ritual activities follow a set of procedures handed down through generations of Taoist priests. The priests recite ancient scriptures and play Taoist music, following a centuries-old formula. Taoist music has been extensively studied by scholars and experts.
E. Wudangshan Wushu
Wudangshan wushu, noted for its exercise of the internal organs and breathing techniques, developed along with Wudangshan Taoism. Taoist priests put equal emphasis on religious practice and promotion of the health. They derived the principles of wushu from Taoist theories and applied Taoist practical approaches to wushu skills, thus gradually developing Wudangshan wushu which integrates ancient Chinese philosophy with extraordinary wushu skills. In the Ming Dynasty, Wudangshan wushu reached its height through the outstanding efforts of a Taoist priest named Zhang Sanfeng, and gradually became one of the major schools of Chinese wushu.
Tour Map of Wudangshan Mountain:
Wudang Tour Map 2:
Weather Information of Wudangshan:
Note: From January to December, red line is the highest Centigrade in average, blue line is the lowest climate in average.
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Note: From January to December, red line is the highest Centigrade in average, blue line is the lowest climate in average.
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