Shiyan · northwest Hubei
Wudang Mountains 武当山
The Taoist mountain where tai chi was born.
- Region
- Shiyan · northwest Hubei
- How long
- 1 to 2 days (overnight to catch sunrise)
- Best time
- April to June, September to November
- Climate
- Cooler mountain air, 8-24°C; crisp in autumn, occasional snow in winter. Summer is the wettest and foggiest
What is there to see in Wudang Mountains?
- -Golden Hall (Jinding) at Tianzhu Peak
- -Purple Cloud Palace (Zixiao)
- -Nanyan Palace built into the cliff
- -Tai chi and Wudang kung fu
- -Prince Slope (Taizipo) and its nine-bend wall
What it was like on the ground
We took the cable car up and still had a serious climb to the Golden Hall, arriving as fog rolled through the peaks below — the gilded hall glowing dimly in the mist felt like walking into a Ming scroll painting. In the Purple Cloud Palace courtyard a monk moved through a tai chi form so slowly it looked like the mountain was breathing with him, and a small group of students followed, not a performance for tourists but a daily routine. The honest advice: Wudang is a climb, not a drive-through. The flashy kung-fu stage shows near the base are skippable; the real thing is the morning practice and the silence of the high temples. Go early, stay the night near the summit area if you can, and bring grippy shoes for the uneven, often-slick stone steps.
How do you get to Wudang Mountains?
Wudang sits in the Shiyan region of northwest Hubei, reachable by rail or a flight into Shiyan.
By train: Wudangshan station on the Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed line: about 3 hours from Wuhan (CNY 150-200), then a short shuttle to the scenic area.
By air: Shiyan Wudangshan Airport has limited flights; most travelers arrive by rail from Wuhan or Xi'an.
What should you eat in Wudang Mountains?
Taoist vegetarian dishes (道教斋菜) CNY 30-60
Mountain temples serve simple vegetable and tofu dishes with rice. Eat at a temple guesthouse for the authentic, unseasoned version.
Wudang tea (武当道茶) CNY 30-80
Green tea grown on the mountain slopes, sold at tea houses near the temples. Light and fragrant; buy loose, not in souvenir tins.
A sample day in Wudang Mountains
Overnight
- Day 1: cable car up, Golden Hall, Nanyan Palace
- Overnight on the mountain
- Day 2: Purple Cloud Palace, Prince Slope, tai chi at dawn
Where should you stay in Wudang Mountains?
Base-town hotels (CNY 150-400) — Practical stays in the valley town below the scenic area, close to the cable car and the bus hub.
Mountain guesthouses (CNY 200-500) — Temple lodges and simple inns on the slopes, the way to catch sunrise and avoid the day-trip crowds.
Is Wudang Mountains right for you?
Worth it for
Taoism and martial-arts fans, hikers, culture seekers, anyone who wants Shaolin's quieter sibling
Skip it if
Travelers who dislike steep stairs; reaching the summit means climbing thousands of steps or a long cable-car-plus-hike
Know before you go
The stairs are relentless
Expect 3-4 hours of climbing if you skip parts of the cable car. Bring grippy shoes and water; the steps are uneven and can be slick in rain.
Beware the 'kung fu school' pitch
Touts around the base offer short kung-fu courses of variable quality. If you want to learn, research schools in advance and check reviews.
Wudang Mountains FAQ
1 to 2 days (overnight to catch sunrise). Best suited to: Taoism and martial-arts fans, hikers, culture seekers, anyone who wants Shaolin's quieter sibling.
April to June, September to November. Cooler mountain air, 8-24°C; crisp in autumn, occasional snow in winter. Summer is the wettest and foggiest.
Wudangshan station on the Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed line: about 3 hours from Wuhan (CNY 150-200), then a short shuttle to the scenic area.
Taoist vegetarian dishes (道教斋菜) — CNY 30-60; Wudang tea (武当道茶) — CNY 30-80.
Base-town hotels: CNY 150-400; Mountain guesthouses: CNY 200-500.
Other places in Hubei
- Wuhan 武汉 Yellow Crane Tower, East Lake and the breakfast that starts every day
- Shennongjia 神农架 A primeval forest of golden monkeys and 'wild man' legend
- Yichang & Three Gorges 宜昌三峡 The Three Gorges Dam and the river that carved China
- Enshi Grand Canyon 恩施大峡谷 China's answer to the Colorado Grand Canyon, plus Tujia culture
- Jingzhou Ancient City 荆州古城 The walled city of Chu culture and the Three Kingdoms
- Xiangyang 襄阳 The Three Kingdoms city of Longzhong and the Han River wall
- Chibi 赤壁 The battlefield of Red Cliffs, where the Three Kingdoms turned
Planning the whole province? See all Hubei destinations, the ready-made itineraries, the food guide and the best time to visit.