Wudang MountainGood morning! Respected Ladies and gentleman! May I have your attention please? my name is Isabella, I’m you local guide from Wuhan. If you have any problems or requests, please don't hesitate to let me know. I will try to do my best to answer your questions . We highly appreciate your understanding and cooperation. I would like to express my best wishes for the success of your travel on the Wudang Mountain.Today we’ll visit the famous sacred place of Taoism-----Wudang Mountain. Now I would like to outline the general situation of this mountain.Wudang Mountain, also known as Taihe Mountain, is located in Danjiangkou City, northwest of Hubei Province. In the late period of the Easten Han Dynasty, Taoism was born and Wudang Mountain was respected as the immortal mountain of Taoism . Besides the refined and elegant natural sceneries , the ancient architectures are grand and magnificent . The ancient complex of Mt. Wudang, inherited down since the Ming dynasty, is revered for its typical royal style, as proved by the saying of “ constructing the Forbidden City in the north and redecorating Wudang in the south”. In 1994, the ancient architectural complex of Mt. Wudang was listed in the Catalogue of the World Cultural Heritage. The complex consists of palaces and temples forming the nucleus of secular and religious building exemplifying the architectures in Wudang Mountain can date back into the Tang Dynasty, and was expanded in later dynasties, and reached its climax in the Ming Dynasty. The whole complex adopted royal architecture style, utilizing fully the natures, showing exotic layout.Mt.Wudang is also famous for the Wudang style of martial arts. Wudang kungfu, also known as Neijia kungfu , it’s well-known at home and abroad with a long history and has a strong appeal to lots of people. At end of the Yuan and beginning of Ming Dynasty, a Taoist named Zhang sanfeng created Taijiquan when he saw the fighting of crane and snake. Taijiquan characterized by its slow rhythm and gentle movement, is suitable for people of all ages, has become a popular physical activities all over the China.Now we’ve reached our destination---Wudang Mountain. let’s get on thetraveling bus. A few minutes later, we will reach our first station.--Purple Cloud Palace.Before my description of this scenic spot, you can draw a picture of the palace in your mind with imagination. On the way we can enjoy sweet-scented osmanthus’s fragrance in autumn.The nucleus construction of Purple Cloud Palace, The Grand Hall is the only left double-eaved, lean-to-hill, wooden building. As one of the quite rare building of uplift wooden crossbeam construction in the history of the Taoist architecture, the Grand Hall is scientific and rational in structure and overall arrangement, harmonious and coherent in artistic style, united with surroundings as a whole, and unique in taste and features among the buildins in Wudang Mountain. Meanwhile, the Grand Hall, having absorbed the techniques of various times' artisans, demonstrated great achievements of architectures in Ming and Qing Dynasties, therefore, worthy of visiting and researching.The palace is in front of us. Compared with your imagination, what do you think of the palace? Dazing and full of praise from travelers the inner part of the Grand Hall is. Let’s enter the hall. Carefully painted and well carved, the Hall is magnificent In the hall, five shrines are set there. Around the tabernacles hundreds of rare antiques are ablated. Most of the precious antiques, dynamic, vivid, and wonderful to see, were the images of Gods by clay sculpture and wares for worshipping during the Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties.The fastigium of the Grand Hall consists of six flying colored glaze dragons. An Aquarius is surrounded by the dragons that are painted in three different colors. Due to the heaviness and highness, the Aquarius has to be drawn by four iron chains. Each end of the chain is attached to the hand of a divine kid, it is said that the four kids of deity has stuck to their positions in order to keep the Aquarius steady no matter it is chilly, scorching, rainy, windy or thundering. Because their spacial positions are even higher than the superior God, the four kids are also called Super Gods. While the plain people address them wretched kiddies.We are leaving for the Golden Summit,which is regarded as the symbol of the Wudang mountain .We will go there by tram rail. Now we have got to the station.Let’sget of the bus and get on the tram rail.On the way to Golden Peak by tram rail, we are now traveling among the peaks, and then we are floating in the clouds, just like gods. We have reached the main peak .Its altitude is 1612 meters . The Golden Palace is located here.Standing in front of the Golden Palace, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scene of Wudang Mountain, as far as 400 kilometers. All the peaks are stopping at the static moment, just like raged waves, which wonderfully advertises the majority prestige and lofty imperial power.The Golden Palace, with a height of5.45 meters and flying eaves decorated by dragon, phoenix, sea horse, and immortals, is the highest one in the ancient Chinese construction grade. Bronze constructed, the Golden Palace was gilded by gold outside. All the parts were so perfect matched that there is without any crevice. Enduring about 600 years’ wind and rain, thunder and lightening, cold winter and hot summer, the Golden Palace is still shining as if it was newly built up. Hence, the Golden Palace, national treasure, not only presents the wonderful Chinese ancient architecture skills, but also reveals the wisdom of Chinese people and ancient scientific level.We will get back to the station by tram rail. You have enjoyed the view of the peaks again. Now le t’s get on the bus.Your current visit to China is drawing to a close. I would like to say a few words before you leave this country, though I am not a speech-maker. Time has elapsed so quickly and you have visited several scenic spots in this city. The time we stayed together was rather short and really the surface was only scratched. What the Chinese people call “looking at the flowers on the horse’s back.” Every one in the group has been very cooperative, friendly, understanding and punctual. That is what I witnessed and experienced, and as a national guide, it was much appreciated. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Happy to meet, sorry to depart, and happy to meet again. Wish you have a nice journey home. Goodbye.。