Daoist study/travel plan:

The purpose of travel is to learn and explore Daoism, and to understand the history and culture surrounding this ancient art.  As Li Shifu rarely leaves the temple gate this is a rare opportunity to travel alongside him to Daoist and China’s sacred locations.

General Overview: Wudang Shan 2 days, Henan the birthplace of Lao Zi 2 days.

1.Wudang Shan: (2 days)

  • Middle Monastery (Zhong Guan 中观庙): At the starting point of the cable car that leads up to the Golden Temple on the top of the mountain, Zhenwu was studying internal alchemy and cultivating here.
  • Golden Temple: (Jin Ding 金殿): The Golden Temple is at the top of the mountain, there is a magic lamp in the hall, whose light never went out in thousands of years, everyone who goes to the top of the mountain prays here silently.
  • Purple Cloud Palace (Zixiao 紫霄宫): The largest temple in Wudang Mountain.
  • Five Dragon Palace (Wulong Gong 无龙宫): The oldest temple in Wudang Mountain.
  • Taoist Academy (道教学院): The place where Taoist priests study, visit, communicate and learn.

2.  Henan: (2 days)

  • Temple of FuXi (伏羲庙): Chinese myths and legends say that Fuxi, the ancestor of humankind, created Bagua. His mausoleum is known as the first mausoleum in the world, and it is also the birthplace of the dragon totem.
  • Taiqing Palace (太清宫): It is the birthplace of Laozi, the legendary philosopher and Taoist patriarch.
  • LaoJun Terrace (老君台):  It is the place where Lao Zi preached. Magically, when the Japanese invaded China, they fired 13 bombs at the house, but none of them exploded.
  • Shangqiu Ancient City (商丘古城): Shangqiu is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization. The ancient city of Shangqiu has a history of more than 4,000 years, it is the only existing large-scale ancient site in the world today, which is a trinity of Bagua city, water city and city ruins.
  • Fire God Terrace (火神台): Suiren is the first person to make fire manually in China, this is place where he made fire by drilling wood. During the Great Flood, Yan Bo assisted Yu in water control and was conferred the job of managing fire in Shangqiu. People respected him as the “God of Fire”. Yan Bo was buried here after his death.