Wudang Mountains武当山古建筑群 · Wǔdāng Shān — the birthplace of tai chi
A range of Taoist temples and palaces in Hubei built as an imperial-scale complex in the Ming dynasty, crowned by the Golden Peak at 1,613 meters. Legend credits a hermit monk here with inventing tai chi — and Wudang kung fu is still taught in the mountain's schools today.
An emperor's tribute to a mountain of immortals.
The temples and palaces of Wudang were built as a single organized complex under the Ming dynasty in the 14th–17th centuries, though the mountain's Taoist buildings date back as far as the 7th century. The result is one of the most complete records of religious architecture in China — halls, bridges and monasteries laid across the mountain's slopes and valleys in deliberate harmony with the terrain, representing nearly a thousand years of continuous building.
Wudang is as much a living practice as a monument: it's traditionally held as the birthplace of tai chi, credited to the legendary Taoist Zhang Sanfeng, and Wudang-style kung fu — softer, more internal than Shaolin's — is still taught at martial arts academies on the mountain today.
Wudang and Shaolin are often paired as China's two great martial-arts mountains — Shaolin representing Buddhist, external ('hard') styles, and Wudang representing Taoist, internal ('soft') styles like tai chi and baguazhang.
Up the mountain to the Golden Peak.
Most routes climb from the Qiongtai area toward the summit, passing these temples along the way.
Tap or hover a photo for access details.
Golden Peak (Taihe Palace) 金顶（太和宫）
The summit temple at 1,613 m, cast entirely in gilded bronze — the spiritual and physical high point of the whole complex.Elevation 1,613 m · Up Taihe cable car + ~20 min climb
Purple Cloud Temple (Zixiao Palace) 紫霄宫
The best-preserved large-scale timber Taoist complex on the mountain, first built in the Song dynasty and considered the architectural showpiece of Wudang.Style timber-frame Taoist palace · First built Song dynasty
Nanyan (South Rock) Temple 南岩宫
Widely considered the most scenic of Wudang's '36 rocks,' with halls built directly into the cliff face and sweeping valley views.Known for cliffside setting, views · On the through-ticket
Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy 武当武术馆
A martial arts school on the mountain offering demonstrations and short courses in tai chi and other internal Wudang styles.Offers demonstrations, short courses
Spring and autumn for clear summit views.
April–May and September–October bring the mildest weather and the clearest skies for the Golden Peak view. Summer is hot and humid lower down, with the summit often wrapped in cloud; winter is cold at altitude and can bring ice on the upper trails and steps.
Check summit weather before committing to the cable car. The Golden Peak is frequently in cloud, especially in summer — the view (and the point of going up) depends on clear conditions, so build a flexible day if you can.
For foreign travelers.
- Buy the unified through-ticket at the entrance — it covers the Golden Peak, Purple Cloud Temple and Nanyan without separate tickets for each.
- Budget the cable car as a separate cost, and expect a final 20-minute climb on foot even after riding it to the top station.
- Stay overnight near the entrance (Wudangshan town) or partway up if you want an early start before tour buses arrive.
- Bring layers — temperatures at the 1,613 m summit are noticeably colder than at the base.
- Combine with Chengdu or a Wuhan stopover for a wider Taoist and martial-arts themed route.