Wutai Shan Five-Terrace Circuit (Beitai section)

The Beitai section of the Wutai Shan Five-Terrace Circuit leads to Yedou Peak, the Northern Terrace, which at about 3,058 m is the highest point in northern China. Wutai Shan lies in Wutai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi province, and is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Visitors base themselves in Taihuai village, reached by direct bus from Taiyuan East Bus Station in three to five hours. From Taihuai, eco-shuttles and taxis run toward the Beitai area, and many travellers hire a car to the upper trailhead and then walk. The scenic area charges an entrance fee, and no separate permit is needed for the Beitai walk. The on-foot section is about 8 to 10 km round trip and takes four to six hours, with the altitude making it harder than the distance suggests; the route is classed as hard mainly because of elevation and rapidly changing weather. The surface is a mix of paved road, stone steps and grassy alpine plateau. There is almost no tree cover near the top, so exposure to wind, sun and cold is high even in midsummer. The summit is crowned by the Lingying Temple and a small cluster of halls, which are the main landmarks and a natural turn-around point. Alpine meadow stretches across the plateau, and on clear days the view covers the other four terraces. Snow can persist into May and temperatures stay cool even in July, so warm layers are essential. Water and basic snacks are sold at stalls near the road head and the temple, but nothing is available along the open plateau. The temples can provide brief shelter from rain, though there are no formal refuge huts. Altitude can cause headaches for visitors arriving directly from low ground, so a slow pace is sensible. Thunderstorms build quickly on summer afternoons, and descending before mid-afternoon is a common precaution.