Woyang Tianjing Palace

Woyang Tianjing Palace

Woyang Tianjing Palace is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Woyang Tianjing Palace

Woyang Tianjing Palace Scenic Area

Situated in Zhengdian Village, Waibei Subdistrict, north of Woyang County, the site is a national AAA-level tourist attraction. It is five kilometers from the county center. Built to commemorate Laozi, the great philosopher and founder of Taoism during China’s Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (a native of present-day Woyang County, Anhui Province), the palace faces the Gu River to the south and is enveloped on three sides by the Wu Family River, with its back against the peaks of Longshan Mountain. It can be described as a land cradled by mountains and water, a place of outstanding natural beauty. Originally constructed in the eighth year of the Yanxi era during the Eastern Han Dynasty (165 AD), it was initially called the Temple of Laozi. To its east were the Temple of the Heavenly Emperor and the Hall of Ritual Inquiry; to its south, the Meteor Garden, the Hall of the Holy Mother, and the Nine Dragon Wells; to its west, the Tai Xiao Palace and the Jade Emperor Hall; and to its north, the Three Pure Ones Hall, among others. In addition, it featured a Hall of Spirit Officials, Scripture Recital Hall, Bell Tower, Well Pavilion, guest rooms, quarters for Taoist priests, kitchen, storage facilities, and stables—everything one could expect. With over a hundred pillars, the complex covered 3,000 mu and supported thousands of residents. The palace was filled with towering halls and pavilions, lush pines and cypresses, and an atmosphere of solemn dignity and extraordinary grandeur, making it one of the greatest Taoist temples in China. Today, Tianjing Palace still retains numerous structures and relics related to Laozi, including Tianjing Palace itself, the Temple of the Heavenly Emperor, the Nine Dragon Wells, and the Tomb of Laozi’s Mother. The Temple of the Heavenly Emperor, also known as the Temple of the Eastern Peak or the “Old Temple” of Laozi, is a well-preserved above-ground structure from the original Yuan Dynasty Tianjing Palace complex with an intact layout. In honor of the great philosopher Laozi, to promote Taoist culture, rescue and restore the outstanding cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, and expand cultural exchanges with the world, restoration of Tianjing Palace began with strong support from philanthropic individuals in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas who hold virtue and Taoism in high esteem. Serving as a memorial sanctuary for Laozi, a research center for Taoist philosophy, and a scenic site for Taoism, years of effort have led to the construction and completion of over ten halls, including the Hall of Laojun, the Three Pure Ones Hall, the Hall of Spirit Officials, the Hall of Heavenly Master, the Hall of Chongyang, the Hall of the God of Wealth, the Hall of the Original Destiny, the Hall of the Ancestral Founder, the Hall of Compassion, the Hall of Lüzu, and the Temple of the Eastern Peak. Tianjing Palace has thus been restored to its ancient site, reclaiming its former glory. The architectural complex of Tianjing Palace features landmark structures. To date, the main hall, the Hall of Laojun, along with other key buildings along the central axis of the temple, such as the Hall of Spirit Officials and the Three Pure Ones Temple, have been completed. As the principal hall of Tianjing Palace, the Hall of Laojun was restored according to the scale of the ancestral temple and the regulations of the Song Dynasty. With a double-eaved roof and nine ridges, it stretches 47 meters from east to west, extends 28 meters from north to south, and rises 23.75 meters high, standing atop a 2-meter-high platform. It is acclaimed as the foremost hall among Taoist temples. Within the hall stand three bronze statues: Laozi, Yin Xi, and the Eastern Emperor. The statue of Laozi stands 5.5 meters tall and weighs 6,000 kilograms, currently the largest bronze statue of Laozi in China and hailed as the foremost in the nation. This attests to the long history of Laozi worship in the Woyang area. This magnificent and majestic Tianjing Palace, often regarded as the premier Taoist temple in China, plans to launch its third phase of construction this year. The focus of this phase is primarily on protecting the Nine Dragon Wells and restoring the ancient Meteor Garden to recreate scenes from antiquity. Currently, Tianjing Palace adheres to the standards of a national AAA-level tourist attraction, and in the near future, it will become a renowned travel destination in Bozhou City, Anhui Province, and even nationwide. The first China Woyang Laozi Culture Festival grandly opened at the Tianjing Palace scenic area in 2007. In 2009, the Woyang Tianjing Palace scenic area was rated as a 3A-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration.

Tianjing Palace Subdistrict: Tianjing Palace Subdistrict is located in Woyang County, Bozhou City, Anhui Province. Situated on the Huaibei Plain and the north bank of the Gu River, it has a linear layout and faces the county across the river, forming the new northern district of Woyang County. Both S202 Highway and the Xufu Railway pass through the area. Covering a total area of 108 square kilometers, it includes 99,800 mu of arable land and a resident population of nearly 100,000 people. It governs 13 communities and 9 village committees.

Tianjing Palace Subdistrict boasts abundant produce, yielding high-quality and large quantities of grain, cotton, oil, and tobacco. The Waibei Subdistrict also holds vast underground mineral resources, including the Waibei Coal Mine and the Xuguanglou Coal Mine. [2]

200…… Detailed information about Tianjing Palace Subdistrict++