Wudang Mountain, known to locals as Taihe or Xuanyue in the northwest of Hubei Province, is one of the best known of China's Taoist holy mountains. It was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994.
Covering an area of 300 square kilometers, Wudang Mountain is known as the cradle of Taoism. Dotted in the spectacular natural scenery, there is an ancient Taoist temple complex, including 72 temples, 39 bridges, 36 nunneries and 12 pavilions. Each of them shows the different architectural styles ranging from Tang, through Song, Yuan, Ming, to Qing Dynasties. The oldest temple Wulongci (Five Dragons Ancestral Temple) represents the commencement of the promotion of Taoism. In 1413, Emperor Zhudi of the Ming Dynasty ordered 33 temples to be built within ten years, representing the peak of its development.
Wudang Mountain is also known for its famous 'Wudang kung fu' (taiji), which advocates the cultivation of morality and fostering of nature in conjunction with physical training. The Hall of Yuzhen is regarded as the cradle of Wudang kung fu. In 1417, Emperor Zhudi decreed Wudang to be the 'Grand Mountain' and ordered the construction of the Hall of Yuzhen for Master Zhang Sanfeng, the originator of Wudang quan. On January 19, 2003, a fire destroyed the hall. The only lucky thing is that the gold-plated statute of Zhang Sanfeng, which was usually housed in Yuzhen Hall, was moved to another building just before the fire and escaped from the destruction.
