Wuhan to Wudang Mountain travel tips

Wudang Mountain is known for its Daoist temples and martial arts, popularized by kung fu novels and TV series. In truth, when visitors climb the mountain, they will find much more than kung fu.

Tips for climbing Wudang Mountain 1. The higher you climb, the lower its temperature will become, so you'd better take warm clothes with you. Although you may be suffering from the heat of summer at the mountain's base, you will probably feel the chilly wind at the top 2. After spending a day climbing to the Golden Hall, you'd better get a night's rest in the hotels nearby. It is not recommended to camp outside, as you may run into wild animals.

Best timing: 2 to 3 days in spring or fall

Recommended attractions:

Taihe Palace

Taihe Palace, located at the top of Tianzhu Peak (1,612 meters), is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Wudang Mountain. It is believed that only those who have visited the palace have truly been to Wudang Mountain.

Three Archways You will come across three archways from Chaotian Palace to the Golden Hall. You have to climb the long and steep stairs before reaching each dark-red archway.

Golden Hall The Golden Hall is part of Taihe Palace, situated at the top of Tianzhu Peak. It is built entirely of gilded copper, hence the name "Golden Hall". It is one of the largest gilded copper temples in China.

South Crag South Crag is regarded as a holy place; it is said that the god Zhenwu attained Buddhahood there. Many grand stones and cliffs there are worth a visit.

Dragon-Head Stone The Dragon-Head Stone, 2.9 meters long, projects out of Wanshou Palace. It is carved into the shape of a dragon, and there is a censer on the dragon's head. Many people come and burn incense here. According to legend, the god Xuan Wu, one of the higher-ranking Taoist deities, used to ride the dragon on patrol.

Purple Cloud Palace The Purple Cloud Palace consists of Dragon and Tiger Hall, Purple Sky Hall, East Hall, Godparent Palace and Prince Cliff.

One-day tour route:

Wudang Mountain Stone Pillar Gate→ Qiongtai Temple→ Taihe Palace→ Golden Hall→ Three Archways→ Chaotian Palace→ Special Plum Temple→ South Crag→ Dragon-head Stone→ Purple Cloud Palace→ Prince Slope

Two-day tour route:

Day 1: Yuxu Palace→ Xuanyue Stone Pillar Gate→ Wudang Mountain Stone Pillar Gate→ Stone Needle Temple→ Prince Slope→ Xiaoyao Valley→ Purple Cloud Palace→ South Crag Day2: South Crag→ Dragon-head Stone→ Special Plum Temple→ Chaotian Palace→ Golden Hall→ Qiongtai Temple

Eating: Restaurants in Wudang Mountain mainly serve Hubei and Sichuan dishes, which are two of the seven Chinese cuisines. You can also taste special Taoist dishes at Purple Cloud Palace and Taihe Palace, which are all vegetarian. The meals are 200 yuan ($31.18) per table or 10 yuan per person at Purple Cloud Palace. The price in Taihe Palace is about 200 to 300 yuan per table.

If you want to have some local snacks, you may go to Yongle Street, which is decorated in Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644) style.

Festivals: The main local festivals are the temple fair on March 3 and Sept 9 and the Annual Wudang International Tourism Festival. Many martial art activities are held in Wudang every year, making it the home of Chinese martial arts.

By Li Xiaonan