Wuhan >> Wudang Mountain

Attraction Typ: Historic Site

Location: more than 200 km from city

Recommend: 5 Star

Wudang Mountain

Wudang Mountain is both a famous scenic spot and the Taoist Holy Land in China.

Wudang Mountain (Chinese: 武当山; pinyin: Wǔ Dāng Shān), also known as Taihe Mountain, is both a famous scenic spot and the Taoist Holy Land in China. The ancient architectural complex on the mountain was listed by UNESCO in 1994 as a World Culture Heritage Site.

Wudang Mountain is located in Shiyan in western Hubei. Here the mountain peaks are high, forest thick and scenery graceful. The major scenic spots in Wudang Mountain include 72 peaks, 36 rocky cliffs, and 24 streams. The highest point—Tianzhu Peak, creates a striking view of "One Pole Supporting the Sky."

Wudang Mountain is renowned both at home and abroad as Immortals' Mountain of Taoism and the World for Swordsman.It is a famous Taoist center in China with a long history of Taoist practice and a profound Taoist culture. Wudang Mountain is also well-known for its deep-rooted tradition of wushu (martial arts). Hence an old saying goes: "Shaolin wushu is the best in the north, while Wudang wushu is the best in the south."

Three features make Wudang Mountain famous all over the world: the rich Cultural Heritage, Taoist Culture and Wudang Mountain Wushu.
Now, there are four Taoist palaces, remains of two other palaces, two temples and a number of cliff temples and halls of worship remaining on Wudang Mountain. The original features of these constructions are well preserved in terms of layout, design, style, materials and technique. Therefore, these buildings are of great significance for the study of the history and religious belief of the relevant periods.

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. Wudang Mountain wushu, noted for its exercise of the internal organs and breathing techniques, now is very popular in China so much as foreign countries.