Qingyang Palace (Qing Yang Gong)

Qingyang Palace, aka Qing Yang Gong, is one of the most famous Taoist temples in China. It is conveniently located in the northwest part of Chengdu, in the Sichuan Province.

Qingyang Palace was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a period when Taoism was flourishing. Most of the parts of the temple that remain in existence are restorations from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), including Sanqing Hall, Doulao Hall, Hunyuan Palace, the Eight Trigrams Pavilion, and Wuji Palace.

Qingyang Palace

Hunyuan Palace

The most magnificent of these buildings in Qingyang Palace is the Eight Trigrams Pavilion. Built on square foundations, with a colored glazed dome on top, this octagonal building reflects the ancient Chinese philosophy that 'the sky is round and the earth is square'. There are eight pillars with dragons drawn in relief in the corridor, and colorful caissons and the symbols of eight trigrams are ornately arranged across its ceiling.

Beside the altar of Sanqing Hall stand two eye-catching bronze goats, which were said to be taken from Beijing during the Qing Dynasty. One of the goats is actually a strange creature with a mouse's ears, an ox's nose, a tiger's claw, a rabbit's mouth, a dragon's horns, a snake's tail, a horse's face, a goat's beard, a monkey's neck, a chicken's eyes, a dog's belly and a pig's thighs.

Many important exhibits of Taoist cultural relics are also on display in Qingyang Palace, such as the wooden engraving of the Dao Zang Ji Yao (Abstract of Collected Taoist Scriptures) and the stone sculpture of Patriarch Lu Dongbin, who was one of the Taoist Immortals in Chinese History.Wandering through the Qingyang Palace, you will find many locals and visitors eating, drinking tea and playing Mahjong at the temple's teahouse. This is a traditional and extremely popular pastime for the people of Chengdu. If you have time, joining the locals for a pleasurable afternoon at the teahouse is an excellent way to experience life in China off the beaten track.

1. Take subway line 5 and get off at Qingyang Palace Station, Exit C or D. After arriving, walk to the ticket office of ths scenic area directly.
2. Take bus 34, 58, 1079, 27, 42, 59, 280 or 1024, and get off Qing Yang Gong (Qingyang Palace) Station.
 Chengdu Bus / Metro Search

Entrance Fee	CNY 10 free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) or no more than 6 years old and the elderly aged over 60.
Opening Hours	08:00 - 17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit	One hour