Taiqing Palace (Taiqing gong), the largest, oldest and most
impressive of the temples in Laoshan, lies to the southeast of the
mountain and faces the sea.
Altogether, the palace houses 140 rooms and halls including the
most famous Three God's Hall, Three Purities' Hall and Three
Emperor's Hall. The palace was first built during the reign of the
first Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty about 1000 years ago and
underwent complete rebuilding during the Ming Dynasty, some 500
hundred years later.
In front of the Three Purities' Hall is a pool with clear blue
water, which was named Shengshui Spring (Magical Spring) by the
Taoists who lived in the Temple. It is said that the spring will
never dry up. Embedded in a wall nearby are religious inscriptions
on a tablet, which was written by Kublai Khan (the first Emperor of
Yuan Dynasty) and the Jinhufuwen (Gold Tiger Magic Figures) issued
by Genghis Khan.On a giant stone located to the east side of the
Palace four big words are engraved,Bo Hai Can Tian(the waves reach
to the sky), below which a famous line of small words reads,a visit
here on the 28th year of the period of the first emperor of
China.
Every moonlight night, the water and the sky here blend into
one, forming a breathtaking view.
Travel tips
How to get there: Take bus number 304 (6:30- 17:00) from railway
station (Zhanqiao); or take bus No.106 (7:15- 16:20) from Li
Village and get off at Yakou station, which is also named as Mt.
Laoshan Taiqing Ropeway and Taiqing Palace are before your
eyes.
?
Costs: 15 yuan; Taiqing Palace entrance fee: 15 yuan. Taiqing
Ropeway Fee: 50 yuan for going up, and 40 yuan for going down.
(china.org.cn)
