Taoist Sacred Land - Wudang Mountain Part 4: Nanyan

After settling into the inn on the mountain, we took a bus to the Nanyan scenic area. It took half an hour from Taizipo transfer station to the Nanyan Crow Ridge parking lot.

Nanyan Crow Ridge parking lot

Nanyan Crow Ridge parking lot, the red billboard marks the uphill path.

Nanyan Crow Ridge parking lot

Nanyan Scenic Area. Nanyan, also known as 'Zixiao Cliff', is called Nanyan because it faces south. Its full name is Dasheng Nanyan Palace, and it is the most perfect combination of cultural and natural landscapes on Wudang Mountain. According to records, during the Tang Dynasty, Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, once practiced Taoism at Nanyan, and a poem he wrote remains there. In the Yuan Dynasty, the eminent Wudang Taoist Zhang Shouqing 'carved the cliff and leveled the valley, extensively built palaces' on the basis of predecessors, making the buildings at Nanyan 'hidden splendor in the forest, towering twelve-story structures...' At that time, the number of Taoists at Nanyan reached as many as a thousand. Because of Zhang Shouqing's great achievements in building Nanyan and promoting Wudang Taoism, the emperor bestowed upon him the title 'Tixuan Miaoying Taihe Zhenren'.

Upon entering the South Heaven Gate, there is a fork in the road to the left and right. Going right for 200 meters leads to Taichang Temple. Taichang Temple is often surrounded by rosy clouds and mist, and in history it was also called 'Yunxia Temple'. Legend has it that there was a highly skilled Taoist healer named Taichang on Wudang Mountain. He cured the Empress Dowager's illness but refused any reward. The emperor then ordered the construction of this temple on Wudang Mountain, naming it 'Taichang Temple' after the Taoist's name to commemorate him for future generations. Another legend says that Taichang is one of the twelve celestial gods, and Taichang Temple is a place to worship the gods, so inside Taichang Temple enshrines the statue of the supreme Taoist deity—Lord Lao Zi.

Outside Taichang Temple, there is a ginkgo tree. Unlike others, this ginkgo tree has many small trees growing from its sides, like the aerial roots of a banyan tree.

On the other side of Taichang Temple, there is a Thunder God Cave.

Inside the Thunder God Cave, there is a hidden paradise.