Things to do in Danjiangkou

Wudang Mountain is a place of great beauty. The 80-kilometer winding mountain road from the visitor center to the scenic area is served by shuttle buses – a service that deserves praise, as the drivers are highly skilled. This Taoist holy site boasts a rich cultural heritage and is well worth a visit.

On the first morning of the National Day holiday, there weren't too many people, but there was only one path to the mountaintop, and it got congested shortly after getting off the cable car. You can imagine how bad the congestion would be later. It was raining at the summit, so there was practically nothing to see, and with the traffic jam, I think there could be a sign below the cable car station clearly explaining the situation at the top; that might have reduced the congestion. However, the cafes and shops in the plaza before the cable car station deserve praise; beautiful scenery and delicious coffee made for a great experience.

Standing atop the Danjiangkou Dam, overlooking the vast expanse of water, is truly awe-inspiring! This is the world's longest water diversion project, benefiting the largest population and covering the widest area. Strolling along the dam's viewing platform, the distant blue sky and white clouds reflect beautifully on the water, which shimmers in the sunlight. The dam's magnificent structure blends seamlessly with the surrounding stunning scenery, making every snapshot a cinematic masterpiece, as if each frame tells its own story.

Visit the immersive performance "A Dream of Wudang" during the National Day holiday! The stage design and special effects are stunning, with high-altitude wire work and Tai Chi performances creating a truly immersive atmosphere. The story recounts the history of Wudang's construction. The only downside is the crowds during the holiday; early arrival is recommended.

Wudang Golden Summit is the most worthwhile place to visit in Wudang Mountain. Especially after climbing the steep stairs with trembling legs, listening to the crows' calls, and seeing the small house on the top of the mountain, you will feel emotional. What's more, the Golden Summit is built with oriental aesthetics, very beautiful and noble.

On March 22, we went sightseeing at Daming Peak. Standing at the foot of the mountain, before setting off, we could already see the winding plank road, which was ingenious. The suspended plank road has nine links from north to south, with a total length of 999 meters, like a silver snake winding around, but walking on it is safe. Confucius said: "The benevolent enjoy the mountains." Climbing up the steps, we can quite understand the fun of climbing the heights of the ancients. Standing on the mountain, looking into the distance, surrounded by thousands of mountains, layers of mist, pavilions and towers, and the layers of mountains are magnificent.

玉虚宫，隐匿在武当山脚下的宫殿，真的太震撼了！​玉虚宫保存着永乐年间的“三朝五门”建制。玉宫门的门钉多为横九路、竖九路，九路门钉是皇家宫殿独有的标识，象征着皇权的至高无上。据说武当山总共就12座御碑亭，玉虚宫就有4座。

This long journey is truly worth experiencing. The boat makes a brief stop at the farthest point, offering breathtaking views of the endless expanse of water, making one marvel at the sheer scale of this understated yet impressive water conservancy project.

Nanyan Palace is an extremely important and distinctive part of the ancient buildings in Wudang Mountain. It enjoys a high reputation, mainly based on the following points: ​ ​1. Excellent geographical location and breathtaking architectural wonders: • "Hanging Temple"-like steepness: The biggest charm of Nanyan Palace is that it is built on a cliff. Its main building is built on the mountain and embedded between the cliffs. In particular, the famous "Dragon Head Incense" (also known as Dragon Head Stone) extends about 3 meters from the cliff and overlooks the deep valley. It is extremely breathtaking and is one of the most iconic landscapes in Wudang Mountain. This "fairy mountain and pavilion"-like architectural art embodies the ancient people's philosophical thought of "harmony between man and nature" and extraordinary engineering technology. • Magnificent natural scenery: Located at the southern foot of Wudang Mountain, it has a wide view. From here, you can see the Golden Summit (Tianzhu Peak) from a distance, overlooking the mountains and valleys. When surrounded by clouds and mist, it is like a fairyland.​ 2. Profound Taoist cultural heritage and historical value: •The core place of Zhenwu Emperor belief: It is said to be the "holy land" where Zhenwu Emperor attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven, and it has a high status in Taoist legends. The Liangyi Hall and Tianyi Zhenqing Palace Stone Hall in the palace are important places for Taoist activities. ​ •Royal style: As a Taoist palace built by the royal family of the Ming Dynasty (built by imperial order in the 10th year of Yongle), its architectural regulations are not as grand as Taihe Palace and Zixiao Palace due to terrain restrictions, but it still reflects the solemnity and style of royal architecture. ​ •World Cultural Heritage: As a core component of the "Wudang Mountain Ancient Buildings", it was listed in the "World Heritage List" by UNESCO in 1994. ​ 3. Exquisite architectural art and stone carvings: •Stonework model: Tianyi Zhenqing Palace is a stone hall with an imitation wooden structure, all made of stone carving and mortise and tenon joints, with exquisite craftsmanship. It is a masterpiece of stone structure architecture in the Yuan Dynasty and has great historical and artistic value.​ •Rich Taoist stone carvings: There are many exquisite cliff carvings, steles, and stone carvings related to legendary stories such as "Prince Lying on the Dragon Bed" preserved inside and outside the palace, which are rich in cultural connotations. ​ •Unique palace layout: Due to the terrain restrictions, its layout is not the traditional central axis symmetry, but cleverly follows the mountain terrain, with a unique style. ​ 4. Important pilgrimage and tourism nodes: •Important starting point/passing point for climbing the Golden Summit: For tourists who hike to the Golden Summit, Nanyan Palace is a must-go place and an important rest and supply station. ​ •Core attractions are concentrated: In addition to Longtouxiang and Tianyi Zhenqing Palace, there are also Nantianmen, Xuandi Temple Ruins, Feisheng Rock, Dressing Table, Langmei Temple and other attractions densely distributed with rich content. ​ ​Some aspects that need attention (not negative, but objective reminders): ​ •The terrain is steep and you need to be cautious when visiting: Especially the road to Longtouxiang is narrow and steep, and you need to pay attention to safety when there are many people. In order to protect the cultural relics and tourists' safety, it is now forbidden to burn incense on the Dragon Head Stone (you can burn incense in the newly built incense burner next to it). ​ • Some buildings are ruins: They have been damaged in history (such as thunder and fire, war), and some buildings (such as the Xuan Emperor Hall) are now ruins, but you can still feel the scale and atmosphere of the past.

The view is wide and the weather is good for better photos