The Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple is located on the north shore of the beautiful Huizhou West Lake. It is a famous ancient Taoist temple in Huizhou. In 1993, the Huizhou Taoist Association was established, with Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple as its headquarters. It was first built in 748, the seventh year of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty. It was originally named Chaoyuan Taoist Temple and later renamed Kaiyuan Taoist Temple.
In 1016, the ninth year of Xiangfu in the Song Dynasty, it was given the name Tianqing Taoist Temple. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Xuánmiào Taoist Temple to avoid taboos on dynasty names. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple and has remained so until now. Since its establishment, Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple has experienced many ups and downs and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. In 1985, the construction of the Jade Emperor Hall and the Three Pure Ones Hall began. With donations from Taoist people at home and abroad, the foundation was laid in 1987 and completed and opened in 1989. In 1990, Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple was designated as a cultural relic protection unit in Huizhou. The reconstructed Jade Emperor Hall and Three Pure Ones Hall have two rows, front and back. The front is the Jade Emperor Treasure Hall, and the back is the Three Pure Ones Treasure Hall. The ancillary buildings include the incense-burning pavilion, the steps in front of the hall, and the main entrance steps. The steps in front of the heavenly steps are divided into left and right sides. The Tai Chi diagram and the twelve Chinese zodiac patterns are carved in the middle, forming an axis with the main building. The restored buildings of Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple now also include the Sixty Jiazi Hall, the Sanyuan Hall, the Northern Emperor Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Baogong Hall, and the Guandi Hall. Tourists can burn incense, draw fortune sticks and have them interpreted while visiting Yuanmiao Ancient Taoist Temple.It is open all day throughout the year.
