十堰市

Why this place

Shiyan is the city below Wudang Mountain, the most important Taoist mountain in China and the place where the internal martial arts associated with tai chi are said to originate. The temples climb the mountain in an almost continuous line from the sixth century onward, and the Ming built them at imperial expense as a single complex.

What to see

• The Wudang Mountain temple complex — the Golden Hall at the summit, the Purple Cloud Palace and the Nanyan Palace built into a cliff
• The ancient building complex, a UNESCO site, with Ming imperial architecture at every level
• Tai chi practice halls, where you can watch or join early-morning sessions
• The Danjiangkou reservoir, the source area of the South-to-North Water Transfer

What to eat

• Hubei mountain food: wild vegetables, bamboo and the local tofu
• Wudang Taoist vegetarian cooking, which is a genuine tradition

How to plan

Two days on Wudang: one to climb the Golden Hall, one for the lower temples and the tai chi halls.

Best time

April–June and September–November

Practical tips

• The climb is long — buses and a cable car shorten it; the Nanyan Palace cliff temple is the highlight for most people