Two-Day Itinerary for Wudang Mountain

Its full name is Xuantian Yuxu Palace. In Taoism, Yuxu is regarded as the residence of the Jade Emperor. It is one of the largest buildings in the Wudang architectural complex. Nestled at the southern foot of Laoying Mountain, it lies about 4 kilometres west of Xuanyue Gate, with the Xiangyu-Chongqing Railway running horizontally in front of the palace compound.

According to legend, this was the first abode of the Crown Prince of Jingyue Kingdom, who later became Emperor Zhenwu. He came to Wudang Mountain to cultivate Taoism at the age of fifteen. When he gave up halfway and headed home due to weak resolve, the Goddess Purple Aura enlightened him with the parable of "grinding an iron pestle into a needle". He then returned to the mountain to continue his spiritual practice, hence the alternative name Fuzhen Temple (Temple of Returning to Truth).

Among the Nine Palaces on the mountain, Nanyan Palace features the most ingenious layout — well-structured yet full of varied scenery. Hiking uphill, visitors will have the illusion that the Heavenly Gate hangs high amid the blue sky.

Ticket: 15 RMB Highlights include Dragon-Tiger Hall, Ten Directions Hall, Zixiao Main Hall, Wonderful Sound Cedar, Parents’ Hall and Prince Rock. The surrounding hills naturally form a throne shaped like two dragons chasing a pearl. Therefore, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty named this blessed land "Purple Firmament Paradise".

Three Taoist temples stand on the Qiongtai Terrace, about 8 kilometres southeast of Tianzhu Peak. They are the Upper Palace, Middle Palace and Lower Palace respectively. All three buildings adapt to the landform and follow a symmetrical layout along the central axis.

Commonly known as the Golden Summit, it stands atop Tianzhu Peak, the highest peak of Wudang Mountain. Known as "a single pillar propping up the sky", it represents the supreme scenic wonder of Wudang Mountain. For pilgrims, tourists and literati alike, only by climbing to the summit and entering Taihe Palace can one claim to have truly visited Wudang Mountain.

Ticket: 20 RMB The hall stands on the top of Tianzhu Peak. Except for its granite base, the whole building is cast in bronze and gilded with red gold, which gives it the name "Golden Hall".

According to legend, Chaotian Palace marks the boundary between the mortal world and the celestial heaven.

Situated on the path leading to the Golden Summit, it is the largest and best-preserved shrine among the sixteen ancestral halls on Wudang Mountain.

Stretching over the sheer cliff outside Wanshou Palace of Nanyan Palace is a stone beam carved with a coiled dragon. It juts out 2.9 metres with a width of merely 0.3 metres. Legend says it was Emperor Zhenwu’s divine mount for his inspections across the land. An incense burner is carved at the dragon’s tip, known as the Dragon Head Incense Burner.