Pantaogong Temple

Pantaogong Temple

Destination Introduction

Pantaogong Temple is located at the east entrance of Chongwenmen East Street. It is one of the famous Taoist temples in Beijing. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, its rear hall was reconstructed in the first year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1662). From the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republican era, a temple fair called the "Peach Blossom Festival" was held annually from the first to the third day of the third lunar month.

The official name of Pantaogong Temple is "Huguo Taiping Pantaogong." It was first built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the first year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1662), making it one of Beijing’s renowned Taoist temples. It is situated inside the former Dongbianmen gate, along the southern bank of the city moat. The temple faces due north and features a three-bay mountain gate, flanked by a pair of stone lions and flagpoles. The stone plaque above the arched gateway of the mountain gate is inscribed with “Huguo Taiping Pantaogong,” while the words “Peach Blossom Festival” in large green-edged glazed characters are embedded on the left and right walls. There are also side gates on either side of the main entrance. Although not very large, the Pantaogong Temple complex includes three main halls, including the mountain gate. Upon entering the mountain gate is the Hall of the Divine Official, behind which are bell and drum towers on either side. The main hall is the Queen Mother Hall, whose walls feature a “Tortoise Mountain” sculpture depicting numerous immortals who came from all directions to celebrate the Queen Mother’s birthday. The Queen Mother of the West is a goddess in ancient Chinese mythology, with legends about her recorded in ancient texts such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Journey of King Mu. The clay sculptures in the Queen Mother Hall of Pantaogong Temple are grand in scale, rich in figures, and exquisitely crafted, representing fine examples of the temple’s clay sculpture artistry. Behind the Queen Mother Hall is the Hall of Lüzu, which houses a statue of Lü Dongbin, the patriarch of Taoism. On both sides of each main hall are east and west auxiliary halls, dedicated to deities such as the God of Wealth (Zhao Gongming) and the Three Officials, each uniquely rendered and lifelike.

Although not large in scale, Pantaogong Temple was one of the most well-known temples and Taoist sites in the capital. This was largely due to the centuries-old temple fair. From the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republican era, Pantaogong Temple would hold a three-day fair annually from the first to the third day of the third lunar month, known as the “Peach Blossom Festival.” During the fair, tea stalls and vendor booths lined the southern bank of the moat from Chongwenmen to the front of the temple. Performers demonstrating martial arts, acrobatics, magic tricks, and wrestling were a continuous presence; daily necessities and local snacks were readily available. The open space behind the temple also hosted activities such as cart racing and horse racing, drawing large crowds and creating a lively, bustling atmosphere. Visitors to the fair included not only common people but also officials, nobles, and literati. Some came to burn incense and worship, while some women visited to pray to the Queen Mother for safety, good fortune, and the birth of a noble child. Many more came to enjoy the spring outing, shop, and relax. Historical poems and writings capture scenes from those times, such as one from *Grass Beads in a String*: “At Pantaogong, incense is burned, / Playtime stretches long by the riverside. / Scholars and youths return while it’s still early, / Gazing at the canal boats from Datong Bridge.” This vibrant scene continued for centuries until the early 1960s. Though fewer worshippers came, the fair remained lively. In 1987, Pantaogong Temple was completely demolished to make way for the construction of the Dongbianmen Overpass, as it stood directly in the path of the main bridge. The “Huguo Taiping Palace Stele” that once stood in front of the Queen Mother Hall was preserved as a cultural relic and relocated to the green space south of the overpass.

Location: At the east entrance of Chongwenmen East Street

The Pantaogong Temple complex consists of just two main halls. At the front is a three-bay mountain gate, flanked by a pair of flagpoles and stone lions, with a stone plaque inscribed “Huguo Taiping Pantaogong.” Behind the gate are bell and drum towers, with the front hall being the Hall of the Divine Official and the rear hall the Doumu Hall, which enshrines the image of the Queen Mother of the West. The temple was demolished in 1987. Preserved relics include green-glazed bricks inscribed with “Peach Blossom Festival” and a stone stele from the Qianlong era titled *Record of the Taiping Palace*.

Attraction Location

East entrance of Chongwenmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing