Discover the Treasure of Weibaoshan Mountain in Yunnan

Weibao Mountain (巍宝山) is one of the sacred mountains of Yunnan. Within its relatively small area it brings together a historical, artistic, natural, and monumental ensemble that makes it a unique place in China and perhaps in the world. It houses one of the country’s most important collections of religious painting (in the Changchun Cave and other temples), a significant group of Taoist temples spread across its upper slopes, a magnificent natural environment, and the distinction of having been the birthplace of one of the most prosperous southern Chinese kingdoms—the Kingdom of Nanzhao—which, under this or another name, ruled Yunnan from approximately the 7th to the 13th centuries.

Despite its artistic and natural grandeur and its historical importance, Weibao Mountain has remained largely unknown to travelers. Tourism promotion has only brought about a slow process of monument restoration that is still unfinished. Visiting it today remains a sublime spiritual experience, transporting the traveler to natural and religious settings that have disappeared elsewhere—settings that in the past helped Taoist believers transcend the coarse experiences of this world and attain wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.

The Most Famous Taoist Mountain in Yunnan

Weibao Mountain (shan in Chinese means “mountain”) is the most famous Taoist mountain in Yunnan Province and one of the fourteen sacred mountains of this religion. Its name, which can be translated as “The Mountain of Wei’s Treasure,” alludes to an ancient belief that the mountain itself was a treasure. It is not clear whether this “treasure” referred to its natural singularities—some say it resembles an ingot—its geographical position protecting the city of Weishan at its feet, or the perception since ancient times of its special qualities for people’s spiritual development.

It is located about 10 kilometers southeast of the city of Weishan (called Menghua until the mid-20th century), and 51 km from Dali, in Yunnan Province. It covers an area of 19.4 square kilometers, with Taiji Peak to the south, the Yanggua River to the west, the Wudo River to the east, and the Dali Doucang Mountains to the north. About twenty Taoist palaces and temples are still preserved on Weibaoshan, distributed along its slopes according to religious principles, forming several religious centers that together create a vast architectural complex. Its shape is said to resemble a crouching lion turning its head to look at the city.

A Natural Treasure of Plants and Animals

Weibao Mountain is not only a Taoist sacred site but also a natural treasure of flora and fauna. It is reached by a gently rising road offering magnificent views of the streams and rice paddies surrounding the city. The mountain preserves lush vegetation, with more than 300 kinds of rare plants, including an alpine quebracho that has been growing for over 1,000 years, a group of cypresses planted in the Ming dynasty, a 45-meter-tall Huashan pine known as the “King of Trees,” and the tallest ancient camellia in the world, over 300 years old and 17.5 meters high. There are also orchids, magnolias, camellias, and many other valuable flowers and trees, nearly 100 kinds of medicinal herbs, and more than 20 kinds of mushrooms. Its fauna includes foxes, civets, flying squirrels, green pigeons, and other rare birds and animals.

A Pearl of Traditional Chinese Architecture

The Taoist complex on Weibao Mountain is one of the pearls of traditional Chinese architecture and reflects Taoist wisdom in many ways—especially the concept of harmony between Heaven and humankind and the exploration of the “Tao of Nature.” Among its ancient buildings, the Cave of Eternal Spring, with its Eight Trigrams layout and hundreds of paintings, is the greatest treasure and at the same time the most colorful, largest, and most representative temple. The Jade Emperor Pavilion, built in terraces ascending the mountain, occupies the largest area. Qingxia Temple is magnificent in scale, and the “Song under the Pine” paintings in the Wenchang Palace are of incalculable value.

Birthplace of the Kingdom of Nanzhao

The mountain was also the birthplace of the ancient Kingdom of Nanzhao, which for three centuries (7th to 10th centuries) ruled most of Yunnan Province, as it was here that its first king, Xinuluo, rose to power. After decades of political disorder, Nanzhao was succeeded by the Kingdom of Dali (10th to 13th centuries), maintaining political, religious, and cultural continuity.

Read the Book for Free

This is the beginning of the book by Pedro Ceinos Arcones, The Pilgrimage That Leads to the Heavens: Weibaoshan Mountain. You can read or download the complete book for free on archive.org.

You can also join one of our trips to Yunnan or Yunnan and Tibet (there is a guaranteed departure on August 2). All of them visit this incredible mountain.