Ling Lake and Linglong Palace

Ling Lake and Linglong Palace

Ling Lake, anciently known as Lingxu Lake, is not large in area, yet its delicate and graceful presence never fails to captivate. "The still water mirrors the shifting clouds like a turning bright mirror, while clouds glide past the painted screen." Here, the mountains, water, and clouds are serene and beautiful. On clear, cloudless days, standing on the lake embankment, you can admire the beauty of the surrounding mountain scenery and the floating mist of a sunny day.

Linglong Palace is an ancient structure standing on the eastern shore of Lingxu Lake. The azure mountains and blue waters, together with the majestic Linglong Palace, form a picturesque scene. Built during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, the palace has been well preserved to this day. The entire Linglong Palace complex consists of the main gate, an opera stage, a main hall, and side chambers, covering an area of over 700 square meters. The worship of dragons and the hope for their blessing is a traditional folk custom. Therefore, this sacred site dedicated to the dragon god is perpetually filled with incense, especially around the Dragon Boat Festival each year when worshippers flock here in great numbers. They offer incense, pray, and wish for favorable weather, abundant harvests, the warding off of evil, disaster relief, and peace for the nation and its people.

Ancient craftsmen left behind immortal masterpieces here, particularly the opera stage and the main hall. The octagonal caisson ceiling, brackets, spandrels, and moon beams are all adorned with exquisitely carved auspicious patterns such as paired phoenixes and floral designs. These exquisite artistic decorations not only fill Linglong Palace with an air of fortune and blessing but also lend the otherwise tranquil structure a touch of refined splendor.