Weiyu Taoist Temple

Weiyu Taoist Temple

Exiting from the south of Huangyan City, you will see a solitary green peak rising from the flat plain, shaped like a crouching tiger or a turtle lying low. Known in ancient times as Guizi Mountain, this is one of the Taoist world’s renowned mountains—Weiyu Mountain. At the foot of the mountain lies the “Second Grotto Heaven,” Dayou Palace.

“A unique place through the Two Jin Dynasties, the foremost palace in the southern land.” It would be a pity to visit Huangyan without seeing the “Second Grotto Heaven.”

Taoism is a national religion and the only traditional faith that originates from the Chinese nation. Taoism has ten great grotto heavens, among which Dayou Palace on Weiyu Mountain in Huangyan, Zhejiang, is one. During the Song Dynasty, a Taoist priest at Dayou Palace cured Emperor Huizong of an illness, after which the temple’s fame soared. Following renovations, it was renamed Weiyu Taoist Temple.

Passing through the stone memorial archway of the “Second Grotto Heaven,” you’ll enter the sacred path. In ancient times, the sides of the sacred path were filled with incense markets and lined with stone tablets. Crossing the “Welcoming Immortals Bridge,” you’ll find rows of stele pavilions of varying heights, many inscribed with calligraphy by notable historical figures. Unfortunately, these have been lost over time due to age.

Walking along the sacred path for a short while, you’ll encounter an ancient grove of cypress trees that block out the sun. Beneath the green canopy, a simple and classic mountain gate comes into view. The plaque above the gate is inscribed with the characters “Dayou Palace,” and the walls bear the large characters “Dragon” and “Tiger.” The whole scene exudes a profound atmosphere of a Taoist paradise.

Entering the mountain gate, you’ll find a small courtyard. Inside the courtyard is the “Rui Well,” which is associated with many legends. The wall is inscribed with the four large characters “Weiyu Immortal Traces.” Passing through the Xuan Gate, you’ll reach the “Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion,” where the central shrine enshrines Thunder Ancestor, flanked by statues of spiritual officials with distinct expressions. Taoism holds that the Thunder Ancestor resides above the nine heavens and governs favorable weather for the people, showing how highly he is regarded. Like other temples, this one also features a bell and a drum in the hall. Though not very large, they hold significant cultural value. The bell, called “Yong,” was an imperial gift bestowed by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

Exiting the Thunder Ancestor Hall, the space suddenly opens up to a large courtyard in front of the main hall. The main hall has five bays, a single-eave gable roof, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters, presenting an extraordinary and majestic sight.

On either side of the large courtyard are the Fengyi Towers, with spacious corridors. Passing through the Fengyi Towers to the ceremonial hall, there are several more quadrangle courtyards, tightly connected and complementing one another. With their varying heights and harmonious layout, they form a rigorously designed complex of palatial-style architecture.

Hanging above the hall door is a large plaque inscribed with “Spiritual Vault Heavenly Palace.” In front of the hall is a grand couplet: “Among the ten great grotto heavens, the second is honored by mist and rosy clouds; among the five thousand sage words, the Dao De Jing continues unbroken alongside the three.” The center of the main hall houses a tall seated statue of the Jade Emperor, wearing an elaborate crown and ceremonial robes, rendered in lifelike detail. To the left is the Lüzu Hall, and to the right is the Qiu Zu Hall, with seated statues of Lü Dongbin and Qiu Chuji.

Exiting through a side door on the right side of the main hall, you’ll come to another small courtyard planted with various flowers and trees. Inside is a stone-carved “Dan Well,” its clear water sparkling to the bottom. The well water is pure, sweet, and never runs dry throughout the year. In ancient times, it was used by immortals for alchemy.

Behind the main hall stands the Sanqing Pavilion, with a large stone tablet inscribed with “Deep in Vines and Moss.” The Sanqing Pavilion houses seated statues of Yuqing Yuan Shi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun. Exiting through a cave-like doorway from the Sanqing Pavilion, you’ll arrive at the mysterious Yushan Ancient Cave. The cave entrance is over a person’s height, but no more than ten feet wide. Inside, it is cool in summer and warm in winter, dark and eerie. Legend says that in ancient times, someone once took two baskets of candles into the cave to explore, but the candles burned out before reaching the end. Hearing the sound of oars, they turned back, giving rise to the tale that the cave leads to the East Sea. For safety reasons, later generations sealed off the deeper parts of the cave.

“A mountain need not be high—it is the presence of immortals that makes it divine.” Although the Weiyu Grotto Heaven may not possess the ruggedness of Mount Hua or the majesty of Huangyan, it captivates people across generations with its unique charm. Throughout history, literary figures such as Pan Duanming of the Jin Dynasty, Gu Kuang of the Tang Dynasty, Xie Lingyun of the Six Dynasties, Zhu Xi and Wang Shipeng of the Song Dynasty, and Tao Zongyi of the Yuan Dynasty have all left poems and writings here.