Nanyan Palace
Nanyan's peaks are steep and strange, with lush green forests that rise toward the clouds and drop to deep gorges. It is a place of endless scenery on dangerous heights,…
Nanyan Palace, Wudang Mountains · Gisling · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket
- Opening hours
- 07:00-17:00
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Take the scenic area shuttle bus to the terminal, Wuya Ridge, then walk through the South Heavenly Gate to arrive
- By car
- Drive 2.5 km from Zixiao Palace to the terminus at Wuya Ridge, passing Nantian Gate, to reach Nanyan Palace Scenic Area.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2053. Open in Google Maps
About Nanyan Palace
Nanyan's peaks are steep and strange, with lush green forests that rise toward the clouds and drop to deep gorges. It is a place of endless scenery on dangerous heights, and it is widely considered the most beautiful of the 36 cliffs of Wudang Mountain.
Tips from the guidebook
- Temple Taboos
- 1. Once inside a temple, do not point at the statues with your fingers or turn your back to them. When entering a hall, do not step on the threshold, and never speak loudly.
- 2. “Monks do not speak of their names, and Daoists do not speak of their ages.” Daoists cultivate themselves in pursuit of longevity, so it is best not to ask a Daoist's age. People have many reasons for entering the Daoist life, and unless you know someone well, it is best not to ask about their background.
- 3. Once you set out on the Wudang Sacred Way to make offerings, keep silent and clear your mind, and avoid crude or impure language. Offerings must not include pomegranates, plums, bright red flowers, chickens or dogs. Do not eat goose, eel, turtle, soft-shell turtle, beef, dog, pork, or pungent foods such as raw scallion, chives, garlic or ginger, and do not drink alcohol. Doing so would offend Zhenwu, the principal deity of Wudang.
- 4. Many parts of Wudang Mountain are uninhabited. If you are not familiar with the terrain or are not well prepared, do not venture in on your own. It is best to hire a local guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Nanyan Palace cost?
Admission to Nanyan Palace is Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Nanyan Palace?
Nanyan Palace is open 07:00-17:00.
How do I get to Nanyan Palace?
Take the scenic area shuttle bus to the terminal, Wuya Ridge, then walk through the South Heavenly Gate to arrive
How long should I spend at Nanyan Palace?
Plan on 1–2 hours for Nanyan Palace.
Where is Nanyan Palace?
Nanyan Palace is in Wudang Mountains, Hubei Province, in the Central China of China. Inside Wudang Mountain Scenic Area, No. 14 Yongle Road, Wudang Tourism Economic Development Zone, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan City, Hubei Province
More places in Wudang Mountains
Yuxu Palace
Yuxu Palace, full name “Xuantian Yuxu Palace,” is one of the largest palaces in the Wudang Mountains complex. Yuxu Palace was built in 1413. Surviving structures and ruins include two brick palace walls, two stele pavilions standing face to face on terraces before the gate, and the ruins of the East, West, and North Heavenly Gates outside the palace. Though only remnants of buildings and ruins, they retain a strong power to move, and are well worth seeing.
Free · 1 hour
Taihe Palace
Separated from the Golden Hall by a single wall, Taihe Palace sits atop Tianzhu Peak, the highest peak of Wudang Mountain. It is the supreme sacred realm of Wudang and the necessary route to the Golden Hall. Only after visiting Taihe Palace can you truly say you have been to Wudang. Historically the palace was vast, but today only the main hall, the worship hall, the bell and drum towers, the Bronze Hall, and the Zhuanyun Hall survive.
Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket (admission from about ¥164, including the Golden Summit, Purple Cloud Temple, etc.) · 1–2 hours
Taizipo
Laid out according to the story of Prince Zhenwu cultivating immortality in the *Zhenwu Scripture*, Taizipo was built in 1412 and is one of the larger building complexes on Wudang Mountain. The gate lintel bears the inscription “Taizipo” (Prince's Slope). Past the gate, a cloud wall about 500 m long is built along the mountainside, winding and undulating with the terrain. The highest point is the Prince Hall, which houses a statue of Zhenwu as a child. In front of the hall is a viewing gallery, the perfect vantage point for the Golden Summit. Amid the clouds, you can savour the sense of “people returning from the heavens.”
Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket · 1–2 hours
Zixiao Palace
Built in 1413, this palace is one of the best-preserved temple complexes on Wudang Mountain. Zixiao Palace serves as the office of the Wudang Taoist Association, and each year on the third day of the third lunar month and the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, it hosts celebrations and Daoist rituals.
Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket · 1–2 hours
Golden Hall
Built in 1416, the Golden Hall is one of the largest existing bronze hall structures with gilded surfaces in China. Commonly known as the “Golden Summit,” the entire building is assembled from gilded bronze components. During heavy rain, when thunder and lightning strike, glowing balls of light roll around the hall, yet the thunderbolts never damage it. This phenomenon is known as “Fire Tempering the Hall.”
Included in the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area admission ticket · 1 hour
Wudang Mountain Scenic Area
Ticket A ¥264 (Golden Summit + Zixiao Palace + admission + shuttle); Ticket B ¥243 (Golden Summit + admission + shuttle); Ticket C ¥216 (admission + shuttle)
From ¥174 (free for children under 1.2 m / under 6 years old; discounts for ages 60-69; student discounts; active-duty military ¥76; people with disabilities ¥38; fire and rescue personnel ¥76, etc.) · 1-2 days