A One-Day Journey on the Forgotten Ancient Sacred Path of Mount Wudang

The ancient sacred path from Xuanyue Gate and Yuanhe Temple through Nanyan to the Golden Summit is the main pilgrimage route of Mount Wudang. Some sections are covered by roads, but most parts run alongside the roads, with many sections still being flagstone paths over 2 meters wide. There are numerous temple and shrine ruins along the way, which some tourists may pass by without noticing. Starting from Nanyan and walking downhill, one can comfortably reach Yuanhe Temple or Wudanshan Town within a day, with options to take a bus downhill at nearby stops along the way.

1. Southern Heavenly Gate, Cliff Carvings, and Crow Temple:

From the platform with stone tables and benches in front of the Southern Heavenly Gate, head east to start the ancient path. First, you'll see a row of cliff carvings on the left. Beneath a large cliff face lies the ruins of Crow Temple, now surrounded by many ginkgo trees. The famous scene "Crows Receiving Food" from the eight dynamic views of Wudang used to take place here. Continue down to the road, then at a large bend, take the stone steps up to Prince Cave. If you take the small path downhill from the intersection, you'll reach the Blessed Land Gate of Purple Cloud Palace.

2. Prince Cave, Prince Rock Gate, Purple Cloud Palace, and Zhenguantai Cliff Carvings:

Below Prince Rock to the left is Seven Star Rock, with Three Pure Rocks above it—difficult to enter. There is a pond known as the Water Curtain Cave. The path near Seven Star Rock is rough; you can go directly down the stone steps from Prince Rock, pass through Prince Rock Gate, and head to Purple Cloud Palace. After descending, there is a narrow path along the mountain heading north for a few dozen meters leading to an Alchemy Cave, which can only accommodate one person sitting in meditation.

Behind Purple Cloud Palace, you can view the opposite peaks of the Seventy-Two Peaks. In front of Purple Cloud Palace, on Mount Dabao Pearl, there is a Precious Pearl Rock (Baozhu Rock), where Zhang Sanfeng's two direct disciples, Yang Shancheng and Liu Guquan, cultivated themselves. According to legend, Yang Shancheng and Liu Guquan formed a bond of friendship and entered Baozhu Rock to discuss Taiji, reaching the essence of the Infinite.

Baozhu Rock and the large fortress near the road below Zhanqi Peak are difficult to traverse.

To the left front of the palace is a small bridge called the Yu Ji Bridge, commemorating Yu the Great's passage through Purple Cloud Palace during his flood control efforts. The water flows through Yu Ji Pond, then from the road outside cascades down the cliff, forming the highest waterfall on Mount Wudang during rainy seasons.

To the left side of the Parent Hall in Purple Cloud Palace is the Dragon King Temple. Behind the shops to the left of Purple Cloud Palace, on the ancient path, there is the Zhenguantai Cliff Carvings. You must return the same way, as the ancient road leading to Tonghui Bridge is severed by the highway.

3. Tonghui Bridge, Weilie Temple, Eastern Heavenly Gate, and Dongbin Rock:

From the road in front of Purple Cloud Palace, turn left. Beside the garbage transfer station, take the ancient path down to Tonghui Bridge, which ancient records describe as "to the north of Purple Cloud Palace and south of Weilie Temple." Cross the road and continue to Weilie Temple, Eastern Heavenly Gate, and the Hidden Immortal Retreat, which is a converted residential building.

Behind the mountain, beneath a cliff, lies Dongbin Rock, where Lü Dongbin is said to have cultivated himself. Unfortunately, part of the cave has collapsed.

4. Chenggou Bay, Fudi Residence, Lingshan Residence, and Other Guesthouses, Wealth God Temple, Immortal Pass, and Jade Void Rock:

From the back gate of Hidden Immortal Retreat, descend along a section of the ancient path. Near the road to the left, there are several cliff carvings of the "Nine Halls and Eight Temples." Cross the road, step over the railing, and continue on the ancient path, which becomes narrow and less distinct here. Watch out for stinging nettles (locally called tiger thorns), which can cause a burning sensation even through pants!

Around Chenggou Bay's guesthouses, there are tombs of Xu Benshen (the chief Taoist of Purple Cloud Palace) and other Taoist priests like He Shuihe and Yang Laiwang, along with several ancient bridges nearby.

Black Tiger Temple (Wealth God Temple): There are many Black Tiger Temples on Wudang Mountain, but this is the largest. Beneath the shrine, there is a Buddhist swastika (卍) symbol. Before reaching the temple, you'll cross the Black Tiger Bridge. Along the way, there are several guesthouses and health centers with unique features.

At Immortal Pass, there are Song Dynasty cliff carvings. Above is a fortress, an ancient military stronghold, offering a bird's-eye view of Jade Void Rock to the lower right. From the north side of Immortal Pass, a small path leads down to Jade Void Rock. If you continue on the ancient stone path down the Eighteen Bends, you'll reach the Jian River, where you can see the memorial stele of Tianjin Bridge in Xiaoyao Valley. Alternatively, you can walk upstream along the river to Jade Void Rock. The riverbank has many monkeys; you can feed them, but don't provoke them—having a stick in hand will keep you calm.

Song Dynasty cliff carvings at Immortal Pass

On the cliff wall beside the memorial stele of Tianjin Bridge, there is a stone carving of Zhenwu (the Perfected Warrior).

Continuing upstream along the Jian River from Jade Void Rock for a short distance, you'll encounter a guard room. The cave above it is speculated to be the early Buddhist site mentioned in ancient texts—Fahua Cave (Dharma Flower Cave).

5. Tianjin Bridge, Dragon Spring Temple, Guesthouses, and Fuzhen Temple (Prince Slope):

Cross Tianjin Bridge, then continue on the ancient path from the right side of Dragon Spring Temple. A well-preserved section leads to guesthouses and a martial arts school. Continue on the ancient path and enter through the left gate of Prince Slope.

The existing buildings include the main hall, side halls, Altar of Worshipping the Dipper, and guest rooms—30 rooms in total, all with single-eave hard-roofed green tiles, brick-and-wood structure, and beam-lifting framework. It once served as the headquarters of the Laojuntang Commune. From Prince Slope, walk 1.8 km to the Laojuntang Altar of Worshipping the Dipper. Part of the ancient path lies above the road in the first half, making it hard to find.

There is no bus stop here. From Laojuntang, descend about 1700 meters, then take a distinct small path on the right for about 100 meters to reach Guanwang Temple (General Guan's Temple). From Guanwang Temple, continue north along the ancient path for 300 meters, or head south on the road for 800 meters, to reach Mozhen Well.

8. Mozhen Well: The legendary site of "grinding an iron rod into a needle." There are many steles, including two fossils of "right-angle beasts." Buses can stop here. From the road intersection at Mozhen Well, you can continue along the ancient path for one kilometer to Huixin Nunnery (a small path leads to a martial arts school). This section of the ancient path is somewhat intermittent in the second half; you can also walk on the road.

9. Huixin Nunnery: There is no bus stop. Walk 2 km along the road to Huilong Temple.

10. Huilong Temple: It features the smallest ancient bridge on Wudang Mountain. A few dozen meters behind the main hall, beside the road, there are several pagoda tombs. You can take a bus down to the scenic area entrance, or continue on the ancient path behind Huilong Temple (the first part of which is now a road) through Yuhuang Temple to Yuanhe Temple.

11. Yuhuang Temple (Jade Emperor Temple)

12. Yuanhe Temple: It houses some free cultural relic exhibitions.

13. Yuzhen Palace, Taishan Temple, and Xiangfu Nunnery:

Ancient records state that Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of Tai Chi, "searched the northern foothills of Zhanqi Peak, chose a site, built a thatched hut, and dedicated incense to the Mysterious Emperor, naming it 'Yuzhen Palace'; also chose a site at Huangtucheng, built a thatched hut, and named it 'Huixian Hall'." In the tenth year of Yongle (1412), when the imperial construction of Wudang Mountain temples began, Xuantian Jade Void Palace was built on the site of Yuzhen Palace. Meanwhile, Yuzhen Palace was built on the site of Huixian Hall. The Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty built a grand temple complex for a living Wudang Taoist—396 Taoist rooms covering an area of 56,780 square meters, a unique event in history!

Due to the rising water level of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, Yuzhen Palace has been raised by 15 meters as a whole.

The ruins of Taishan Temple and Xiangfu Nunnery are both east of Yuzhen Palace and have been submerged. They have now been relocated nearby.

14. Xuanyue Gate (commonly known as the Mountain Entrance): According to Xiong Bin's (Qing Dynasty) "Record of Climbing Taihe Mountain," "The two mountains converge like a gorge, with the 'Governing the World Xuanyue Archway' erected in the middle, carved from patterned stone. It stands magnificently, built during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty to crown the Five Great Mountains."

15. Chongxu Nunnery (also called Golden Flower Tree or Lü Ancestor Nunnery): To the left front of the gate, there is a cypress tree said to be planted by Lü Dongbin. Beneath the large tree is an ancient well, recorded as the Shun Well. The Wudang Mountain legend predates the Yu Ji Bridge and Yu Ji Pavilion (the pavilion is destroyed) commemorating Yu the Great's flood control, located in front of Purple Cloud Palace.

At this point, the ancient sacred path from Golden Summit to Junzhou City has reached Caodian. The path from here to Junzhou City is submerged by the Danjiangkou Reservoir and cannot be continued. If you need to go to Wudangshan Town for transportation, you can flag down a bus from Danjiang to Shiyan at the entrance of Xuanyue Gate, heading to Shiyan city center or Wudangshan Railway Station, or take a bus to Wudangshan Town and then transfer to Wudangshan High-Speed Rail Station or Wudangshan Airport. In Wudangshan Town, you can visit the largest building on Wudang Mountain, Jade Void Palace (Yuxu Palace). In front of Jade Void Palace are Taishan Temple (now the Wudang Cultural Relics Management Office), Fire God Temple (to the left of the road bridge after descending the long slope from the scenic area entrance), Wudang Mountain Museum, and Xiandu Bridge.

16. Taishan Temple

17. Jade Void Palace (Yuxu Palace)

18. Wudang Mountain Museum and Xiandu Bridge

The ancient sacred path from Nanyan to Yuanhe Temple is about 19 kilometers long. The entire route is downhill and relatively gentle, suitable for horse riding or sedan chairs in ancient times. Without too many stops, one day is sufficient. Water and food can be replenished along the way. Some sections are on roads with bus stops. Mobile phone signal is strong throughout, ensuring safety. It is recommended that groups of 3 to 10 people start early in the morning from Nanyan. Accommodation and meals are available at Nanyan, Purple Cloud Palace, Weilie Temple, Chenggou Bay, Xiaoyao Valley, Prince Slope, and Yuanhe Temple, which together house most of the unique guesthouses on Wudang Mountain.