Wutai Shan (historically known as Qingliang Shan) is a mountain range in northern China. It holds great significance in Buddhism and is considered one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Chinese Buddhism, alongside Emei Shan, Putuo Shan, and Jiuhua Shan. Wutai Shan is located in the northeastern part of Shanxi Province. The mountain range spans over a hundred kilometers and is named after the "five peaks" around the town of Taihuai. The highest peak is the 3,058 meters high North Peak (Beitaiding), which is also the highest mountain in northeastern China. Due to its cool summer temperatures averaging around 9°C, it is known as the "chilly mountain range." Wutai Shan is regarded as the most important of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism. Surrounding Taihuai are numerous monasteries and temples, and Chinese emperors historically made multiple pilgrimages to the mountain due to its significance. Famous temples include the Foguang Temple (Wutai) and the Nanchan Temple with its renowned Great Hall, one of the oldest surviving structures in China. The monasteries of Wutai Shan were so significant that depictions of them were found on frescoes in Dunhuang, over 1600 kilometers away.
