# Wutai Mountain travel guide (五台山) Shanxi Province · North China, China · 19 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/shanxi/wutai-mountain ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Wuye Temple → Tayuan Temple (the iconic Great White Pagoda) → Xiantong Temple (the mountain's founding monastery, where you can visit the Zangzhen Pavilion) → Luohou Temple (where the Buddha appears as flowers bloom) → Yuanzhao Temple → Yuantong Temple → Pusading Temple (if you have time, you can also climb to Dailuo Peak on the East Terrace) - **Day 2:** Bishan Temple → Jifu Temple → Nanshan Temple → Guanyin Cave → Puhua Temple → Longquan Temple → Zhenhai Temple → Mingyue Pool → Fomu Cave ## The feel of the place Mount Wutai is located in Xinzhou Prefecture in the northeast of Shanxi Province, 230 km from Taiyuan. It is one of the world's five major Buddhist holy sites and the foremost of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. Known as the 'Golden Wutai,' it enjoys a great reputation internationally. Mount Wutai is made up of five major peaks: East, South, West, North and Central. They are said to represent the five wisdoms of Manjushri Bodhisattva and the Five Dhyani Buddhas. The East Peak is where you can see the sea of clouds and the sunrise; the West Peak is good for moon-viewing; the North Peak is the highest and is known as the 'Roof of North China' for its views of layered mountain ranges; the Central Peak has natural wonders in the sky; and the South Peak is the lowest of the five, with gentler slopes and beautiful scenery. In addition, as a sacred site of Manjushri Bodhisattva, Mount Wutai has grand Buddhist temples scattered across the five peaks, and countless precious cultural relics adorn the area. Moreover, Mount Wutai is a rare place in China where Han Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism coexist. Whether or not you are a Buddhist, a visit here will cleanse your soul. ### Respect Local Customs 1. Mount Wutai is a Buddhist holy site. Whether or not you believe in Buddhism, keep quiet and observe temple rules. 2. If you are only sightseeing, it is best to avoid incense vendors. Do not reach out to take anything unless you intend to buy it, or it will be very hard to shake them off. 3. Never bring out or eat meat or other non-vegetarian food inside Buddhist temples. ### Visiting in Winter for the Snow In winter, Mount Wutai is blanketed in white snow. It is harsh and bitterly cold, yet quiet and dignified, with a distinctive charm. As a result, even in the cold season, more than 10,000 people come each year to worship and sightsee. Visiting Mount Wutai in winter requires attention to three points: first, the weather and road conditions; second, most guesthouses are closed in winter, so check your accommodation in advance; third, dress very warmly. ### Interesting Forms of Address 1. Whether you meet a monk, a nun or a lay Buddhist, and whether they are young or old, you may address them as 'Shixiong' (senior brother). 2. Wherever you would say 'hello,' 'thank you' or 'goodbye,' you may say 'Amituofo' instead. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Mount Wutai sits at high altitude and has a cool climate. From October onward, the mountains are covered in snow and ice, and temperatures do not rise above 5°C until May of the following year. The best time to visit is therefore May to September, when the weather is mild and pleasant. ### Warm Clothing and Rain Gear Are Essential Bring plenty of clothing when visiting Mount Wutai; a windproof, waterproof jacket is best. Summer is also a rainy season in northern China, so rain gear is essential for travellers. Visitors who want to climb to the summit for the sunrise should rent a padded cotton coat locally. Temperatures on Mount Wutai vary greatly between morning, midday and evening, which can easily lead to colds and stomach upsets, so it is advisable to bring some common medicines. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Railways and highways are the main ways to reach Mount Wutai. In the middle of Mount Wutai lies a small town that seems to be cradled by the five peaks, hence its name Taihuai Town (台怀镇). It is the centre for visiting Mount Wutai's scenic spots and its transport hub. Much of the town is taken up by monasteries, and the rest is mostly residences and shops. From Beijing to Mount Wutai, take the Jingshi Expressway from Liuli Bridge and exit at Baoding. Follow the provincial road to Fuping, then join the Fuping Expressway directly to Mount Wutai. The whole journey takes about 3 hours. ### Railway You can take a train from Beijing, Taiyuan or Datong to Wutaishan Station or Xinzhou Station, then transfer to a bus to Taihuai Town. ### Highway The long-distance bus station in the centre of Taihuai Town lies between Taihuai Town and Nanshan Temple. It has buses to destinations across the region, and also offers taxis for touring Mount Wutai. ### Getting Around Mount Wutai 1. Taiyuan East Bus Station runs 7 buses daily to Mount Wutai. The full fare is ¥82. 2. Long-distance buses from Taiyuan are not punctual. If too few people buy tickets, the bus will be cancelled, which happens especially often in the afternoon. The expressway journey to Mount Wutai takes about 3 hours. 3. In the peak tourist season, the Liuli Bridge Long-Distance Bus Station in Beijing, the Shijiazhuang Long-Distance Bus Station and the Datong Long-Distance Bus Station all run long-distance tourist buses to Mount Wutai. ### Main Long-Distance Bus Routes Taiyuan—Taihuai Town; Xinzhou—Taihuai Town; Datong—Taihuai Town; Shuozhou—Taihuai Town; Dingxiang County—Taihuai Town; Fanshi County—Taihuai Town; Fuping County (Hebei)—Taihuai Town; Liuli Bridge Bus Station (Beijing)—Taihuai Town; Shijiazhuang North Station—Taihuai Town. ### Wutai's Miraculous Temple Wuye Temple is located inside the Wanfo Pavilion. It is small in size but famous far and wide, and is said to be very efficacious. ### Transport to the Scenic Area Wutaishan Station is 38 km from the scenic area. Outside the station, there are public shuttle buses, passing coaches and private minibuses to Taihuai Town. ### Wutai's Rainbow The most wondrous natural sight on Mount Wutai is the 'halo' that casts the shadows of visitors. Ordinary rainbows usually appear after rain in the form of an arc. On Mount Wutai, however, rainbows appear even without rain, in the shape of a circular ring, and sometimes with two concentric rings. Even more remarkably, within the multicoloured ring, scenes may appear: birds, beasts, halls, Buddha statues, and even the observer. This magnificent and mysterious natural phenomenon, formed by a combination of physical, geographical, meteorological and other conditions, has long been regarded by the religious community as the 'treasure that guards the mountain.' ### Friendly Reminders 1. On the way to Mount Wutai, avoid giving rides to strangers. If you must give someone a lift, check their ID carefully, or your kindness may become a tool for them to scam you. 2. Enter the scenic area before visiting temples. Do not stop at temples along the way. 3. If you are cheated, do not be too upset. If the amount is large, report it to the police promptly. - **Mount Wutai Culture and Tourism Bureau Complaint Hotline** — - **Comprehensive Inspection Brigade** — - **Scenic Area Government Office Phone** — ## Eat & drink Taihuai Town has many restaurants, and guests staying at family guesthouses can dine on Yanglin Street, which is very convenient. ### Food in Taihuai Town Once you reach Taihuai Town, the heart of Mount Wutai, you can savour local flavours in the town’s restaurants. You can also visit family guesthouses to taste the home-cooked local dishes prepared by your hosts. Well-known snacks in the Mount Wutai scenic area include oat noodles and wantuo (savoury bowl-shaped pancakes). However, the vegetarian fare deserves special mention. As you visit this Buddhist holy site, be sure to try the distinctive Buddhist vegetarian dishes. ### Mount Wutai Cuisine If you are not from Shanxi and have not yet tried Shanxi noodle dishes in Taiyuan, try chao balanzi (stir-fried flatbread), griddle pancakes, youmian kaolaolao (oat-flour dumplings), fried glutinous rice cakes, knife-cut noodles and maoerduo (“cat’s ear” pasta). Choose a restaurant with a wide range of seasonings for the noodles. Other local specialties that are also well known include sorghum-flour yuyu noodles, youmian wowo (oat-flour buns), Baode wantuo, Fanshi bingbing (pancakes), Daixian mapian (sesame crisps), Xinzhou wasu (crisp snacks), Wucai pork and vermicelli stew, and Hequ sour porridge. ## Shopping Distinctive Mount Wutai souvenirs include Tai inkstones, Wutai Mountain prayer beads, Xianglong walking sticks and wooden bowls. ## Where to stay Taihuai Town is the centre of the Mount Wutai scenic area, so accommodation is convenient. The town has many family guesthouses, typically built as “one hall, two bedrooms”: a central hall flanked by two bedrooms on either side. The rooms are bright, tidy and neat. Many family guesthouses also have heated kang beds, which suit visitors who are frail or sensitive to the cold, and they can provide home-style meals, which makes things very convenient. Further from the main street in Taihuai Town (for example, near Jifu Temple at the northern end), there are also many budget family guesthouses with private bathrooms and TVs, where you can shower and eat. Meals are charged separately, and prices are very reasonable. ### Comfortable and Convenient Places to Stay 1. About 2.5 km south of Taihuai Town (in the direction of the mountains) is Nanshan Temple. Nearby is a cluster of hotels. Each one occupies a large site and offers much better facilities than those in town, and prices are naturally high. They are especially expensive during peak season, often higher than comparable hotels in big cities. The best option is Friendship Hotel. 2. Between Taihuai Town and the Nanshan Temple hotel cluster is the long-distance bus station. Almost all long-distance buses stop here on the way down the mountain, so staying here is very convenient for transport. ## Things to see - **Xiantong Temple** (★★★★★): Admission ¥10; Opening hours 9:00–16:30 (winter); 8:00–17:00 (summer); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xiantong-temple - **Tayuan Temple** (★★★★): Admission ¥10; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tayuan-temple - **Luohou Temple** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/luohou-temple - **Yuanzhao Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥10; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuanzhao-temple - **Nanshan Temple** (★★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanshan-temple - **Puhua Temple** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/puhua-temple - **Wanghai Temple** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wanghai-temple - **Wuye Temple** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—18：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wuye-temple - **Nanchan Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥10; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanchan-temple - **Foguang Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥15; Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/foguang-temple - **Wannian Ice Cave** (★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours 9：00—17：00; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wannian-ice-cave - **Shiziwo** (★★★): Opening hours 6：30—18：00; Time needed 1–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shiziwo - **Fomu Cave** (★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fomu-cave - **Pusa Ding Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥10; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/pusa-ding-temple - **Shuxiang Temple** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shuxiang-temple - **Bishan Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥16; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bishan-temple - **Dailuo Peak** (★★★★): Admission ¥8. Cable car up: ¥50; cable car down: ¥35; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dailuo-peak ## Day trips & beyond - **Yanmen Pass** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 8:00–18:00 (peak season); 8:30–17:00 (off-season); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yanmen-pass - **Zhaogao Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥20; Opening hours 8：00—19：30; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhaogao-temple --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1824–1840. 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.