The Wudang Mountains (simplified Chinese: 武当山; traditional
Chinese: 武當山; pinyin: Wǔdāng Shān), also known as Wu Tang
Shan or simply Wudang, are a small mountain range in the Hubei
province of China, just to the south of the manufacturing city of
Shiyan.
In years past, the mountains of Wudang were known for the many
Taoist monasteries to be found there, monasteries which became known
as an academic centre for the research, teaching and practise of
meditation, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine,
Taoist agriculture practises and related arts. As early as the
Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220AD), the mountain attracted the Emperor's
attention. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the first site of
worship - the Five Dragon Temple - was constructed. The monasteries
were emptied, damaged and then neglected during and after the
Cultural Revolution of 1966–1976, but the Wudang mountains have
lately become increasingly popular with tourists from elsewhere in
China and abroad due to their scenic location and historical
interest. The monasteries and buildings were made a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1994.
