Raising Faith to new levels

RAISING FAITH TO NEW LEVELS The Yuzhen Palace is famous among kung fu enthusiasts because legend says it was at this location (before Yuzhen came into being) that mythical Chinese Taoist priest and tai chi master Zhang Sanfeng developed his unique kung fu style. After Zhang left the Wudang Mountain, Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) both tried to find him but failed. To show his admiration for Zhang, Emperor Chengzu built the Yuzhen Palace, in which a statue of Zhang was built for people to revere. It's the only time that an emperor had built a temple for a Taoist priest – giving the Yuzhen Palace and Wudang Mountain a unique place in history. 1412 ELEVATION OF THE THREE GATES Beams are added under the gates to create a reinforced platform. The building is secured to preserve its architectural value. Concrete is built into and around the beams to form a solid platform. The Yuzhen Palace was built 1994 The Wudang Mountain as a whole, including the Yuzhen Palace. listed as a World Cultural Heritage site 1996 The Yuzhen Palace was rented to a private martial arts school Jan 9, 2003 The palace suffered severe damage during a fire caused by bad wiring Once the hydraulic lifts are placed, the labor of getting the gates up starts. Hydraulic lifts placed in strategic spots under the gate, are controlled by a computer. 18.47 cost in millions of yuan for the elevation of the three gates alone 185.24 cost in millions of yuan for the whole project. including relic restora- tion, raising of the area surrounding the gates. and an archaeological dig With each "lift" there are metal rods placed and concrete filled. The steps keep repeating until the desired height is achieved. It is estimated that the elevation will be completed in January 2013. 15m The three main gates will be elevated by 15 meters. The rest of the palace will be dismantled and then rebuilt in the same Henan position after the surrounding ground has been shored up to the same height. Shiyan Hubei GUILLERMO MUNRO. FENG XIUXIA / CHINA DAILY