Wutai Mountain is located in fault zone of the northern foot of Taihang. Its five peaks circle up and stand like the five pillars towards the sky. They are compared to be five fingertips of Manjushri. Therefore, traveling in Wutai Mountain is tantamount to self-cultivation on the palm of Manjushri.

Wutai Mountain is an ashram of Manjushri, which ranks first among “Four Buddhist Holy Places”. According to the legend, it was extremely hot all year round in ancient times. All plants withered, and the local people suffered unspeakably. So Manjushri, who came here to preach scriptures, turned into a monk, went to Dragon Palace of the East China Sea, borrowed a bluestone for making cool and removing heat, and placed it on Wufeng Mountain. Since then, severe heat disappears so that this place becomes very cool. According to the Buddhist scriptures, thousands of bodhisattvas fly around Wutai Mountain before sunrise. Manjushri once made a wish to take a different look for every visitor to Wutai Mountain.

In 68, two Indian monks Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaraksa came to Wutai Mountain from Luoyang far away. They built the first temple of Wutai Mountain—Xiantong Temple.

In addition to Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Luoyang Grottoes in Luoyang, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty also worshipped Buddha in Wutai Mountain and built Qingliang Temple. This set a precedent for the emperor to pay respect for Buddha in Wutai Mountain. At that time, there were ten temples on Wutai Mountain, which expanded to 200 until the Northern Qi Dynasty. Famous temples sprang up, such as Daxiantong Temple, Qingliang Temple, Foguang Temple and Beishan Temple. A galaxy of eminent monks held the spotlight. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Wutai Mountain became the center of Buddhism throughout the country. At that time, there were a total of 360 temples on Wutai Mountain, which brought together 10,000 monks and nuns. Due to the changes of dynasties and impacts of wars, there are more than 100 temples up to now, just accounting for one third of those in the Tang Dynasty.

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Buddhism boomed on Wutai Mountain again. Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty sent officials to invite famous Tibetan monk to enter Beijing, conferred him the title of “Karmapa” and settled him in Xiantong Temple. Since then, Ge-luk-ba has taken root in Wutai Mountain. Characteristic green temples and yellow temples appear side by side. There are many sects in Buddhism, and all of them are disseminated here, such as Huayan Sect, Tiantai Sect, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Sect, Vinaya Sect, Esoteric Buddhism, Vijnaptimātratā Sect and Mofa Sect. Wutai Mountain is a melting pot of various sects, where Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism co-exist in harmony.

From a ceremony of washing figures of Buddha on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to Buddhahood of Sakyamuni on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, religious rites are continually held on Wutai Mountain. Especially in the annual dharma assembly on every June, nationwide monks, nuns and believers gather together so that local temples are full of people and the hotels are packed. Among the gods of Wutai Mountain, Lord Wuye gains the highest popularity. Lord Wuye was a little dragon king who made trouble in Wutai Mountain after Manjushri borrowed cooling bluestone from Dragon Palace of the East China Sea. He became local protector of Wutai Mountain after being enlightened by Manjushri. As he ranked the fifth among nine sons of dragon king, the local people affectionately call him “Lord Wuye”.

As a local god, Lord Wuye devotes to his duties. He grants whatever is requested for those who come here to worship. Therefore, endless stream of pilgrims pays tribute to him. On the first day and 15th day of every lunar month and birthday of Lord Wuye, Wutai Mountain is crowded with believers. In August and September, in order to redeem a vow to Lord Wuye, all kinds of dramas are performed on the stage opposite to Wuye Temple by turns. Lord Wuye is watching the dramas for fun every day.

Following Encore Pingyao, Encore Wutai Mountain is a full-scale stage drama tailored to Wutai Mountain by Wu Chaoge team. It perfectly interprets the relationship between ordinary people’s belief and daily life.

Site Add.   Taihuai Town, Wutai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province 

Best Travel Time April – October 

Business Hours   08:00——18:00
     

Traffic Information   

Wutai Mountain is 370 km north of Beijing, 180 km east of Shijiazhuang and 200 km south of Taiyuan, while the central tourist area is only 48 km south of Wutai Mountain Railway Station. Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Dingzhou, Taiyuan, Datong, Shuozhou, Xinzhou and other places offer long-distance bus to Wutai Mountain.

By car: From Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin direction, take Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway, passing Fuping County in Hebei Province, Shiju Town in Wutai County in Shanxi Province, and go via the South Gate (Nanmen) to get to Wutai Mountain. From Datong and Inner Mongolia direction, take Datong-Yuncheng Expressway, passing Shahe Town, Fanshi County and go via the North Gate (Beimen) to get to Wutai Mountain. From Taiyuan and Xinzhou direction: pass Taiyuan and Wutai County, and go from South Gate (Nanmen) or West Gate (Ximen) to get to Wutai Mountain.