# Wudang Mountains travel guide (武当山) Hubei Province · Central China, China · 9 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hubei/wudang-mountains ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Yuxu Palace → Mozhen Well → Taizipo → Xiaoyao Valley → Zixiao Palace → Wuya Ridge (overnight) - **Day 2:** Wuya Ridge → South Heaven Gate → Nanyan Palace → Xuandi Hall → Liangyi Hall → Baibu Ladder → Chaotian Palace → Golden Summit ## The feel of the place - **Wudang Martial Arts:** Everyone is familiar with Wudang martial arts, which have long been woven into legends and folk traditions. Jin Yong, in particular, popularised the saying “the Shaolin in the north, the Wudang in the south.” Who can forget Zhang Sanfeng, the centenarian founder of the Wudang school in *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre*, whose otherworldly bearing and every move brought all the sects to submission? - **Daoist Sacred Mountain:** Wudang Mountain has remained the national centre of Daoism. It is praised as “the four great famous mountains all bow in homage, the five directional immortal peaks all face its palace.” It became a model for the construction of Daoist sacred mountains, and the temple architecture and overall layout of Qiyun Mountain in Anhui and Kongtong Mountain in Gansu clearly show traces of imitation of Wudang. ## The feel of the place ### Avoid Heavy Rain If you are caught in heavy rain on Wudang Mountain, take shelter. Heavy rain and thunderstorms often occur together: heavy rain can trigger mudslides, and thunderstorms can produce ground lightning that may injure people. ### Preparation and Enquiries ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Wudang Mountain has a pronounced vertical climate, with temperatures dropping as altitude rises. The mountain is divided into three climate zones. The upper zone, from Chaotian Palace to the Golden Summit, lies at 1,200–1,600 m with an annual average temperature of 8.5°C. The middle zone, from Zixiao Palace to Chaotian Palace, lies at 750–1,200 m with an annual average of 12°C. The lower zone, below 750 m around Taizi Slope and Wudangshan Town, has an annual average of 15.9°C. The mountain can be visited in spring, summer and autumn, and summer is an excellent escape from the heat. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There ### By Air Shiyan Wudang Mountain Airport opened in 2016. It is about 15 km from Shiyan city centre and about 25 km from the Wudang Mountain scenic area. ### By Rail From Wuhan, take a train to Wudangshan Railway Station (Liuliping) and get off there. Trains also run from Wudangshan Station to major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an and Zhengzhou. ### By Road Most travellers change buses in Shiyan. An expressway runs from Shiyan to Wudangshan Town, about 30 km or half an hour's drive. Buses run from Wudang Mountain to Shiyan every 10 minutes, and to Xiangyang every half hour. There are also long-distance services from Wudang Mountain to major cities across China. ## Eat & drink The Wudang Mountains area is known mainly for Hubei cuisine, with a specialty in wild vegetables and skilled preparation of mountain game birds. Vegetarian dishes combine the essence of both Buddhist and Daoist cooking and emphasise natural flavours. In summer, Wudangshan Town has many street stalls serving local specialties. The crayfish is particularly good, and cold pot fish is also famous. Prices are reasonable. Taihe Palace serves vegetarian banquets, ¥200–300 per table - **Wudang Mountain's “Taoist Vegetarian Cuisine”** — ## Where to stay If you want to stay on the mountain, you can go straight to Crow Ridge (Wuya Ling), which has plenty of accommodation. However, guesthouses in Wudang Mountain Town at the foot of the mountain are much cheaper and offer much better facilities. - **Wudang Mountain Hotel** — (No. 33 Yongle Road, Wudang Mountain Special Tourism Economic Zone, 0719-5665548) - **Tianlu Resort** — (100 meters east of Zixiao Palace, Wudang Mountain, 0719-5689999) ## Things to see - **Wudang Mountain Scenic Area** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wudang-mountain-scenic-area - **Yuxu Palace** (★★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuxu-palace - **Taihe Palace** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/taihe-palace - **Taizipo** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/taizipo - **Nanyan Palace** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanyan-palace - **Zixiao Palace** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zixiao-palace - **Golden Hall** (★★★★): Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/golden-hall - **Qiongtai Temple** (★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qiongtai-temple ## Day trips & beyond - **Gulongzhong** (★★★★): Admission ¥87; shuttle bus: ¥20/person; Opening hours 8:30–17:30 (March–October); 8:30–17:00 (November–February); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gulongzhong --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2049–2057. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.