▲ The Zhongnan Mountain Ancient Louguan Scenic Area serves as the core attraction of Xi'an Louguan Chinese Taoist Culture Exhibition Zone. It represents a significant initiative by the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Government to implement the "Cultural Strengthening" strategy, as well as the Xi'an Municipal Party Committee and Government's comprehensive execution of the "Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone Development Plan." Opened on March 1, 2012, this sacred Taoist site is renowned as the "No.1 Blessed Land Under Heaven," the "Origin of Taoism," and the "Immortal Capital of Taoist Heritage."
▲ The Chongyang Palace was founded during the Jin Dynasty, flourished in the Yuan Dynasty, declined in the Ming Dynasty, and was destroyed in the Qing Dynasty. With a history of over 800 years, it served as the spiritual cultivation site and final resting place of Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen School of Taoism. It is one of the three ancestral temples of the Quanzhen School (alongside Beijing's Baiyun Temple and Shanxi's Yongle Palace). During the Jin Dynasty, it was honored as the "Ancestral Temple of the World" and has long been renowned as the "Sacred Land of Quanzhen." Emperor Zhangzong of Jin bestowed it the name "Lingxu Temple," and Emperor Shizu of Yuan renamed it "Great Chongyang Palace of Longevity." At its peak, the palace grounds stretched east to the Laoyu River, west to the Baima River, south to the Qinling Mountains, and north near the Wei River, boasting over 5,000 halls and pavilions and housing nearly 10,000 Taoist priests.
▲ The ancient tomb featured in Jin Yong's novel "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was originally the residence of Wang Chongyang before he founded the Quanzhen Sect. After his defeat, it was transferred to Lin Chaoying, whose successors later established the Ancient Tomb Sect. For specific details, please refer to the book's plot. In reality, the "Tomb of the Living Dead" exists historically and was indeed where Wang Chongyang practiced Taoism and martial arts. After his failed resistance against the Jin dynasty, Wang dug an underground dwelling and named it the "Tomb of the Living Dead," hanging a plaque inscribed: "Spirit Tablet of Wang the Madman" (Wang's self-proclaimed title). Seven years later, Wang emerged from the tomb to pursue his ideals in a different way. The Tomb of the Living Dead is located in the Chengdao Palace, about 4-5 li away from Chongyang Palace. Today, the tomb mound remains, with a stone tablet at the front bearing the large characters "Tomb of the Living Dead." According to local experts, the tomb passage was once opened, revealing an underground chamber that appeared bottomless when viewed from above.
▲ The Taoist Cultural Area features Ming and Qing dynasty-style architecture built along the mountain slopes, fully utilizing the terrain's south-high, north-low characteristics and unfolding sequentially from south to north. The axis is divided into three sections by the Taiqing Gate, Shangqing Gate, and Yuqing Gate, forming the Taoist "Three Pure Sacred Realms." With the central axis halls as nodes, nine courtyards are arranged to express Taoism's understanding of the world and its profound philosophical ideas. The main halls enshrine the Three Pure Ones, the Four Heavenly Ministers, various folk deities, and Taoist masters, forming the world's largest Taoist temple complex, magnificently showcasing the grand spirit of the "Origin of Taoism and Immortal Capital."
▲ Minimum 2 people - Daily departures - Same-day round-trip - Door-to-door pickup within Xi'an's Third Ring Road - No worries about minimum group size
