Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
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The Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains has been made a WHS for its many Taoist monasteries and secular buildings which have had a profound influence on Chinese art and architecture. The Wudang Mountains are a small mountain range in Hubei province.

Year Decision Comments
1994 Inscribed Reasons for inscription
1994ReferredBureau - better info on Management plan

Reviews

Cari (Canada):
Wudang is a beautiful place without a doubt. I went for a visit in May during Golden Week 2007. This year designated buses took people up and down the mountain, but to my disappointment these large buses spewed diesel exhaust, people pushed and shoved, hogged seats and the bus schedules were not reliable. Line ups were very long.

The management of the heritage site needs improvement. It was sad to see people not using trash receptacles, the receptacles were not obvious or practical, there were no bins for recyclable items. This should beautiful lush and green attraction oriented at cultural and environmental conservation. At Shao Yao Gu, I witnessed several monkeys wearing red jackets tied up for display.

Venders and peddlars seemed to be able to sell produce and goods at any given location and continually pestered people walking by. Local visitors showed little respect for this heritage site by spitting, pulling natural vegetation and carelessly throwing garbage.

There is a danger of this amazing place losing it's charm and natural beauty. It is good to open Wudang to tourism so that people can come admire, but if it goes unchecked irreversable damage could result. For example, new roads are being built to open up unaccessable areas for the large buses (i.e. Wu Long Gong . Ticket prices are high and there is fear of the site becoming too commercialized.

It would be a pity to see this wonderful spot turn into an amusement park. I also visted the Summer Resort in Chengde and was shocked to find a mini amusement park with fair rides. I hope that this will not be the fate of Wudang Mountains.
 
Boj Capati (Philippines):
Wudangshan is an amazing place. I know it is a sacred site for Taoism. The only thing that concerns was the fact that some of the priests ask money before they allow the worshippers to pray. Watching the sunrise at the mountaintop is the best experience of all.
Date posted: August 2006
August West (USA):
Having spent several months on site, I was amazed by the site itself, but sincerely dissappointed with administartion. Forced relocations, haphazard local implementation of UNESCO policy, pervasive corruption, commodification of culture, locals barred from access due to exorbitantly high ticket fees. Human rights is certianly not a priority as anyone who gives voice to these concerns is threaten with arrest or worse. I do hope for change.
 


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