Kao Kong-lian: Wudang deserves to be called 'Paradise on Earth'

Members of a Taiwan delegation led by Kao Kong-lian(eleventh from the left), vice-chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), pose for a picture during their visit to Wudang from Oct 25 to 26.

Members of a Taiwan delegation led by Kao Kong-lian(third from the left), vice-chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), pose for a photo with a Wudang Taoist priest at Tianzhu Peak of Wudang Mountains.

Members of a Taiwan delegation led by Kao Kong-lian(fourth from the left), vice-chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), pose for a photo with a Wudang Taoist priest at Yuxu Palace of Wudang Mountains.

A Taiwan delegation led by Kao Kong-lian, vice-chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), visited Wudang Mountains in Shiyan city, Hubei province, from Oct 25 to 26, during the third Cross-Straits Wudang Culture Forum, Wudangshan.gov.cn reported. The tour of the scenic spots gave the delegation members the opportunity to improve their understanding of the culture and history of Wudang Mountains, and also to increase their understanding of the issues concerning the protection of resources.

Speaking at the Golden Hall on Tianzhu Peak, which is the highest peak of Wudang, Kao said he was amazed by the 72 peaks in the scenic area and that Wudang Mountains deserves to be called a "Paradise on Earth".

During their tour of Yuxu Palace, Kao also had the chance to hear about the renovation of the palace and spoke highly of the efforts concerning the preservation of cultural relics.

Kao said that the origins of Wudang culture are related to Taiwan's history, and that there are many Taoist temples in Taiwan, and many residents believe in Emperor Xuanwu (also known as the North Emperor), the god worshipped on Wudang Mountains.

The Cross-Straits Exchange Base and Cross-Straits Wudang Culture Forum have become important platforms for cross-Straits communication and cooperation, and Kao said he hopes these initiatives will continue, so as to make further achievements in the fields of commerce and trade, culture, as well as tourism on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

In the past two decades, more than 400,000 Taiwan residents have made ancestral pilgrimages to Wudang Mountains.

Edited by Niva Whyman