The Wudang Mountains also known as Wudang Shan and Wu Tang Shan are a small range of mountains in Hubei province, China.
The mountains of Wudang have been famous for many centuries for the Taoist monasteries found there. These monasteries have been centres for research and teaching the practice of meditation, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese herbs, Taoist agriculture practices and other related arts. As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD), the mountain attracted the emperor’s attention.
Wudang is an important location for Taoists and Buddhists. Many Chinese journey to the mountains to pay respects to Taoist beliefs in the many temples that are dotted up and down the mountain. They buy incense to light in the temple’s cauldrons. They bow before the Buddhas there to show respect. Many seek the chance to talk to one of the Taoist monks.
Wudang offers a momentary escape from the urban sprawl of the major cities and the opportunity to view the architectural delights of the temples, palaces and nature on the mountain. These are architectural styles that have been mostly lost in the modernization of China. All my Tao Journey past participants have enjoyed our Wudang Tai Chi school, the architecture of
the temples and the myriad hiking trails leading between them, cutting through the splendid mountain scenery of trees, flowers, streams and the gently rising mist that lingers between the hills and slopes of the mountains.
Portions of two movies have been filmed in Wudang Shan. The 2000 film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon used a location called the Purple Heaven Palace. The 2010 film The Karate Kid staring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan included scenes filmed in some of the temples as well as the Care Free Valley of Wudang Shan. Also the animated Kung Fu Panda movies, where the training takes place is depicted to be that of Wudang.
Anyone who loves mountains and the experience of being in them, will not regret visiting Wudang with Tao Journeys.
