- 1. Best Time to Visit Wudang Mountain & What to Bring
Spring (March~May) and autumn (September~November) are the best seasons to visit Wudang Mountain.
In Spring, the weather starts getting warm with trees turning green and flowers in blossom. It will be chilly on the mountain and snow can be seen on the top of the mountain. Travelers should bring enough warm clothing and as well as raincoats. The annual grand Temple Fair (the Emperor Zhen Wu’s birthday) falls on the third day of the third lunar month. Travelers who are interested in the temple fair and profound Taoism culture, you can come to Wudang Mountain in March or April (on March 26, 2020).
In Autumn, the weather will be quite pleasant - the sky is clear and the air is crisp. The whole mountain becomes a mysterious fairyland, the Taoist temples and palaces under the blue sky look very solemnly and majestically. On the ninth day of ninth lunar month, many Taoist believers and travelers come to Wudang Mountain to attend the great Prayer Meeting which belongs to the Enlightenment day of Zhen Wu who has cultivated himself for 42 years. A grand ceremony will be held in Purple Cloud Palace and other temples. It falls on October 7 in the year of 2019.
If you are interested in the Temple Fair and Prayer Meeting, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants for more information.
- 2. Where to Learn Some Tai Chi / Kung Fu or other Martial Arts
There are many professional Kungfu academies or schools to learn and experience the incredible Kung Fu, Tai Chi or other martial arts. The following are the best recommenced places to learn Kungfu situated at the foot / on the top / near Wudang Mountain.
(a) At the foot of the Wudang Mountain near Yuxu Palace, you can go to Wudang Daoist Traditional Kungfu Academy (武当道家传统武术馆) where offers short-term study and long-term study. If you have limited time, it is a good idea to take part in the short Tai Chi experiencing classes (1-2 hour, 0.5-1 day or more days). If you want to spend loner time, you can take 10-15 days to learn Tai Chi 13 Form or Tai Chi 28 Postures Course.
(b) On the top of Wudang Mountain at Qiongtai Palace, it is Wudang Wuji Kungfu Academy (武当无极功夫馆) can customize your Kungfu experience based on your time and likes. You can have 1-2 hour’s Kungfu learning, or 3-7 days’ learning or long-term classes.
(c) China Wudang Kungfu Academy (武当师行功夫馆), 5km to Wudang Mountain Scenic Area, provide good training environment, like skilled coaches, spacious training ground, healthy food and comfortable accommodation. There are long-term classes and short-term classes based on your likes.
Note: If you are Kungfu fans or travelers who want to have Kungfu experience, please tell us your likes, time planning and schools you prefer. We can customize your Kungfu experience and add it into your Wudang Mountain tour!
- 3. Sightseeing Bus in Wudang Mountain Scenic Area
Numerous sightseeing buses are available at Wudang Mountain Scenic Area which can escort you to every scenic spot. They run service during 07:00-17:30 or after. Please check the distances between different scenic spots and driving time as following:
| Tourist Center - Needle-Grinding Well: 6.5km, about 15mins
| Purple Cloud Palace - Nanyan Temple: 3km, about 7mins
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| Tourist Center - Prince Slope: 10km, about 25mins |
Needle-Grinding Well - Prince Slope: 4km, about 10mins |
| Tourist Center - Nanyan Temple: 23.5km, about 50mins |
Prince Slope - Purple Cloud Palace: 10km, about 30mins |
| Tourist Center - Purple Cloud Palace: 20km, about 40mins |
Qiongtai Palace - Golden Palace: 2km, about 30mins |
| Tourist Center - Qiongtai Palace: 26km, about 50mins - 1 hour |
Nanyan Temple - Golden Palace: 4km, about 2-3 hours (hiking) |
Winding Mountain Road Notice: Please pay attention that the road up or down the Wudang Mountain is quite winding and zigzagging, and you may catch carsickness. Please take some anti-motion sickness pills with you.
- 4. Important Rules for Visiting the Taoism Temples and Palaces
- ● When entering a Taoist temple, please do not step on the threshold which is regarded as the shoulder of the god. Do not point at the Taoist sculptures in any of the temples. Besides, you are not allowed to take photos or videos at the Taoist sculptures.
- ● It is not polite to ask the age and family origins of the Taoist priests who believe in immortality.
- ● Smoking is forbidden at the whole scenic area. If you want to smoke, please go to a designated smoking area in the scenic spots. Please ask your tour guide.
- 5. Interesting Taoism Culture Experience & Activities
Besides seeing the Taoist temples, palaces and the art of architecture, you can enjoy different kinds of activities to experience Taoism culture and truly linking yourself with the Tao.
Tea Tasting: Learn six types of Tea (Green Tea, Yellow Tea, White Tea, Wulong Tea, Red Tea and Dark Tea) and the tea produced in Wudang Mountain, get to know the use of tea set and learn the method of brewing tea. Enjoy some peaceful time and soak up tea with your partners.
Scriptures Copying: Learn some basic Chinese under the guidance of a master and try to copy the famous work Tao Te Ching. You will get to comprehend the meaning of Tao while you doing the copy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Medical Skill: Chinese medical therapy is totally different from Western medicine therapy. Feel the contrast and get to know the essence of traditional way of treating a disease by facing to facing with the Taoist doctors.
Attend the Afternoon Chant in Purple Cloud Palace: Taoist priests have daily routine to do morning music and chanting around 05:00 which is called “Breaking the Quiet”. As the sun rises and the people in the temple wake up, the sound of a drum calls them to the main altar where they begin their morning ritual. They will do afternoon chant around 17:00. Catch the time to enjoy the chant in Purple Cloud Palace.
Have a Chat with Taoist Priests at Night: You can have some time to communicate with the true Taoist priests who live in the temples or palaces on Wudang Mountain. By talking with them, you will enjoy the story of them and know Wudang Mountain and the Taoism deeper.
No matter what kinds of activities you are interested, feel free to tell us your ideas and we can add it into the trip. For detailed prices and arrangements, please ask for your travel consultants who are here ready to help!
- 6. Night Performance “A Dream of Wudang”
Nightlife in Wudangshan will be simple and limited. If you want a place to kill your time, you can go to Taiji Theater to enjoy the Kungfu show “A Dream of Wudang”. It will be performed during 20:00~21:00 on every Friday and Saturday evening. Please go there 10 minutes in advance.
