Tianjing Palace

Tianjing Palace, also known as Laozi Temple and Taiqing Palace, is located on the north bank of the [...]

Tianjing Palace, also known as Laozi Temple and Taiqing Palace, is located on the north bank of the Wujia River, which is the ancient Gu River, and it flows into the Wo River near the center of Wobei Street. The palace is majestic and is believed by some to be the birthplace of Laozi, although this is still a matter of debate. Visitors can make wishes and prayers here, learn about the life of Laozi, and explore the remains of the ancient Tianjing Palace.
Tianjing Palace was originally built in the eighth year of the Yanxi era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 165), originally named Laozi Temple. In the second year of Emperor Xuanzong’s Tianbao era (AD 743), it was officially named Taiqing Palace. After Emperor Shizu of Yuan, it was renamed Tianjing Palace. Throughout the dynasties, the palace has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. What is seen today is a reconstruction on the original site in the 1990s, following the architectural standards of the Northern Song Dynasty’s Tianjing Palace.

Passing through the large square with the standing archway at the entrance, one enters Tianjing Palace, which is mainly divided into three routes: central, eastern, and western. The central route is where the main hall is located, with the front and back having the mountain gate, Huixian Bridge, Lingguan Hall, Laozi Hall, Sanqing Hall, Tianshi Hall, Chongyang Hall, Caishen Hall, Yuanchen Hall, Laozu Hall, Ciai Hall, Lvzu Hall, Bell and Drum Tower, ‘The Source of Tao’, ‘The Beginning of Virtue’ exhibition rooms, and Qiankun Tao House. To the east, there are Dongyue Temple, the Hall of the Holy Mother, Meteor Garden, and Jiulong Well. To the west, there is the Lecture Hall and the Sutra Pavilion.

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The Laozi Hall is the main hall of Tianjing Palace, housing three bronze statues of Laozi, Yin Xi, and Donghua Dijun, with the central Laozi statue standing at 5.5 meters tall. In front of the Sanqing Hall are the remains of the ancient Tianjing Palace, where one can see the ‘Site of the Song Dynasty Laozi Hall’ stone tablet standing on the lawn. Several exhibition rooms in Tianjing Palace display Laozi’s Taoist thoughts and life, exhibiting some unearthed cultural relics.

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For those interested in history, the Meteor Garden site to the east is worth visiting. A total of nine ancient wells were discovered here, one of which is a tile-ring well from the Spring and Autumn period. According to ‘Zhengtong Daozang · Youlong Zhuan’ and various other records, when Laozi was born, ‘ten thousand cranes flew in the sky, dragons spat water to bathe the sage, and where the dragon emerged, nine wells were formed.’ Although these may seem like ordinary wells to most people, they are strong evidence of Laozi’s birthplace.

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Opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:00 all year round; during the Spring Festival, the opening hours are from 06:00 to 17:00.

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Preferential policy additional notes: 1. Full price ticket: for those above 1.2 meters (not including) and under 65 years old (not including), the price is the same as for adults. 2. Free ticket: for those under 1.2 meters (not including) and for those 65 years old (including) and above, as well as for military personnel and disabled persons with valid identification, tickets are free. 3. The above information is for reference only, and the specific details are subject to the disclosure of the Tianjing Palace scenic area on the day.

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