Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Estern Han dynasty

It is said that the development of Taoism on this mountain started during the Eastern Han dynasty when zhang Daoling after having founded the five pecks of rice tradition in Sichuan came to the mountain to spread his teachings. One of his traces, includes the “zhang daoling well”.

The three kingdoms

During the period of the three kingdoms, a famous daoist Meng You (meng Huo’s brother) settled on Weibaoshan after an extraordinary person had given him books on immortality; there he helped the people with magical arts.

Tang dynasty

It is said that, The Supreme Venerable Sovereign Taishang Laojun enlightened Xinuluo who then founded the Nanzhao kingdom who then lasted during for 13 generations. Therefore, the imperial descendants of Nanzhao built the hall of the Venerable Sovereign during the tang dynasty.

During the Ming Dynasty, Du Guangting, an eminent Tang daoist settled on Weibao to spread Taoism.

Legend has it that the famous immortal Lu Dongbin once came to the mountain to teach Taoism.

Ming dynasty

During the Ming and Qing dynasty, many daoist from Mount Wudang of Hubei and the Qingcheng Mountain of Sichuan came to mount Weibao to live as hermit and practice inner alchemy; they took disciples and 20 more temples were built on the mountain.

Qing dynasty

The Qing dynasty attracted the largest number of worshippers in history, and hundreds of Daoists came to cultivate the dao on the mountain, which therefore became a Daoist sacred site and was granted the title of shifangconglin 十方丛林．.

weibaoshan fairs

Temples fairs

Weibaoshan fair

From 白族舞蹈在青霞观 Bai minority celebrations in the green glow temple

In the period of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, the local people initiated the pilgrimage to Mt. Weibao; the temple Fair lasted half a month---- from the first to the fifteenth day of the second lunar month. This activity gradually declined in the period of the Republic of China. In recent years, the Temple Fair of Mt. Weibao has been rejuvenated on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month.

Meanwhile, the traditional concert of Cavern Scripture Music洞經音樂 and the Yi nationality’s singing festival on Mt. Weibao have been revived.

The Mountain inspecting hall fair

From zhujundian

The local fellowmen of the Yi nationality hold Ancestor Worship ceremonies twice a year in the Mountain-Inspecting Hall.

The green glow temple fairs:

-1st day of the 6th lunar month: Ceremonies for the Star of the South.

-1st day of the 9th lunar month; ceremonies for the northern star.

The Wenchang temple fair

-2nd day of the 1st lunar month : Ceremonies celebrating the Wenchang god

-18th day of the 5th lunar month: celebration of the Celestial master tianshi

The caishen temple fair

-2nd day of the 1st lunar month: celebrations for the the gos of Wealth.

Transport to Weibaoshan

• From Kunming (capital of Yunnan province), 昆明

Kunming is 500 km East of Weibaoshan by motorway.
You can get from kunming to weibaoshan by the following transport:
- Flight from kunming to dali + bus from Dali to Weishan
- Buses from Kunming to Dali or directly to Weishan
- Train from Kunming to Dali
check this website for transport in Kunming

By plane:

For Flying to Kunming check Kunming airport flight schedules and book your flights on www.ctrip.com

For flights from Kunming to Dali, check   Dali airport flights schedule

Kunming Wujiaba International Airport has managed to connect the city with other places within Yunnan, in China, and even around the world. Flights are available to most major Chinese cities such as Beijing (3 hours), Shanghai (2.5 hours), Chengdu (1 hour), Guangzhou (1 hour), Guilin (1.25 hours) as well as international destinations such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. 

The airport is 5 km south of the city center (Dongfeng Square). To get to the airport by taxi usually costs about RMB15 and takes 20 minutes. Bus No. 52 runs from Daguan Tower via the main railway station to the airport. Also, bus No.67 runs by the north railway station via the main railway station. Lastly, bus No.78 runs between the airport and the north railway station via the municipal government building. Most of the above buses are available from 6am to 10pm.

There is no money exchange service at the airport, but there are ATMs that accept the Bank of China's Changcheng card and most international cards. However, there is a Bank of China branch opposite the the arrival gate with a credit card service (3% processing fee), traveler's check exchange (0.75% fee) and other money exchange services.

Train Kunming to Dali:

The best is  (Number 213): 10:10pm-6:45am; Returning (214): 7:42am-10:50pm
(RMB50 for a hard seat ticket and 85 for a hard sleeper middle bunk)

More details on http://www.chinatrainguide.com/kunming-railway-station/dali.html

There are two railway stations in Kunming.
The main railway station (also known as Nanyao station) is located about 4 km from the city, a RMB10 taxi ride that takes about 15 minutes. Apart from bus lines that link the railway station with the airport, bus No.68 runs to the Expo '99 Garden and bus No.80 runs to the Xiyuan bus station. Most hotels in Kunming have rail ticket booking services. The main railway ticket office is at 19 Kubshi Lu not far from the Nanjing Hotel. There, tickets can be arranged from 8am-5:30pm (with a long lunch break).

Buses from Kunming to Dali or Weishan:

 There are many modern air-conditioned buses (5h drive- price about 150 Yuan) from the main bus station (South Bus Station: Facing the Kunming Railway Station in Beijing Xi Lu)  taking you to either Dali or Weishan, at the bottom of Weibaoshan.

There are four major long distance bus stations in Kunming:

1. The South station is directly opposite the Nanyao railway station on Beijing Lu. This is Kunming's major bus station and has bus routes to most regional destinations. There are two classes of bus generally available here: the cheaper Regular and the faster and more luxurious Gaokuai (literally "Highway Express"). The station is well managed and ideal for all manner of tourists.
2. The Railway station square bus station has buses for most destinations in Kunming, although it is less organized with more private buses that have less fixed schedules. Most of the buses here are normal coaches and are cheaper than Gaokuai buses. Buses to Shilin and Jiuxiang start here, but the best way to reach these places  is by train, as the buses on this route tend to pick up as many tourists as possible along the way and the supposed 2 hour drive invariably ends up being at least 4 hours.
3. The Western station used to be the second largest bus station in Kunming, but is currently the third largest after the Huangtupo Station. Buses run to most regional destinations from here. The station is well managed.
4. Huangtupo station is growing bigger every day , but since this station is far from the city and most bus routes are not to tourist destinations, (with only two sleepers to Zhongdian departing at 3 PM and 7 PM, probably stopping in Lijiang and Dali), it is not widely used by tourists.

Hotel in Kunming:
Cheap Hotel in Kunming: the Camelia Hotel is cheap and friendly with online booking and most importantly the staff speak english and can arrange pick up at the airport and booking of bus or plane tickets to Weishan.

Camellia Hotel Kunming

昆明茶花宾馆

Phone:

           +86-(0871)3163000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +86-(0871)3163000      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

Fax:+86 (0871)3147033

Address:

No.96 East Dongfeng Road, Panlong District, Kunming

昆明市 盘龙区 东风东路96号 Zip:650041


Expensive Hotels in Kunming:
http://www.sinohotelguide.com/kunming/index.php

Click here for more information about Kunming



View Larger Map

• Transport From Xiaguan-Dali (closest city to Weibaoshan) 大理

Dali is a Must see touristic city 50 km North of Weibaoshan.
Dali has an airport with regular flights mainly from Kunming (30 mn flight): Dali airport flights schedule
There are many buses (2h drive- price about 50 yuan) taking you from the main bus station to Weishan, at the bottom of Weibaoshan.
Click Here for more information on Dali



View My Saved Places in a larger map

•  From Weishan (closest village to Weibaoshan) 巍山镇

Weishan is the closest village to Webaoshan (10 km south east from the top) and is 50 km south west of the closest city Dali . Weishan is a traditional “walled village” with ancient architecture and is the birthplace of the Nanzhao kingdom. There you can hire taxis (max price 80 Yuan) or three-wheels vehicles (15 mns drive) to the gate of the mountain.
Click here for more information about Weishan

View My Saved Places in a larger map

LiveJournal Tags: Webaoshan,taoist sites,travel,montains

Accomodation and Guides in Weibaoshan

• 
  

  Travel agency and translators:

-Chine-evasion : all travel arrangements from your own country to and within China; Guide and translator (chinese-english-french): Marc Fu : marc@chine-evasion.com
- Local travel agent in Kunming: Yunnan Overseas Travel Corporation; 96 East Dong Feng Road, Kunming, China. Tel (china) (0871) 3180353 3126832 ; Fax: 3132508 3132512 ;Guide and translator (Chinese-french-english) Mr Lu Xin Xing (Philippe): Philippe_1900@hotmail.com
-Local guide in Weishan : Speaks Chinese, english, french,Yunwp@yahoo.com ; adress : Huancheng Dong Lu Road ; Weishan, Dali, Yunnan 672400 China ; phone in China: +86 (0)872 61 24 698 ; Phone in Switwerland: +41 79 829 43 84

• Weibaoshan hotel 巍寳山兵官

This is the only Hotel on the mountain and it is quiet, simple but clean and comfortable with 50 rooms, each with two single beds, Hot water-shower, TV...etc. Price : max 120 yuan/room.-Phone (speaks chinese only) +86 (0) 87 26 36 90 16.
click here for how to get to weibaoshan.
more information on Weibaoshan on google Weibaoshan

• 
  

  Rooms in the ‘Wenchang temple 文昌宫”

Wenchang temple is an active religious taoist temple with taoist chanting morning and evening ; however, it offers simple rooms without showers or WC for 20 RMB'/day for pilgrims.
The temple is in Weibaoshan mountain, 5 mins walk from Qingxiaguan Temple.
Wenchang Temple Rooms

Wenchang temple accomodations
Wenchang temple

• 
  
  Accomodation in Weishan village

Weishan 蘶山鎮 is the closest village to weibaoshan (10 km); it is an ancient “walled village”, birthplace of the Nanzhao kingdom with many hotels available.

Try to contact any of the agencies above.

More information about weishan: on Chinaculture.org ; usachina-arts ; and on google Weishan search

LiveJournal Tags: weibaoshan,taoism,mountains,taoist mountains,accomodation,travel

Trip to Weibaoshan May 7th-23rd 2010 with Transverse Association

Trip to Weibaoshan May 7th-23rd 2010 with Transverse

LiveJournal Tags: Taoisme,mountains,teachings， transverse,weibaoshan,events

Teachings in Switzerland (summer 2008)

Teachings in switzerland in august 2008  

Organized by the association "Transverse" and the 

Swiss Taoist Association ATAOS

Photo album : http://picasaweb.google.com/weibaoshan2009/TeachingInSwitzerland20080820#