Mount Wudang also Mount TaiHe or Mount XuanYue is located southwest of Shiyan City, northwest of Hubei Province, China. It comprises of 7 peaks, 36 cliffs and 24 valleys. Its main peak, called Heavenly Pillar Peak stands at a statuesque 1612m and together with the other mist-shrouded peaks, creates a spectacular vision. Mount Wudang was regarded as the origin place of

Why does the Wudang Mountain enjoy an important status in China?

It is heard the Taoism deity Zhenwu practiced alchemy here and succeeded in possessing Golden Elixir at last. Later his body changed into brilliant light and disappeared.
Besides Taoism alchemy, Mount Wudang is the birthplace of Wudang Kung Fu (martial arts). Wudang Kung Fu, founded by Master Zhang Sanfeng, gets an equal status as Shaolin Kung Fu in China. Such Kung Fu arts emphasizes the inner Kung Fu training (alchemy) and advocates to launch attack later and overcoming hardness with softness. So, its uniqueness set itself a very different school in so many Kung Fu schools in China history.

How did the Wudang Mountain evolve throughout history?

The mountains of Wudang were known many years ago as the Taoist monasteries . These monasteries became known as an academic centre for the research, teaching and practice of meditation, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist agriculture practices and related arts.
As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD), the mountain attracted the Emperor's attention. During the reign of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the first site of worship—the Five Dragon Temple—was constructed.
The palaces and temples in Wudang, were mostly built as an organized complex during the Ming Dynasty (14th–17th centuries). 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. It represents the highest standards of Chinese art and architecture over a period of nearly 1,000 years. Noted temples include the Golden Hall, Nanyan Temple and the Purple Cloud Temple.
Some of the monasteries were damaged during and after the Cultural Revolution of 1966–1976, but the Wudang mountains have lately become increasingly popular with tourists from elsewhere in China and abroad due to their scenic location and historical interest.
The monasteries and buildings were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

What are the most attracting resorts of Wudang Mountain?

Here we just introduce three of the most famous attraction site located in Wudang Mountain.

Purple Cloud Palace（紫霄宮）

The nucleus construction of Purple Cloud Palace (紫霄宮), The Grand Hall, is the only wooden building left, and is one of the quite rare buildings in the history of the Taoist architecture. The Grand Hall is scientific and rational in structure and its overall arrangement, harmonious and coherent in artistic style, united with surroundings as a whole, and unique in taste and features

among the buildings in Wudang Moutain. Meanwhile, the Grand Hall, having absorbed the techniques of various times' artisans, demonstrated great achievements of architectures in Ming and Qing Dynasties, therefore, worthy of visiting and researching.

Golden Palace（金殿）

The Golden Palace of Wudang Mountain has a strong attraction to visitors and pilgrims. It is situated (金殿) on the top of Heavenly Pillar Peak, and is the essence and symbol of Wudang Mountain, the sign of Wudang Taoism coming to the highest peak under the support of the imperial families.

The Tianyi Zhenqing Palace （天乙真慶宮）

The most famous architecture is a stone palace named the Tianyi Zhenqing Palace in the South Cliff View-site. It's said that after Zhenwu ascended to heaven, he lived in a palace called the Tianyi Zhenqing Palace. The Tianyi Zhenqing Palace was built by a famous Taoist Zhang-Shouqing who went to Wudang Mountain at the age of 30 and led his thousands of disciples to reclaim wasteland at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, which was finished 27 years later.

The Tianyi Zhenqing Palace is made of wood-like stones. The whole palace, accurately designed, delicately structured, and exquisitely carved, is a masterpiece of the large Chinese stone carvings. The difficulties of building this palace on the steep cliff is beyond our imagination.