Holiday in Shiyan

About Shiyan

Shiyan is a large city in the northwest of Hubei Province and the gateway to the sacred Wudang Mountains (Wudang Shan) — one of the most significant Taoist sanctuaries in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. The Wudang Mountains are considered the birthplace of Tai Chi and the internal martial arts (Wudang Wushu). The Wudang complex comprises 72 temples and 36 cliffs over an area of 312 square kilometers. The Golden Palace (Jin Dian) on the summit of Tianzhu Mountain (1,612 m) was built in 1416 under Emperor Yongle from gilded bronze and overlooks a sea of clouds. The ascent via the Sacred Staircase with over 1,000 steps is a spiritual experience. The Purple Cloud Hall (Zixiao Gong) is the largest and best-preserved Taoist temple complex in Wudang. Here, monks still train in Wudang martial arts: flowing movements that unite Yin and Yang — the antithesis to the forceful Shaolin Kung Fu. Visitors can participate in Tai Chi courses. The Nanyan Cliff (South Cliff) rises 700 meters above the abyss and houses the Nanyan Temple, which seems to have grown out of the rock. The famous Dragon Incense Holder juts freely over the chasm — in the past, brave pilgrims placed incense sticks there as a testament of faith. Shiyan itself is known as the auto city: China's second-largest car manufacturer (Dongfeng Motor) has its headquarters here. The surrounding area features the Danjiangkou Reservoir, one of the largest reservoirs in China and a water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.