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Purple Cloud Palace on Mount Wudang

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Originally built in the 11th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1413), it is one of the more well-preserved ancient palatial architectural complexes on Mount Wudang. Entering through the East Heaven Gate, you pass the Dragon-Tiger Hall, Stele Pavilion, Ten Directions Hall, and finally the Parents’ Hall, with layers of halls stacked against the mountain. The remaining halls and pavilions stand in close rows, flanked by the East Palace and West Palace, each forming their own courtyards,...

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Purple Cloud Palace on Mount Wudang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Originally built in the 11th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1413), it is one of the more well-preserved ancient palatial architectural complexes on Mount Wudang. Entering through the East Heaven Gate, you pass the Dragon-Tiger Hall, Stele Pavilion, Ten Directions Hall, and finally the Parents’ Hall, with layers of halls stacked against the mountain. The remaining halls and pavilions stand in close rows, flanked by the East Palace and West Palace, each forming their own tranquil and elegant courtyards. Coupled with the surrounding tall pines, lush bamboo forests, and various flowers and plants intermingling, this ancient architectural complex appears even more noble and magnificent.

Purple Cloud Palace

The Purple Cloud Hall is five bays wide, with a double-eaved roof of nine ridges, green tiles, and red walls that are dazzlingly bright. Its crossbeams, brackets, and ceilings are covered in colorful paintings, and the caisson ceiling features a bas-relief of two dragons playing with a pearl, vividly lifelike as if real. The colorful paintings also make the entire hall radiant and resplendent. The platform in front of the hall is very spacious, surrounded by carved railings, presenting a majestic sight. Inside the hall are enshrined statues of deities such as the Jade Emperor, Zhenwu, and the Spirit Officials, all vividly crafted with delicate and lifelike carving techniques. The rear Parents’ Hall rises elegantly with its lofty structure, complementing the Purple Cloud Hall and reflecting the superb artistry of ancient Chinese architecture.

Purple Cloud Palace originally had over 860 structures including main halls, corridors, fasting rooms, and pavilions, and was bestowed the name “Taiyuan Purple Cloud Palace.” It backs onto Zhanqi Peak; faces the Screen Wall, Three Terraces, Five Elders, Candle, Fallen Hat, and Incense Burner peaks; has the Thunder God Cave to its right; and the Yuji Pool and Baozhu Peak to its left. The surrounding hills naturally form a precious chair with two dragons playing with a pearl, which led Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty to decree it as the “Purple Cloud Blessed Land.” Entering from the Blessed Land Hall, inscribed with the plaque “Purple Cloud Blessed Land,” you pass through the Dragon-Tiger Hall where clay statues of the Azure Dragon and White Tiger deities stand guard on both sides, creating an imposing atmosphere. Ascending hundreds of steps past the Stele Pavilion and through the Ten Directions Hall, you arrive at a spacious courtyard paved with square stones, topped with a three-tiered decorated platform supporting the main Purple Cloud Hall. The Purple Cloud Hall is five bays deep, with a double-eaved roof of nine ridges, green tiles, and red walls. Inside the stone Sumeru pedestal in the hall’s shrine are enshrined statues of Zhenwu in his old, middle-aged, and young forms, as well as civil and martial seated figures, flanked by golden boys, jade maidens, generals, and others—all exquisitely cast in copper and vibrantly colored, each with unique expressions, representing treasured artworks of China’s Ming Dynasty. To the left of the hall lies a several-zhang-long fir log, said to have flown from afar, hence named the “Flying Fir”; it is also called the “Resounding Fir” because a light tap on one end produces a clear sound from the other, believed to be a relic from the Ming Dynasty. The surrounding shrines in the hall display hundreds of bronze statues and ritual objects cast during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, making it a treasure trove of China’s bronze casting art.

Behind the Purple Cloud Hall (the main hall of Purple Cloud Palace on Mount Wudang) is the Parents’ Hall, standing atop a lofty platform, elegant and refined. The central shrine enshrines the parents of Zhenwu—the Bright True Emperor, King of Jingle, and the Pure Victory Empress, Fairy Qiongzhen. The left shrine enshrines Guanyin, while the right shrine enshrines the Three Sage Mothers, also known as the Hundred Sons Hall, where female devotees once prayed for children.

Near Purple Cloud Palace, there are also scenic spots and historical sites such as the Sword Granting Platform, Yuji Pool, and Yuji Bridge for visitors to explore.

In 1931, it served as the headquarters of the Third Red Army led by He Long. It is one of the historically famous Taoist temples on Mount Wudang, a significant part of the well-preserved Wudang architectural complex, classified as a National Key Taoist Temple Open to the Public, and the site of the Hubei Wudang Mountain Taoist Association.

Purple Cloud Palace is 7.5 kilometers from Fuzhen Temple. Facing the Screen Wall, Three Terraces, Five Elders, Candle, Fallen Hat, and Incense Burner peaks, it has the Thunder God Cave to its right and the Yuji Pool and Baozhu Peak to its left. Built in the 11th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty, it is one of the more intact temples on Mount Wudang. Major attractions include the Dragon-Tiger Hall, Ten Directions Hall, Purple Cloud Hall, Exquisite Fir, Parents’ Hall, East Palace, West Palace, and Crown Prince Rock. The surrounding hills naturally form a precious chair with two dragons playing with a pearl, hence it was honored by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty as the “Purple Cloud Blessed Land.” Entering from the Blessed Land Hall, inscribed with the “Purple Cloud Blessed Land” plaque, you see the clay statues of the Azure Dragon and White Tiger standing guard with an imposing presence. Climbing hundreds of steps past the Stele Pavilion and through the Ten Directions Hall, you reach a spacious courtyard paved with square stones, topped with a three-tiered decorated platform holding up the main Purple Cloud Hall. The Purple Cloud Hall is five bays deep, with a double-eaved roof of nine ridges, green tiles, and red walls. Inside the stone Sumeru pedestal in the hall’s shrine are enshrined statues of Zhenwu in his old, middle-aged, and young forms, as well as civil and martial immortal seated figures, flanked by golden boys, jade maidens, generals, and others—all exquisitely cast in copper and uniquely expressive, representing treasured artworks of China’s Ming Dynasty. To the left of the hall is a several-zhang-long fir log, which produces a clear sound when tapped at one end, hence called the “Resounding Fir.” The surrounding shrines in the hall display hundreds of bronze statues and ritual objects from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, making it a treasure trove of China’s copper casting art. Behind the Purple Cloud Hall is the Parents’ Hall. This hall stands atop a lofty platform, elegant and refined, with the central shrine enshrining statues of Zhenwu’s parents—the Bright True Emperor, King of Jingle, and the Pure Victory Empress, Fairy Qiongzhen. The left shrine enshrines Guanyin, while the right shrine enshrines the Three Sage Mothers, Birth Goddess, and others, known as the Hundred Sons Hall, where worshippers once prayed for children. In 1982, it was designated by the State Council as one of the National Key Taoist Temples. Purple Cloud Palace serves as the office of the Wudang Taoist Association, where major Taoist ceremonies are held during the annual celebrations of the Third Moon and Ninth Moon festivals.

Purple Cloud Palace backs onto Zhanqi Peak and faces the Screen Wall Peak. The rocks of Zhanqi Peak are grayish-red, resembling a fluttering banner. Beneath the peak, the Purple Cloud Palace halls feature flying eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, with various copper and iron animal statues lining the roof ridges, incredibly lifelike. Purple Cloud Palace has long been known as the “Purple Cloud Blessed Land” and the “Jade Capital Beyond the Clouds.” The entire complex is built along the mountain, majestic and spectacular, serving as the main structure of the Eight Palaces and Two Temples architectural complex on Mount Wudang, and is also one of the more intact ancient buildings on the mountain. Throughout the palace, flowers bloom year-round. Inside, there are the Dragon-Tiger Hall, Ten Directions Hall, Purple Cloud Hall, Parents’ Hall, Stele Pavilion, and East and West Side Halls, all serene and elegant. The main Purple Cloud Hall is built atop a three-tiered platform, surrounded by stone railings, with green tiles, double eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, exuding splendor. The hall enshrines a bronze statue of the Zhenwu Ancestor, flanked by clay statues of deities such as the Jade Emperor and Spirit Officials, all intricately sculpted, solemn, and majestic. There are also various statues of Zhenwu in different forms and a copper model of Mount Wudang cast in the Ming Dynasty.

In front of the hall, the Stele Pavilion houses two well-preserved giant stele turtles, each 10 meters tall, carved from whole massive stones, possessing high artistic value. Behind the main hall is the Parents’ Hall (commonly called the Lotus Leaf Hall), enshrining the Bright True Emperor, King of Jingle, and the Pure Victory Empress, Fairy Qiongzhen. Behind the hall is Crown Prince Rock, a natural cave slightly expanded by human hands into a stone chamber. Purple Cloud Palace has now been listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Address: Within the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area, near Wudang Road, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan, Hubei

Type: Historical Site / Taoist Temple

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0719-5668567; 0719-5665396

Opening Hours:

Monday–Friday: 7:30–17:00; Saturday–Sunday: 7:00–17:30

Ticket Information:

15 RMB (not included in the general scenic area admission ticket)