The Identity of the 'Golden Temple' at the 1,612m Tianzhu Peak, Where Filming is Prohibited

In the central inland part of Hubei Province, China, reside place names familiar to us. Names like Hanyang, Gangneung, and Sinchon are melted into the urban landscape, exuding an atmosphere that does not feel foreign. In particular, Xiangyang is a place with terrain advantageous for defense, where the Han River and Goseong harmonize, and the city walls and six gates surrounding the city have protected this place for a long time.

The Site of 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' Where the Breath of Zhuge Liang Lingers

Gulongzhong, located about 13km from the downtown area of Xiangyang, is a symbolic place that announces the prelude to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This is where Zhuge Liang stayed from age 17 to 27 to build his knowledge, and it is the stage of 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage,' where Liu Bei visited three times to recruit him. At the entrance, a stone Paifang built during the Qing dynasty in 1893 greets visitors.

In the courtyard of the house where Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion, a reenactment of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage remains. In the video, the journey is depicted following the path Liu Bei took to meet Zhuge Liang. At the 武侯祠 (Wuhou Shrine) established to serve Zhuge Liang, one can see the appearance of the shrine which was rebuilt in modern times, and inside the shrine, there are depictions of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei reenacting the Oath of the Peach Garden. In the courtyard in front of the temple, a performance reenacting the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage is held, reconstructing the urgent moments when Liu Bei tried to persuade Zhuge Liang at that time.

Another charm of Xiangyang lies in its food culture. Locals enjoy beef noodles for breakfast, and the video shows people waiting in line. Xiangyang beef noodles, characterized by a rich broth boiled using beef neck bones, allow for the selection of broth intensity depending on the spiciness, and are popular enough that people visit from all over China to taste them.

1,612m in the Mist, Wudang Mountains Where the Golden Roof Shines

Driving two hours from Xiangyang leads to the Wudang Mountains, one of the famous mountains in China. This place, where 72 peaks and 36 strange rocks harmonize, is a Taoist holy site well known as the setting for the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. After riding a cable car up to the middle of the mountain, one must climb steep stairs toward the highest peak, Tianzhu Peak (1,612m).

Near the summit of Tianzhu Peak lies the 金殿 (Golden Temple), which enshrines Zhenwu Dadi, the highest deity of Taoism. This structure, built in 1416 by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty using copper plated with gold, still retains traces of gold on its roof, although much of the plating has peeled off over time. The video conveys the situation where filming inside the temple is strictly prohibited for security reasons.

An interesting scene is the movement of the people. Many visitors rub the statues throughout the temple to pray for blessings. In the video, the earnest wishes of those visiting the place are depicted through the sight of statues that are exceptionally shiny due to the touch of people. The ruins of the Wudang Mountains, which were listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1994, create a mysterious atmosphere in harmony with the mist, showing the vitality of Taoist faith that has continued for thousands of years.