Laoshan Taiqing Palace

　　

　　

The Laoshan Taiqing Palace stands on Laoshan Mountain, Qingdao City of Shandong Province. It has been listed as one of the key national Taoist temples by the State Council. Laoshan Mountain is a famous scenic spot of China, with an area of 300 square kilometers. Many famous Taoists once cultivated themselves here, as it has been a Holy Land of Taoism since ancient times. Many places in the area are the venues for Taoist activities, and the Taiqing Palace is the most famous one them.

　　

　　Among various Taoist buildings on the mountain, the Taiqing Palace has the longest history. It is the largest and the most influential one. The Laoshan Taiqing Palace was first built in 140, and formed a considerable scale in 905 with the efforts of several famous Taoists. After that, more buildings were added to it. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the temple became a Taoist temple of Quanzhen Sect, it got great support from the imperial court and its status was elevated greatly. Therefore, it was called the second Taoist temple just next to the Baiyun Taoist Temple. Famous Taoist Zhang Sanfeng once cultivated himself here during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Laoshan Mountain also has something to do with the great ancient novel Liao Zhai Zhi Yi (the Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio). Many stories of the book came from Laoshan Mountain, and it is said that the writer Pu Songling once lived here.

　　

　　The main buildings of the Taiqing Palace include the Sanguan Hall, the Sanqing Hall and the Sanhuang Hall. In addition, there is also a very famous mountain spring, the Shenshui Spring (Spring of Supernatural Water), in the Taiqing Palace. The Taoists of the sect pay attention to the preservation of health, and have some originality in qigong (the skill of focusing vital energy).