Travelogue
Travel Information
Mount Wudang:
Up & Down a Sacred Site
Climbing one of China’s holiest Taoist sites with beginner climber, Davian Chew.
By Davian Chew - October 9, 2019
t started to drizzle as soon as the bus set off to Mount Wudang from the ticketing station. “I recommend tourists to climb
up the mountain on a clear day as the scenery is nicer and the steps are not slippery,” said Mr Zhang, a local who proudly revealed that he has climbed Mount Wudang four times.
Stepping out of the bus, the first thing that hit me was the fresh cool air, a stark contrast to the still air back in the city of Wuhan. The wind was so strong that even a thick Levi’s denim jacket wasn’t enough to keep me warm. However, the cold seemed insignificant as I caught sight of the magnificent view of the mountain peaks peeking through the dense mist.
When taking the cable car up the mountain from the Wulong Cable Car Station, don’t be shocked if your ears start “popping” because it is very normal. I was excited to see the scenery of Mount Wudang from the cable car. However, as we ascended higher up the mountains, the windows of the cable car started to fog up. Soon, the windows turned to an opaque white and nothing could be seen from the inside.
The hike to the peak of the mountain started the moment I alighted from the cable car. Climbing up the narrow stone stairs, the intense smell of joss sticks filled the thin air.
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Climbing further up, I reached the Zhuan Yun Dian (转运殿) also known as the Changing Luck Temple. The interior of the temple was pitch black, giving it an uninviting and daunting feel. However, wanting to change my fortune, I stepped in.
The procedure of obtaining good luck required one to walk a short round in a tight passageway without looking back. One should only look behind after exiting the temple as the Chinese have a saying about how luck doesn’t go backwards.
After a long and arduous climb up, I finally arrived at the Golden Palace at the peak of the mountain. Just like the cable car ride earlier, another spectacular view was affected because of the pouring rain and thick mist.
In the palace, there is a flame which has not been extinguished for the past 607 years. That was very shocking to me because I expected the strong wind up on the mountain to extinguish the flame every day but surprisingly, it hasn’t for such a long time.
There is also a shop where one can get their names inscribed on padlocks. The locks are sold at 50 yuan (S$10) each and they symbolise prosperity and good health.
The misty view of Mount Wudang from the halfway point of the hike.
One can decide to descend the mountain by cable car but in order to get the full experience of Mount Wudang, I chose to trek down the mountain instead. The hike down the mountain was not easy as the steps were steep, narrow and very slippery.
The first few flights of steps had railings, but as I descended further, the railings started to disappear, making the hike down more difficult than it already was.
One can also ride a sedan chair down the mountain for 500 yuan (S$100). If you decide to ride a sedan chair halfway down the mountain, it will still be the same price.
Having the preconception that a trek down a mountain is just fully a downward descent, I was surprised that there were many upward steps, making the route a lot more convoluted than I had imagined.
The steep descent down Mount Wudang had no railings, making it hard for visitors to hike down the mountain.
After close to three hours of trekking, I finally reached the area to board the bus. At the end of the climb, I had mixed feelings. I felt a sense of satisfaction as I successfully hiked down the mountain for the first time despite the weather conditions. At the same time, I was disappointed as the bad weather hampered the chance for me to fully experience and witness the splendour and magnificence of Mount Wudang properly.
Writer's Tip
Visiting Mount Wudang on a rainy day would definitely hinder you from getting the full experience that it has to offer. I would suggest visiting here when the weather is clear and cool. And if like me, you’re here on a rainy day, I would suggest taking a cable car down as it can be dangerous to trek down the mountain given the bad weather. Mount Wudang is a place that can heal your mind and soul so when you visit there, challenge yourself and refrain from using your phone because trust me, you will gain so much more from it.
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