Wutai Shan: In the Footsteps of Buddhist Pilgrims

The article demonstrates the religious and pilgrimage aspects of the Buddhist tradition through the veneration of the sacred sites of Wutai Shan. The sacred mountains of Wutai Shan are among the four most revered Buddhist sites in China and Mongolia. For centuries, people from these countries, including Buddhists from Transbaikalia, have worshipped at Buddhist temples in the vicinity of Wutai Shan. Today, pilgrims from all over the world come to Wutai Shan, drawn not only to its sacred sites but also to places offering maximum spiritual benefit (Buddhist shrines, natural and cultural landscapes, locations believed to provide strength and tranquility). For Buddhist pilgrims, the five sacred peaks/terraces, each housing Buddhist temples, are especially revered. The administrative center of the region is the town of Taihuai, located in Xinzhou Prefecture, Central China. Drawing on personal experience, the article highlights current opportunities and specific features of pilgrimage in the modern era, having tested all routes and conditions required to enter this remarkable Buddhist world of the Sino-Tibetan religious tradition. Today, with borders open, new tourist infrastructure being developed, and sacred temples becoming accessible, Wutai Shan offers a renewed path for Buddhist pilgrims.