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Ruins of Dongxuan Taoist Temple

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The ruins of Dongxuan Taoist Temple are located at the southern foot of Fangshan Mountain in Moling Subdistrict, Jiangning District, dating back to the Eastern Wu period. It is said that famous mountains are often shared by Buddhism and Taoism, and Fangshan is no exception — for centuries, both religions have vied to develop sites here. Especially for Taoism, it holds a special place because Ge Xuan, one of the “Two Gés and Three Zhāngs” — the founding patriarchs of Taoism — established the Dongxuan Temple on the southern side of the mountain. Later, Ge Hong also practiced asceticism here, which contributed to its significance. In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era during the Tang Dynasty, Qiyanyan Temple was merged into Dongxuan Temple on Fangshan, further expanding its scale. The Song Dynasty poet Yang Xiu wrote a poem about the temple: “Ge Xuan’s merit and deeds filled three thousand, / By day he rode a phoenix up to the blue sky. / The old altars and temples still remain, / So later generations know immortals truly exist.” During the Ming Dynasty, Dongxuan Temple was under the jurisdiction of Chaotian Palace. In the twelfth year of the Zhengtong era, it was bestowed a complete set of the Daozang (Taoist Canon). The temple was abolished in the Republican era and is one of the oldest Taoist temples in China. Additionally, there is also Baohua Palace on Fangshan Mountain, a Taoist structure built by the Southern Tang’s middle ruler for his mother and later relocated outside the southern city gate during the Southern Song Dynasty.

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The ruins of Dongxuan Taoist Temple are a cultural heritage site protected by Nanjing Municipality.

The ruins of Dongxuan Taoist Temple are located at the southern foot of Fangshan Mountain in Moling Subdistrict, Jiangning District, dating back to the Eastern Wu period.

It is said that famous mountains are often shared by Buddhism and Taoism, and Fangshan is no exception — for centuries, both religions have vied to develop sites here. Especially for Taoism, it holds a special place because Ge Xuan, one of the “Two Gés and Three Zhāngs” — the founding patriarchs of Taoism — established the Dongxuan Temple on the southern side of the mountain. Later, Ge Hong also practiced asceticism here, which contributed to its significance. In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era during the Tang Dynasty, Qiyanyan Temple was merged into Dongxuan Temple on Fangshan, further expanding its scale. The Song Dynasty poet Yang Xiu wrote a poem about the temple: “Ge Xuan’s merit and deeds filled three thousand, / By day he rode a phoenix up to the blue sky. / The old altars and temples still remain, / So later generations know immortals truly exist.” During the Ming Dynasty, Dongxuan Temple was under the jurisdiction of Chaotian Palace. In the twelfth year of the Zhengtong era, it was bestowed a complete set of the Daozang (Taoist Canon). The temple was abolished in the Republican era and is one of the oldest Taoist temples in China. Additionally, there is also Baohua Palace on Fangshan Mountain, a Taoist structure built by the Southern Tang’s middle ruler for his mother and later relocated outside the southern city gate during the Southern Song Dynasty.

The ruins of Dongxuan Taoist Temple are a cultural heritage site protected by Nanjing Municipality.

Moling Subdistrict: Located in the central part of Jiangning District, Moling Subdistrict borders Hushu across the Qinhuai River to the east, neighbors Guli to the west, faces Lukou to the south, and interconnects with the Development Zone and Science Park to the north. As the main urban area, core district, and economic center of Jiangning, it borders six of the district’s ten subdistricts. It encompasses 25 communities, covers an area of 185.3 square kilometers, and has a permanent population of 182,100 and a registered population of 134,812. It ranks among the top tier in the district and within the top ten in the city, having received multiple honors from the municipal Party committee and government such as the “Development Cup” and “Harmony Cup.” More detailed information about Moling Subdistrict ++