Located on the northeastern side of Jinan, there stands a mountain known as Hua Buzhu, commonly referred to as Huashan. In the fourth year of the Xingding era during the Jin Dynasty, disciples of the Jin Zhenjiao patriarch constructed the Huayang Palace on the southern slopes of the mountain.
Huayang Palace, nestled against the mountain and beside the lake, is a complex of buildings spread across more than ten courtyards. It is a Taoist temple in Jinan, perpetually shrouded in the smoke of incense, with devotees visiting throughout the seasons. The palace derives its name from its position on the sunny side of Huashan. Before the Jin Dynasty, the area between Huashan and Queshan was a lake, connected to Daming Lake, historically referred to as Queshan Lake, also known as Lian Zi Lake. Huashan stands alone, its reflection in the water resembling a lotus in the water. Huayang Palace is a temple within an ancient architectural complex, notable for its large scale and long history. It houses Taoist temples such as the Mianhua Hall, Dragon King Temple, Sanhuang Palace, Sanyuan Palace, Taishan Palace, and the Buddhist Pure Land Hermitage, among others. With numerous halls and diverse statues, the palace is home to dozens of ancient cypresses, their gnarled branches and verdant foliage casting a serene and ancient ambiance over the halls. Walking among them evokes a sense of profundity and transcendence. Among these cypresses is one known as the ‘Falling Phoenix Cypress’, next to the steps of the Four Seasons Hall, with a girth of two embraces, said to have been planted during the Sui Dynasty. The palace is open all year round from 8:00 to 17:00.
