The northern of the five terraces — Yedou Peak — is the high point of Mt. Wutai and the highest point in all of northern China at 3,058 metres. The summit is a wide, almost flat alpine meadow rather than a sharp peak; in summer it is covered in wildflowers and grazing yak, in winter under snow that often holds into June. The temple at the top, Lingying Si, is a small stone-walled hall built for the wind.
Pilgrim minivans run up to the summit during the warm months from Taihuai. The road is precipitous and the drivers fast. At the top, allow time to walk to the edge of the plateau for the views down into the surrounding valleys — on a clear day you can see the whole monastic valley and the four other terraces ranged around it. Bring a hat and a windproof layer regardless of the season; temperatures at the summit are often more than 15°C cooler than in the village.