Qianshan Wuliangguan

Qianshan Wuliangguan

Qianshan Wuliangguan is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

Qianshan Wuliangguan is a renowned Taoist temple, located in Beigou of Qianshan Mountain, about ten kilometers southeast of Anshan City, Liaoning Province. Also known as Wuliangguan (literally "Beamless Temple"), it is said to have been named for its original beamless construction.

In the sixth year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1667), Liu Tailin, the eighth-generation disciple of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect of Taoism, founded the temple, which has undergone multiple renovations since. Major structures within and around the temple include the Hall of Laozi, the Hall of the Three Officials, the Hall of Cihang (Goddess of Mercy), the South Heavenly Gate, the Eight Immortals Pagoda, the Patriarch Pagoda, and the Ge Gong Pagoda. The Hall of Laozi was built in the early Kangxi years of the Qing Dynasty and was renovated during the Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Tongzhi reigns. It houses a statue of Laozi, the Supreme Taoist Deity. The Hall of the Three Officials was constructed in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign (1847) and is named after the worship of the Three Officials. The Hall of Cihang, originally called the Cihang Pavilion, enshrines the image of the Goddess Cihang. At the mountainside in front of the temple lies a stone platform surrounded by short stone railings, stone slabs, and stone pillars. Legend has it that immortals and Taoist hermits often gathered here, hence the name “Immortals’ Gathering Terrace.” To the east of the terrace stand three pagodas dedicated to the Eight Immortals, the Patriarch, and Ge Gong.

Ascending the stone steps from the mountain gate leads to the West Peak, where a stone platform at the summit is called Zhenyi Slope. The northern peak nearby was historically known as Bai Dou Platform, where Taoist priests of the temple once worshipped the Big Dipper. The surrounding area features overlapping peaks and pine forests, along with numerous scenic spots and historic sites such as the South Heavenly Gate, the Bell Tower, the Ten-Thousand-Year Pine, the Upright Pine, and the Stone Niche Pine.

The entire architectural complex of Wuliangguan is built along the mountain and integrated with the landscape. The halls and rooms are arranged in terraced levels ascending step-by-step, creating a majestic and naturally flowing layout with ingenious structure. It is a famous Taoist temple in Northeast China.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Liaoning Province