Guidelines for Visiting Taoist Temples on Wudang Mountain
Wudang Mountain is a famous sacred mountain of Taoism. The Taoist community observes its own beliefs, traditions and taboos. When visiting the Taoist palaces and temples, please respect the monks’ customs and taboos. Do not neglect etiquette or behave improperly, which may offend them and lead to disputes and unpleasantness.
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Forms of Address
Taoist priests should be respectfully addressed as Daozhang (Master Taoist) or Shifu (Master). Avoid casual terms such as "religious recluse" or simply "Taoist", let alone insulting names.
Female Taoist practitioners should not be called "Auntie" or "Granny". Use Daozhang or Shifu for elder female Taoists as well.
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Etiquette
The standard greeting is the fist-and-palm salute: cross your hands in front of your chest with the left hand wrapping the right fist, and slightly bow your head.
Handshakes, hugs or patting a Taoist’s head are considered inappropriate and must be avoided.
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Conversation Rules
Do not ask about their age, date of birth, marital status, or talk about meat and fish, so as not to cause offence.
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Daily Customs
Do not disturb Taoists while they are having vegetarian meals, chanting scriptures or sitting in meditation. They will not stop to answer visitors, due to the Taoist rule of "Three No Rising".
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Behaviour
Do not talk loudly, point casually, make sarcastic remarks, or touch sacrificial utensils and statues inside the temple. Never tap or point at divine statues.
If you encounter a Taoist ritual, stand quietly and watch, or leave silently.
Rules for Burning Incense and Paying Homage
Whether you are a pilgrim or a tourist, you need to respect local culture and follow the custom: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
After entering the sacred path of Wudang Mountain, keep quiet and maintain a pure mind. Do not utter vulgar or blasphemous words.
If you wish to burn incense, use the paper-burning furnaces inside the temple. Burning incense is forbidden inside the main halls.
If you bring offerings, do not bring pomegranates, plums, bright red flowers, chickens or dogs, which are regarded as unclean in Wudang Taoism.
Before worshipping, avoid eating wild geese, eels, turtles, soft-shelled turtles, beef, dog meat, pork, as well as pungent vegetables such as raw green onions, chives, garlic and ginger. Alcohol is also prohibited.
Clothing Advice
Wudang Mountain lies in the north subtropical monsoon zone with transitional climate features between northern and southern China.
From Danjiang Reservoir up to Tianzhu Peak, the climate varies sharply with altitude, forming three distinct climatic zones:
- High Zone (Chaotian Palace to Golden Summit): Altitude 1,200–1,612 m; average annual temperature 7.7–10.0°C; frost-free period 163–194 days.
- Middle Zone (Zixiao Palace to Chaotian Palace): Altitude 750–1,200 m; average annual temperature 10.0–12.0°C; frost-free period 194–222 days; annual rainfall 995–1,106 mm.
- Low Zone (Prince Slope and Wudang Town below 750 m): Average annual temperature 12.8–16.0°C; frost-free period 222–254 days; annual rainfall 843–995 mm.
Temperatures swing sharply between morning and night. Please carry warm outerwear to prevent colds.
Outdoor Adventure Precautions
- Plan your route and itinerary thoroughly before departure. Hiring a local guide is strongly recommended.
- Master basic outdoor survival skills. The best travel seasons are spring and autumn, when sudden rainstorms are common.
Never take shelter in deep river valleys (to avoid flash floods) or under overhanging rocks (to prevent rockfalls and landslides).
- Travel in groups. Solo hiking carries many inconveniences and safety risks.
- Stick to marked trails and never wander off the main path.
- Arrive at your scheduled campsite before sunset by managing your time reasonably.
- Take precautions against mosquito bites.
- Wear non-slip, well-fitting shoes. Avoid overly revealing clothes to prevent slipping or being caught by tree branches.
- Bring enough food and drinking water. Do not eat wild mushrooms or wild fruits casually to avoid poisoning.
- Carry communication devices or simple alarm equipment (flashlights, whistles, horns) together with first-aid medicine.
- Do not hunt, start open fires, collect biological specimens or leave litter behind.
Accommodation Reminders
Wudang Mountain has been developed for tourism only recently, so tourist facilities remain limited.
Most hotels are built on steep mountain slopes, so they cannot be compared with three-star hotels in well-developed cities.
Do not expect perfect conditions. Rooms are always in high demand and may feel slightly damp. The staircases are not steep.
Shopping Guide
The main shopping streets are Golden Street and Silver Street.
Typical local goods include: premium Wudang tea, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, dried wild vegetables, Wudang brewed wine, Chinese herbal medicines, Wudang swords, special stamps, walking canes, cultural relic replicas and safety amulet belts.
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