Yuanzhen Palace

Yuanzhen Palace

Yuanzhen Palace is located 4 kilometers east of Wudangshan Town, and is one of the Nine Palaces of Wudang Mountain. Situated at the foot of the mountain at an altitude of 174.7 meters, it backs onto Phoenix Mountain and faces Nine Dragons Mountain, with Wangxian Terrace to the left and Black Tiger Cave to the right. Surrounded by mountains and rivers like a city, it was formerly known as Huangtu City. The palace is embraced by high mountains, crisscrossed by murmuring streams, and shaded by towering trees. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng practiced here. During the Yongle era, the emperor ordered the construction of Yuanzhen Palace at this site, which was completed in the 15th year of Yongle, featuring a total of 97 structures including halls and fasting rooms. By the Jiajing era, Yuanzhen Palace had expanded to 396 rooms, with spacious courtyards and a serene, solemn environment. At that time, it comprised 296 various buildings including halls, fasting rooms, corridors, mountain gates, and pavilions.

The existing palace walls are relatively intact, measuring 697 meters in length, 3.85 meters in height, and 1.15 meters in thickness, with damaged tops. From front to back, there are glazed eight-character palace gates, east and west side halls, left and right corridors, fasting rooms, Zhenxian Hall, and the mountain gate. The courtyards are spacious, and the Taoist rooms are elegant. The existing main hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a hip-and-gable roof, a post-and-lintel wooden frame, surrounded by bracket sets, though the rear eaves are damaged and currently sealed. It spans three bays in both width and depth, measuring 20.30 meters in width, 11.15 meters in depth, and 11.23 meters in height. With a single-eave flying roof, colorful beams, and red walls, it stands majestically atop a decorated platform. There are currently 33 temple buildings, covering a construction area of 1,459 square meters and a site area of 56,780 square meters. Major structures include the glazed eight-character palace gates, east and west side halls, left and right corridors, Zhenxian Hall, and Taoist dwellings, all largely preserving their original architectural style. The Zhenxian Hall features a hip-and-gable roof, spans three bays in both width and depth, has a single-eave flying roof, colorful beams, and red walls, standing grandly on an elevated platform, exuding an ancient, elegant, solemn, and dignified aura. Yuanzhen Palace is renowned for enshrining Zhang Sanfeng, and the Zhenxian Hall houses a copper gilt statue of Zhang Sanfeng. Dressed in a Taoist robe, wearing a straw hat, and straw sandals, the statue's graceful posture exudes an otherworldly charm, making it an extremely precious piece of Ming Dynasty art.

Yuanzhen Palace was built by the emperor specifically for a Wudang Taoist priest named Zhang Sanfeng. Zhang Sanfeng was a legendary figure in the history of Chinese Taoism and martial arts. He had an eidetic memory, profound knowledge of astronomy and geography, exceptional talent, and formidable martial arts skills. He appeared and disappeared without a trace, traveling across China’s famous mountains and rivers to preach, exerting a significant influence among the people and being revered as a “true immortal.”

In the early years of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng came to Wudang Mountain and once practiced here in a hermitage. The Wudang martial arts he developed gained fame throughout the land and, through continuous refinement by later masters, eventually became one of the most influential schools of Chinese martial arts. As Zhang Sanfeng was regarded as the progenitor of Wudang martial arts, Yuanzhen Palace has been venerated by generations of Wudang martial arts disciples who came here to practice. When Zhang Sanfeng was on Wudang Mountain, he once said that this mountain would surely flourish in the future. Decades later, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty indeed carried out major renovations of Wudang. Later, Zhang Sanfeng left Wudang Mountain and his whereabouts became unknown. Both Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di issued edicts dispatching envoys to search for Zhang Sanfeng. Emperor Chengzu even wrote in a letter to Zhang Sanfeng: “...Your Holiness possesses virtue so lofty it surpasses all things, and your mystical abilities are unfathomable. Though my talents are modest, my sincere desire to meet you has never wavered day or night...” But contrary to their hopes, no one was able to find Zhang Sanfeng, who possessed the “arts of longevity and transcending the mundane.” This Wudang sage became a mysterious figure admired by later generations. To demonstrate his sincerity, Emperor Chengzu personally ordered the construction of “Yuanzhen Palace,” and instructed that a set of statues of Zhang Sanfeng be placed in the center of the main hall for worship. It was unprecedented in Chinese history for the supreme emperor to build a palace for a Wudang Taoist priest, create statues for worship, and assign monks for maintenance. For this reason, Yuanzhen Palace has become an important part of Wudang Taoism.

Address: Yuanzhen Palace Village, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan

Type: Historical Site / Taoist Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

Monday–Sunday, 7:00–17:00

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the scenic area admission

Zhang Sanfeng (1247 or 1264–1458), the patriarch of the Wudang Sect, claimed to be the fifth son of Zhang Anzhong, born on the 18th day of the sixth month in the Year of Guiyou during the Yuan Dynasty. His given name was Junshi, courtesy name Quanyi (one version; another says Junbao), and alias Baohé Róngrěn. Of Han ethnicity and from Liaodong, he was a Confucian scholar and Taoist priest from Wudang Mountain during the late Yuan and early Ming periods. Skilled in calligraphy and painting, and proficient in poetry. Another account states he was from Shaowu, Fujian, named Zichong, also called Yuanshi, with “Sanfeng” as his alias. He was born in 1247 in Kànxià Village, Hépíng Town, present-day Shaowu City, Fujian Province, with his date of death unknown. Zhang Sanfeng was the founding patriarch of the Wudang Sect. Ming Ying... More details about Zhang Sanfeng ++

Zhu Di (1360–1424), Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The fourth son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, he was born in Yingtian, experienced military campaigns, and was granted the title of Prince of Yan. Later, he launched the Jingnan Campaign, attacking his nephew, Emperor Jianwen, to seize the throne. Initially posthumously honored as “Taizong,” over a hundred years later, Emperor Shizong Zhu Houcong changed his temple name to “Chengzu.” The reign of Emperor Chengzu is known as the “Prosperous Era of Yongle.”

A native of Fengyang, Anhui, Zhu Di was granted the title of Prince of Yan in 1370 during the third year of the Hongwu reign. He once resided in Fengyang and had considerable understanding of local conditions. In the 13th year, he was stationed in Beiping (present-day Beijing)... More details about Zhu Di ++

Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone: Located within Shiyan City, Hubei Province, the Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone borders Danjiangkou City to the east, Shiyan urban area to the west, Qianli Fang County to the south, and faces the Taiji Lake Scenic Area of the Danjiangkou Reservoir—the largest artificial lake in Asia—to the north. In August 1997, a meeting of the Hubei Provincial Governor’s Office decided to merge the Hubei Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone, the Hubei Wudang Mountain Tourism Scenic Administration, and the Hubei Wudang Mountain Tourism Bureau. The Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone was established and placed under the direct jurisdiction of Shiyan City. In June 2003, the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government held an on-site meeting at Wudang Mountain, granting the Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone... More details about the Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone ++