China's Most Expensive Mountain: Total Ticket Fees of 412 Yuan, Yet Visitors Find It Worthwhile
Shiyan is one of the most low-key cities in Hubei. If not for the Wudang Mountain scenic area, many might not even know this city exists. We all know that the most famous mountains in China are the Five Great Mountains, but did you know that the most profitable mountain in China is not among them, but rather Wudang Mountain in Shiyan? Last year, nearly 7 million tourists visited Wudang Mountain in Hubei, and its tourism revenue alone surpassed the total of Mount Tai, Mount Hua, Mount Huangshan, Mount Song, and Mount Heng combined.
Why are the tourism fees at Wudang Mountain so high? Let's analyze. First, the entrance ticket to Wudang Mountain scenic area is 140 yuan, the scenic area shuttle bus is 100 yuan, the round-trip cable car is 130 yuan, and the Golden Summit and Purple Cloud Palace charge 27 yuan and 15 yuan respectively. So the total ticket fees for Wudang Mountain scenic area amount to 412 yuan. This does not include accommodation at the Golden Summit, where prices generally range from 300 to 600 yuan per night, and during holidays, rooms are even harder to book.
Wudang Mountain is the most famous Taoist mountain in China. During the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng founded the Wudang Sect here. The well-known TV series 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber' features this very Wudang Mountain. As the most renowned Taoist mountain nationwide, Wudang Mountain has not only had a profound influence on the spread of Taoism but also holds deep significance in Chinese martial arts. The well-known Tai Chi and Bagua Palm both originate from the Wudang Sect.
Wudang Mountain is a beautiful national geopark. When you come here, besides viewing the mountains, the main attraction is the palaces. In summary, the key scenic areas of Wudang Mountain are: Prince Slope, Xiaoyao Valley, Purple Cloud Palace, and the Golden Summit. Among these, the Golden Summit is the most popular scenic spot among out-of-town visitors.
Upon arriving at Prince Slope, I initially felt like giving up because the slope is quite steep. Climbing up the stone steps to the top, you will see Fuzhen Temple. Built during the Ming Dynasty, Fuzhen Temple has a history of 619 years. The architecture covers an area of over 3,500 square meters, making it quite large. Walking through it feels like navigating a maze.
Arriving at the second stop, Xiaoyao Valley, I was immediately captivated by the landscape of mountains and waters. Here, there are not only lofty mountains and flowing streams but also beautiful scenes of rainbow bridges spanning the waves. While walking in Xiaoyao Valley, we could see a wide variety of birds in Wudang Mountain. Whenever I passed through the bamboo groves, I always heard flocks of birds singing. This is truly a natural world filled with birdsong and fragrance of flowers.
From Xiaoyao Valley to Purple Cloud Palace is nearly ten kilometers, with the altitude continuously rising. Upon reaching Purple Cloud Palace, it was snowing – a world covered in silver, breathtakingly beautiful. Purple Cloud Palace is the best-preserved royal architectural complex of Wudang Mountain. As a representative Taoist temple of Wudang, it is also a nationally renowned base for Taoist activities.
From Xiaoyao Valley to the Golden Summit, you need to take the cable car. During the cable car ride, you can see the steep peaks rising abruptly. The Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain is located at an altitude of 1,612 meters. It is the largest existing bronze gilded hall in China. After seeing it, one feels truly enlightened. Watching the sunrise at Wudang Mountain is a must-do experience here, so staying overnight at Wudang Mountain is also a good choice.
