Wuyi Palace

Wuyi Palace

The Myriad-Year Palace now houses the Zhu Xi Memorial Hall. Inside the palace are two thousand-year-old osmanthus trees, said to have been planted by Li Liangzuo when he built the temple in the second year of the Baoda era (944) during the Southern Tang Dynasty. One of the trees later died, and during the Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi replanted it. The two osmanthus trees twist and turn like dragons and snakes, earning them the title "King of Osmanthus Trees."

The Wuyi Palace scenic area is the core part of the Wuyi Mountain National Scenic Area, also known as "Wuyi Palace." The area is located at Qingchuan, the endpoint of the Nine-Bend Stream rafting trip. Also called the Immortals' Gathering Temple, Chongyou Temple, and Myriad-Year Palace, it lies at the southern foot of the Great King Peak of Wuyi Mountain, about fifteen kilometers south of Chong’an County in Fujian Province. Facing the mouth of the Nine-Bend Stream, it was historically where emperors worshipped the Wuyi God and was one of the six most famous temples in China during the Song Dynasty.

Fronted by streams and backed by verdant peaks, with fertile fields and lush landscapes, it is a hub for tourists. It was where emperors worshipped the Wuyi God and was one of the six most renowned scenic temples in the Song Dynasty. As the oldest temple on Wuyi Mountain, it is located at the foot of the Great King Peak and was first built during the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era (742–755). It was expanded during the Song Dynasty to over 300 rooms and bestowed the name "Chongyou Myriad-Year Palace." Every Mid-Autumn Festival, ceremonies were held here to worship the Wuyi God and the Imperial Grandmother. Today, two Dragon Wells, the Myriad-Year Palace, and the Three Pure Ones Hall remain. It has been developed into a tourist attraction, featuring a Song-style commercial street, a tea house, the Zhu Xi Memorial Hall, Zhongshan Hall, and the Wanchun Botanical Garden, along with many tourism service facilities.

According to the *Wuyi Mountain Annals*, Wuyi Palace was initially built during the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era (742–755), making it the oldest palace on Wuyi Mountain, with a history of over a thousand years. It was not originally located at its current site but was first built on an islet in the First Bend, known as the Tianbao Hall. In the second year of the Baoda era (944) during the Southern Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yuanzong Li Jing relocated it to its present location for his brother Li Liangzuo, who "renounced worldly life for the Tao," naming it the "Immortals’ Gathering Temple." After its construction, successive dynastic rulers, devout in their belief in immortals, spared no expense in renovating and expanding the palace multiple times, renaming it the "Zhongyou Temple."

Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji, poet Lu You, Neo-Confucian scholar Liu Zijun, and Zhu Xi all served as administrators of the Chongyou Temple. In 1328 during the Yuan Dynasty, the temple was renamed a palace and called the "Myriad-Year Palace." In 1439 during the Ming Dynasty, the temple was destroyed in war. Though the government allocated funds for renovations during the Tianshun and Chenghua eras (1457–1487), it was never fully restored. In 1525, the temple was again burned down and rebuilt the following year, becoming the Wuyi Palace we see today.

Though the ancient Wuyi Palace has been repaired through the dynasties, it could not withstand repeated fires and wars, leaving only a few empty rooms. In recent years, with support from tourism and cultural authorities, the main hall of Wuyi Palace has been restored. The two osmanthus trees in the courtyard are relics from the Song Dynasty, standing as 800–900-year-old ancient trees. A comprehensive restoration plan for Wuyi Palace is being gradually implemented. This timeless temple will surely regain its former grandeur.

Major attractions include the Wuyi Mountain Museum, the Three Pure Ones Hall, the Great King Peak, the Curtain Peak, the Lion Peak, the Bone-Changing Rock, the Three Aunts Stone, the Song Street, the Zhu Xi Memorial Hall, and the Liu Yong Memorial Hall. It is a scenic area integrating natural landscapes, garden architecture, and historical culture.

Myriad-Year Palace: From Emperor Huizong to Emperor Ningzong’s Xiding era, 25 individuals, including Zhu Xi, Lu You, Xin Qiji, Li Bai, and Yue Fei, served as administrators of the Chongyou Temple. Image of the current Wuyi Palace (formerly Myriad-Year Palace).

This is the Zhu Xi Memorial Hall.

Three Pure Ones Hall: Now home to the International Orchid Pavilion Academy, the hall houses four precious stone inscriptions: the Zhongding Spirit Way Stele, the Cave Heaven Immortal Mansion, poems by Gong Yiqing from the Ming Dynasty, and modern calligraphy by Guo Moruo from his visit to Wuyi.

Song-Style Street: Located in Wuyi Palace, this 300-meter-long street runs north-south. At the entrance stands a stone archway, and at the end is an ancient gate tower, imitating the architectural style of the Song Dynasty, with the Zhu Xi Memorial Hall as its focal point.

Address: Wuyi Mountain National Tourism Resort, Wuyishan City, Nanping, Fujian (southern foot of the Great King Peak, fronting the mouth of the Nine-Bend Stream)

Type: Historical Site / Taoist Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 2 hours

Phone: 0599-5134010

Opening Hours:

8:00-18:00

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area ticket (210 RMB), which is only available as a package.

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area Pass

1. One-day pass: 140 RMB per person

2. Two-day pass: 150 RMB per person

3. Three-day pass: 160 RMB per person

Transportation

Wuyi Palace is located at the foot of the Great King Peak in the First Bend, easily accessible on foot or by taxi. The typical visit lasts 1–2 hours, often combined with a bamboo raft trip—disembarking at Wuyi Palace after the rafting, as the rafting and palace visit make for a perfect half-day itinerary.

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area

Da’an Source Ecotourism Area

Dahongpao Tea Scenic Area

China Wuyi Mountain Tea Expo Park

Nine-Bend Stream

Wuyi Royal Purple Flower Self-Drive Theme Park

Azure Dragon Waterfall

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Great King Peak

Wuyi Mountain One-Line Sky

Tiger Roaring Rock

Cloud Nest

Wuyi Mountain Jade Valley

Imperial Tea Garden Ruins

Jade Dragon Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall

Wuyi Mountain Baiyun Rock