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Mt. Qingcheng

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Located about 15 kilometers southeast of Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, Mt. Qingcheng is a ideal place to escape summer hear as well as the most sacred Daoist mountain in China. The annual average temperature is around 15 degrees centigrade.

Attractions

Jianfu Palace

Situated under Zhangren Peak, the original palace was built in 730 A.D. During the Tang Dynasty. Because of damage to the original, the present palace was rebuilt in the fourteenth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. A pair of long couplets of 394 Chinese characters depict the mountain and its history.

Shangqing Palace

Most Exalted Lord Lao (title for the founder of Taoism Laozi) was enshrined in this hall. From the corridor in front of the Wenwu Palace to Huangjing Pavilion, there is a path leading to the summit of Gaotai Hill—Pengzu Peak. On the peak rests Echo Pavilion, where a shout will bring back echoes from the surrounding mountains. The three-story Laojun Hall also stands on Pengzu peak, and contains a huge bronze statue of Laozi riding a bull. Exploring the sightseeing corridor on the third floor and looking far into the distance, visitors can see green peaks rise and fall into the distance. Looking farther, Mt. Min appears in mist and the Min River is like a graceful belt. Chengdu plain seems like a brocade of thousands of miles coming clearly into view.

About a kilometer away to the west of Fangning bridge is Zushi Palace. It was built in the Jin Dynasty and formerly called Dongtian Guan. The remaining architecture was built in 1865 during the Qing Dynasty, and formerly was used to make offerings to the god Zhenwu and founder Sanfeng. Facing Zushi Palace, there is a valley named White Cloud Brook behind which rises Xuanyuan Peak.

Tianshi Palace

Tianshi Palace is the ancestral place of Tianshi Taoism which was founded by Zhang Tianshi. In the past, every Tianshi of Longhu hill of Jiangxi had to come here to worship after they took office. The Chang Taoist Temple stands as the most stunning architecture in this complex. The palace is located in front of Tianshi Cave on the third Hunyuan summit and was reconstructed in the Qing Dynasty. A stone statue of Zhang Tianshi, enshrined within the cave, was carved during Sui Dynasty. His three eyes stare into the distance, with solemn face and his left hand protruding straight out.

The Three Kings Palace

Three stone statues of the three ancient kings Fuxi, Shennong and Xuanyuan stand here. In front of them is a stele from Emperor Kaiyuan of the Tang Dynasty on which is engraved "Mt. Qingcheng belongs to the Taoist school and its temple should be built by the mountain side". Those scripts are regarded as the most valuable treasure on Mt. Qingcheng.

Yellow Emperor Temple

Behind the main hall of Shangqing Palace, visitors can walk down through Tianshi Palace, then enter Yellow Emperor Hall and visit Sanqing Palace lastly. The Yellow Emperor Temple is dedicated to Xuanyuan Huang-di, the Yellow Emperor. The temple was built with piled eaves and winding corridors which make it primitive and elegant. The streamer hung over the entrance is inscribed with four characters "Ancient Yellow Emperor Temple" written by YuYouren, one of the founders of the Kuomingtang and noted calligrapher.

Sanqing Palace

Sanqing Palace, built to enshrine the three paramount immortals in Taoism, is the most significant temple on the mountain. It was built in 1923 and has been recently restored. Nine steps lead up to the corridor before Sanqing's main hall, which is supported by six stone pillars, the pedestals of which are carved with images of grotesque beasts. The main hall consists of 5 large rooms lined up one after another, and covers an area of 580 square meters. Altogether there are 28 pillars about four and a half meters tall whose tops are decorated with carvings of birds and beasts, figures and flowers. Their color is plain and they elegantly harmonize with the architecture. Upstairs is Wuji Hall, where an octagonal opening provides a passageway for light and ventilation. In the center of the opening the handwriting of Emperor Kangxi which says "Dan Tai Bi Dong"(meaning red terrace and green cave in Chinese).

The stone railing before the hall are carved with many figures, some bare-headed and revealing their backs, some jumping and playing. Their heads lack the typical scars of religious discipline and the tops of their skulls are still sunken like a baby's. This is because the newborn baby, known as “Chizi in Chinese”, has a purity which is very important in Taoism. According to its Ethics Scripture, "Ethics remains because of the baby", teaching people to keep the pure and kind heart of the infant and to use Taoist practice to return to child-like innocence. Among these carvings are some musical instruments, such as conch shells which whistle with the wind, which are called "sounds of nature". The carving has the descriptive name "picture of babies and sounds of nature" and reflects well the philosophy and aesthetic sentiment of Taoism.

Edition HistoryEditLocation:

15 kilometers away from Dujiangyan City and 66 kilometers away fron Chengdu city.

Edition HistoryEditTicket Price:

90 yuan

Edition HistoryAdd Opening Time:

Edition HistoryEdit How to get there:

Bus departs from Chengdu Railway Station Square or Ximen Bus Station to Dujiang Irrigation Project and Mt. Qingcheng every 10 minutes every day. There are also shuttle buses between Ximen Bus Station and Mt. Qingcheng.

Edition HistoryEdit Tips:

1. Cured meat and snow broth pickles from the posterior mountain are worth tasting.

2.The pleasure of visiting Mt. Qingcheng is to walk along the stone path covered with heavy shades and enjoy the beautiful scenery. When you come to a Taoist temple, you can stop and have a drink of tea and appreciate the architecture and cultural relics kept there.

3. Recommended itinerary : One-day trip: Take a bus to Dujiang Irrigation Project to visit the project and nearby sights, then go to Mt. Qingcheng. Visitors can take a cable car up the mountain and walk down along Sun Watching Pavilion, Zhushi Palace and Tianshi Cave. Later go back to Chengdu by bus. Two-day trip: The first day is the same as the one-day trip but visitors can stay at Mt. Qingcheng for one night. The next morning, visitors can go to the posterior mountain by car and climb up along the route of Taian temple, Avalokitesvara Waterfall, Cuiying Lake, Double-Spring Water-Screen Cave and Dressing Pool. To return, they can descend along the route of White Clouds Cave, Longxia Gorge Plank Road and Three-Dragon Crystal Cave.