Wudang Mountain & Enshi
The Mountain City, the Pandas & the First Emperor.
An unhurried journey through modern China and its deep history.
12 Days/ 11 Nights
Pickup Location: Shiyan airport
1 to 15 travelers
Drop-off Location: Shiyan airport
Accommodation: Healing Hotel
Meals: No meals & 3 meals per day
From ￡2,500 Per Person
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This journey pairs two very different kinds of stillness. The first seven days unfold at Nanshendao, Wudang Mountain's quiet back garden — old forest, a running stream, and just 5.7 kilometres from the Golden Summit, yet away from the main tourist routes. Under the one-on-one guidance of a Daoist master from the Quanzhen Longmen lineage, guests practise bigu: a traditional Daoist method of pausing solid food intake while sustaining the body through breathwork, saliva-swallowing and stance training, rather than simply going hungry. The practice has real historical roots — a fasting-and-breath-cultivation text was found among the Mawangdui silk manuscripts, buried in 168 BCE, one of the earliest known written descriptions of the method — and it recurs across Daoist texts in the centuries that followed.
After a closing ceremony and a carefully guided first meal on the morning of Day 7, the journey moves to Enshi, home to the world's only confirmed independent selenium ore deposit and soil that carries roughly two and a half times the national average selenium content. Five unhurried days here begin with hot-spring soaks, forest yoga and herbal therapy at a wellness hotel in Maotian, easing the body back into eating with selenium-enriched meals, before two final days of sightseeing — a floating boat ride through Pingshan Grand Canyon and a walk through Dixin Valley's karst formations — ahead of a fully free day before departure
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One-on-one instruction from a Daoist master of the Quanzhen Longmen lineage, in a practice traced to a fasting-and-breathwork text buried at Mawangdui in 168 BCE
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Learn the core bigu methods — fuqi (breath cultivation), zhanzhuang (standing meditation), taiji daoyin, sutra copying and walking meditation through the mountains
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Practise at Nanshendao, Wudang's quiet back garden, away from the main tourist routes and recorded for its unusually high concentration of negative air ions
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A Daoist-medicine pulse consultation and daily health monitoring throughout the retreat
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A carefully guided first meal on Day 7, easing the body back to solid food
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Five days of recovery in Enshi, home to the world's only confirmed independent selenium ore deposit
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Hot-spring soaking, forest yoga, aromatherapy spa and herbal therapy at a wellness hotel in Maotian
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A floating boat ride on the glass-clear waters of Pingshan Grand Canyon, and an evening of Tujia folk culture
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A walk through the karst formations of Dixin Valley, and Qingyang Liangting, Enshi's oldest market street
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Fasting is entirely optional throughout — guests may switch to daily wellness meals at any point and still join every activity
Day 01
Arrival at Wudang Mountain
Private transfer from Wudangshan Airport or Wudangshan Railway Station to the retreat base at Nanshendao. Settle into your room and meet your fellow guests, then sit down for a one-on-one review of your health assessment with the retreat's Daoist master, who tailors the week's pace to your condition. A light, easily digestible dinner begins easing the body toward the days ahead.
Day 02
Foundations: Pulse Diagnosis and First Practice
A Daoist-medicine pulse consultation in the morning gives the master a fuller picture of your constitution before the fast begins. The first practice session introduces the foundations of zhanzhuang (standing meditation) and fuqi (breath cultivation) — the core techniques that sustain the body through the coming week without solid food. In the evening, a guqin gathering offers a quiet introduction to the week's rhythm, followed by one last light meal before the fast begins.
Day 03
Zhanzhuang and Taiji Daoyin
This is the first full fasting day, and it settles into the daily rhythm that repeats — with small variations in the afternoon session — for the rest of the week. Guests gather downstairs each morning to practise yanjin (saliva-swallowing), caiqi and fuqi before the day's session begins. The morning itself moves through zhanzhuang standing meditation, meridian tapping, walking meditation through the forest trails, and seated meditation with breath counting; midday is left for rest. The afternoon opens with taiji daoyin, then returns to breath counting, a further walk through the mountains, and more caiqi and fuqi practice, before a free evening to rest.
Day 04
Walking Meditation Through the Mountains
The same daily structure continues, with today's mountain walks — xingjiao chan, walking meditation, each step used as a point of focus — extended further, and meridian tapping given more time to work through areas where the body tends to hold tension. Guests gather each morning for breath practice before moving through zhanzhuang, tapping, walking meditation and seated breath counting; the afternoon repeats the pattern with a further walk, more breathwork, and the Daoist master checking in individually with each guest on how the fast is progressing.
Day 05
Sutra Copying and Deeper Practice
The daily rhythm continues as before, with today's afternoon session turning to sutra copying — brush and ink slowing the mind in a way that complements the physical stillness of zhanzhuang. By this stage of the fast, most guests report that any earlier hunger has largely faded.
Day 06
Zhanzhuang, Guqin and a Quiet Mountain Evening
The final full fasting day repeats the same daily structure once more, now familiar after a week of practice, with the Daoist master on hand throughout — the afternoon session is given over to a guqin gathering rather than taiji or sutra copying. A short discussion after dinner touches on the Daodejing as it relates to daily life and eating habits, preparing guests for tomorrow's closing ceremony and the careful return to food.
Day 07
Closing Ceremony, Breaking the Fast, and On to Enshi
A final morning practice closes with a short ceremony marking the end of the week's fast. Breaking a week-long fast well matters as much as the fast itself, so the first meal back is simple and closely guided — a thin rice congee, taken slowly under the master's supervision — with clear guidance on easing back to normal eating over the coming days. In the afternoon, a private transfer carries the group to Enshi, arriving at a wellness hotel in Maotian in time for a gentle, easily digestible dinner.
Day 08
Recovery: Hot Springs and Forest Yoga
The first full day in Enshi is built entirely around recovery, easing the body back to normal function after a week without solid food. A soak in the hotel's natural hot springs relaxes muscles that have had little use, a forest yoga session offers gentle movement, and meals are simple, selenium-enriched dishes suited to a stomach still finding its rhythm again.
Day 09
Aromatherapy Spa and Herbal Therapy
A second unhurried day continues the recovery with an aromatherapy spa session and herbal therapy treatments drawing on the region's local botanicals, alongside further time in the hot springs. Meals continue building back toward a normal diet, still selenium-forward and easy on the stomach.
Day 10
Pingshan Grand Canyon and Tujia Culture
Pingshan Grand Canyon is known for water so clear that its tour boats appear to float above the riverbed rather than on it — a striking ride through the karst gorge. In the afternoon and evening, the focus turns to the region's Tusi and Tujia heritage, with a visit exploring the local Tusi history and an evening folk performance of Tujia song and dance
Day 11
Dixin Valley and Enshi's Oldest Market Street
Dixin Valley's karst sinkholes and rock formations make for an immersive walk through the region's geology, a landscape shaped over millions of years. In the afternoon, Qingyang Liangting, Enshi's oldest market street, offers a slower, human-scale close to the sightseeing — old shopfronts, local snacks and a last chance to pick up selenium-rich tea or other local specialties to take home.
Day 12
A free morning at your own pace, with no activities planned. After checking out, a private transfer to Enshi Xujiaping Airport closes out the journey.
Bigu FAQ
Is bigu fasting safe? Will I get low blood sugar?
Throughout the week, a Daoist master guides the group through breathwork and stance practice that sustains the body without solid food — this is not simply going hungry and gritting through it. Every guest completes a one-on-one health assessment before enrolling, and anyone with a condition that makes fasting risky (including insulin-dependent diabetes, pregnancy, or serious heart, liver or kidney conditions) is told plainly that the fasting portion isn't right for them, rather than being enrolled anyway.
How much weight will I lose, and does it last?
Weight loss varies by individual and is a natural side effect of the week rather than its purpose — the core aim is digestive rest and a reset of eating habits. Guests who keep to the eating rhythm they learn during the retreat after returning home tend to see results continue; the free return visit within 12 months is there to help reinforce what you've learned.
Will I be hungry? Is it true that nothing at all is eaten?
Not entirely. During the fasting days, breathwork and stance practice are combined with a small amount of prescribed herbal support to ease the transition, rather than fasting on willpower alone. Most guests notice mild hunger around day two or three, which generally fades by day four.
Do I need any prior experience? Is there an age limit?
No experience is needed — every technique is taught from the basics, and the Daoist master adjusts the pace to each guest. Past guests have ranged from their mid-twenties to their sixties. We do not recommend the fasting portion for guests under 18, over 70, or with serious organic disease, though the Enshi portion remains open to everyone.
Can I use my phone or keep working during the retreat?
You're welcome to, but we'd gently discourage it. The week is designed as a break for the body and mind together, and dividing attention with work tends to blunt the effect. Many guests choose to treat the seven days as a deliberate digital break.
How do I book, and what's the process?
Get in touch with our team, complete the health questionnaire so the Daoist master can review your suitability one-on-one, then confirm your dates with a deposit to secure your place. You'll receive full pre-arrival guidance — including the recommended three days of lighter eating before you arrive — ahead of the retreat.
Is the price all-inclusive, or are there hidden costs?
The quoted price covers accommodation and all meals for the full 11 nights, course and instruction fees, practice attire, hot-spring and spa sessions in Enshi, all listed activities, and ground transport between Wudang and Enshi. There is no upselling once you arrive, and the free 12-month return visit carries no additional course fee.
Why Wudang Mountain and this particular master?
Wudang is one of Daoism's true places of origin, and our retreat sits at Nanshendao, the mountain's quieter back garden, away from the main tourist routes and only 5.7 kilometres from the Golden Summit. The guiding master's practice comes from the Quanzhen Longmen lineage, with a documented teaching background rather than a certificate bought off the shelf.
This itinerary can be adjusted in daily pace, room type and activity choices to suit your health assessment and preferences. We are happy to talk through the details before you book.
What's included
A private English-speaking guide for the whole trip — not just at the big sights. Private driver and vehicle: airport pick-ups, drop-offs and high-speed train journeys in first class, as shown in your itinerary. Hand-picked hotels, in the centre of each city (double occupancy). All admission tickets and listed activities. Meals noted in the itinerary, with drinking water at every table. A VPN and eSIM setup guide so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram just work. 24/7 in-trip support on WhatsApp, from us, in London. Full financial protection (as agent for ATOL No. 10106; ABTA bonded No. Y6874)
What's not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees — though for most UK and EU travellers China is now 30-day visa-free; we confirm your exact status before you book
- Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary, and appreciated)
- Anything you add on the spot — which we'll happily arrange and quote in minutes
How do I secure my spot on this tour?
Click the ENQUIRE NOW button and fill in the enquiry form, or email us at info@jade-compass.com. Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling, and anything on your wish list — we'll come back within 24 hours with a real itinerary and a real price. There's no charge for this; it's how we work. Every Jade Compass tour is private, for your group alone. Once you're happy with the plan, a deposit secures your dates — the amount is shown clearly in your quote and goes towards your final balance. We don't ask for anything before you've seen the full plan and the price.
Is this trip guaranteed to run?
Yes — because it's private. Your tour runs from just two people: you and your travelling companion. There's no minimum group size, no "needs six more to confirm", no chance of cancellation for lack of numbers. Your dates and your itinerary are confirmed when you confirm your booking — and they stay confirmed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation & changes — the honest version
Plans change. Flights move, school holidays shift, family plans wobble. So here's our cancellation policy, written the way we'd want to read it — no small print, no "see our booking conditions".
Every booking starts with a 72-hour cooling-off period: cancel within 72 hours of confirming and it's a full refund, no questions — however close to departure you booked.
After that, the ladder applies from your booking date, not from the day you call to cancel:
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Booked more than 60 days before departure: full refund up to 60 days before; 50% refund up to 30 days before; 25% after that
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Booked 30–60 days before departure: 50% refund up to 30 days before; 25% after that
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Booked within 30 days of departure: 25% from the end of your cooling-off period
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Or change your dates instead — once, free of charge. We'll rebook your trip and only adjust for any real difference in cost.