[2025 Datong Attraction] Travel Guide for Chunyang Palace of Datong (Updated Mar)

Datong Chunyang Palace was built in the late Jin Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty by Liu Daoning, the chief of the Xijing Taoist Palace, who was a Taoist priest from Hengshan and a disciple of Qiu Chuji. 🌟Architectural layout: It faces south and is composed of four parts: palace, garden, square in front of the palace and quadrangle. The square in front of the gate is about 5,000 square meters. The courtyard is divided into two parts, east and west. The east courtyard is the main body of the temple. Along the central axis, there are the mountain gate, Lingguan Hall, Zushi Hall, Xiandian and Sanqing Hall in sequence; the west wing has the drum tower, Nainai Hall and Tongxu Zanhua Hall; the east wing has the bell tower, Sanguan Hall, Qifu Hall and Jishiduren Hall; behind the Sanqing Hall there is a back courtyard which is not open to the public; the west wing is the West Garden. ❤Recommendation reason: ✔️The square in front of the door is super big and the night view is beautiful. Xuantian Pavilion on the square is also part of Chunyang Temple. ✔️The mountain gate is presented with a three-way five-story archway, symbolizing the entry into the Three Pure Ones and implying the completeness of the five elements. The eaves of the door are decorated with five-step single-curved single-raised brackets, and the single-eaved hip roof is trimmed with green glazed tiles. The ridge beasts and ridge beasts are made of yellow and green glazed tiles, and the ridge is decorated with golden peony patterns. ✔️The building in front of the Sanqing Hall is very special, called the Xiandian, commonly known as the "Baoxia", with a width of three rooms and a depth of two rooms. Its main purpose is to place offerings and ritual implements during the birthday ceremonies of the various true beings. It is also a place for believers to worship. ✔️The painted murals in the main hall are about 550 square meters. Exquisite murals from ancient palaces and temples were selected as the models, using traditional fine brushwork and heavy color techniques. ✔️The back garden is a small and compact garden. There are pavilions and towers of various shapes, such as the Tingyu Pavilion with a hexagonal pointed roof, and winding corridors. The plaque "A Place with No Objects in Mind" carries the Taoist cultural connotation.

Datong Chunyang Palace is one of the few Taoist temples in Datong Ancient City. Although the site is not large, the architecture is very imposing. There is a square with a paifang (archway) at the entrance, which complements the buildings behind it. There are two trees at the entrance of Chunyang Palace that are very bright and eye-catching in autumn. The murals in Chunyang Palace are also very distinctive, vivid, lifelike, and beautifully lined. The murals are a major attraction of the temples and Taoist temples in Datong.

Here is the only existing Quanzhen Taoist temple in Datong City, 'Chunyang Palace,' which is also the 'Northern Palace' of the three major Chunyang Palaces in Shanxi. The Yongle Palace in Ruicheng is the 'Southern Palace,' and the Chunyang Palace in Taiyuan is the 'Central Palace.' The three palaces are located on a central axis, echoing each other from north to south, each with its own characteristics. The location is right next to the Drum Tower in the old city. There are many imitation ancient buildings in the square to the south, but they are all newly built. There is no entrance fee here, and no one even asks if you have a reservation. The natural way of Taoism is quite good. I went in to take a look and gained a lot of knowledge. There are many points about Taoism posted on the walls that you can learn from. When I came, I happened to catch someone performing a ritual for the deceased. Several Taoist priests were chanting scriptures, and it sounded very nice. You can't take pictures of this, it's taboo! Inside, there is a big jar. Friends who come here should remember to make a wish for good fortune. Get rich, get rich

A Taoist temple dedicated to the worship of Pure Yang Lu Zu, also known as Lu Zu Temple. It is the only existing Taoist temple of the Quanzhen sect in Datong city. Chunyang Palace in Datong was founded by Liu Daoning, the head of the Western Capital Daoist Palace, at the end of the Jin Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. The entire architectural complex is innovatively designed, with a layout that is both ingenious and compact. Pavilions, terraces, and towers are scattered in an orderly manner, making it a Taoist temple that combines temple and garden elements into a three-entry courtyard layout. 📍Address: No. 8, West Street of the Drum Tower, Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province (within the ancient city of Datong) 🈺Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00

There are three Chunyang Palaces in Shanxi, the Datong Chunyang Palace in the north is known as the "North Palace", the Yongle Palace in Yuncheng in the south is the "South Palace", and the Chunyang Palace in Taiyuan is the "Middle Palace". The three palaces are located on the same central axis, echoing each other. The Chunyang Palace in Taiyuan was built in memory of Lv Dongbin. Because Lv Dongbin's Taoist name is "Chunyangzi", it is called "Chunyang Palace". Taiyuan Chunyang Palace is a five-entry courtyard that combines temple and garden styles, with pavilions and towers in the courtyard. There is a four-pillar three-story wooden archway in front of the door, with unique shapes and colors. Taiyuan Chunyang Palace is an excellent example of Taoist architecture with distinctive features, providing an important reference for the study of Chinese Taoist architecture and Taoist culture. The entrance fee is cheap, 15 yuan for a ticket