Wudangshan
Wudangshan or Wudang Mountains is located near in the northwest of Hubei Province. The southern side of mountain faces the huge Shennongjia Original Forest and the northern side faces Danjiangkou Reservoir.
It is famous as the birthplace of Daoism and Wudang Style Boxing. Wudang Daoism was held in great esteem by emperors from dynasties. Wudang Daoism saw its heyday in the Ming Dynasty when Emperor Yongle rebuilt the Forbidden City in Northern China and built the Wudang Building Complex in Southern China. It was called the Temples for Imperial Families. Wudang Boxing is one of the most notable forms Chinese boxing in China. Daoist Zhang Sanfeng who lived from the late Yuan Dynasty into the Early Ming Dynasty is the most well known representative of Daoism.
Highlights
Besides the mountains itself which has beautiful natural scenery in all 4 seasons, it is most well-known for its ancient buildings 武当山古建筑群）. It was listed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 1994.
The complex portrays the essence of architecture and art from the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. The earliest can be dated back to the 7th century AD. It was built in the Tang Dynasty (627-649) and was expanded during the Ming Dynasty. The ancient building complex got its final shape when the Memorial Archway Zhi Shi Xuan Yue was completed in 1552. Nowadays this great building complex consists of 8 palaces and 2 Taoist temples.
Altogether there are over 200 sites containing ancient buildings. Starting from the foot of the hill and climbing up the mountain, visitors can see stunning scenery as well as different temples. The mountaintop provides the most beautiful outlook. The attractions include the Memorial Archway Zhi Shi Xuan Yue, Taihe Palace, Purple Cloud Palace and Nanyan Palace.
The Memorial Archway Zhi Shi Yuan Yue is also called as Xuan Yue Gate. It lies in 4 km east of Wudangshan Town. The memorial archway is the first entrance to the Wudang Mountains. It was built 1552 and regarded as masterpiece of stone caving from the Ming Dynasty. It has people and flowers carved on it.
Taihe Palace is located in the south of Tianzhu Peak, the main peak in the Wudang Mountains. It is made up of more than 20 buildings covering an area of 1,600 sq meters. Main sites are the Forbidden City, Bronze Temple and Golden Palace.
The Forbidden City was originally built in the Ming Dynasty (1419) and is a group of city walls built on cliffs circling Tianzhu Peak. Bronze Temple was built in 1307 and is on Little Lotus Peak in front of Tianzhu Peak. It is earliest example of a bronze building. Golden Palace built in 1416 is situated on the top of Tianzhu Peak. It is the tallest point of the Wudang Mountains and the biggest existing palace made of gold and copper in China.
Nanyan Palacestands at the foot of Duyang Cave. It was constructed originally in 1285 and now there are 21 buildings.
Purple Cloud Palace is the largest and best preserved Daoist building of the ancient buildings in the Wudang Mountains. At the foot of Zhenqi Peak, southeast of Wudang Mountains, the palace was first built in 1119-1125 and expanded in 1552. The Purple Cloud Temple is representative of wooden buildings at the Wudang Mountains. The temple is Ming-style and has 36 golden pillars and was built to worship the Jade Emperor (the Supreme Deity in Taoism).
Dining
There is definitely no shortage of good local food in the Wudang Mountain area. Local restaurants feature Hubei Dish and Sichuan Dishes which both feature as part of the Seven type of Chinese Cuisines.
The specialities are Daoist Vegetarian Dishes which should be experienced when visiting Wudang Mountains. They are made from local plants and fruits in Wudang Mountains, such as Chinese walnuts, agarics, mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Try them at Purple Cloud Palace in a banquet at 200 Yuan/Meal or Liushui Meal for 10 Yuan/person. Liushui Meal refers to the dinner which is served separately as the guests arrive in succession. Taihe Palace banquet dinner is 200-300 Yuan/meal.
If you want to try local street food, there are many to choose from in Fanggu Street called Yong Le Sheng Shi(永乐盛世). The street is near Yu Xu Palace(玉虚宫).
Admission
A ticket cost 243 Yuan/person covers the entrance fee. The bus fare for the scenic zone and travel insurance is extra. Children and students pay 123 Yuan and seniors people 173 Yuan. An extra payment of 27 Yuan/person for Golden Palace and 15 Yuan/person for Purple Cloud Palace is required. Cable cars and cableways are available at 90 Yuan at up the mountain and 80 Yuan to go down.
The Scenic Zone has public buses for visitors. Travelers could get on and off at any bus stop.
Getting There
Both trains and buses go to Wudang Mountain from Wuhan and other big cities. Visitors caN take the train from Wuhan to Wudangshan Station. The Wudang Line is a tourism train going from Wuchang to Shiyan Railway Station and cost 9 Yuan for a hard seat.
Travelers can also take buses from wuhan and Shiyan City. Four main bus stations in Wuhan service the Wudang Mountain. The most convenient would be from Jinjiadun Bus Station in Hankou District at 150 Yuan/person. It takes 6 hours.
Travel Tips
