Nanchang Wanshou Palace

Nanchang Wanshou Palace

Nanchang Wanshou Palace (also known as Miaoji Wanshou Palace or Tiezhu Wanshou Palace) is a historic and world-renowned Taoist sacred site, built in honor of Xu Xun, the local guardian deity of Jiangxi, commonly referred to as the "Blessing Lord" Bodhisattva. The original site was located on Cuihua Street in the city. In early 2000, it was relocated to Xianghu Lake while largely preserving its original appearance, and was completed in May 2004 and officially opened to the public.

Nanchang Wanshou Palace is situated within the Xianghu Lake Scenic Area in the southwestern part of Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province. The Xianghu Lake Scenic Area is a newly developed attraction along the Nanchang section of the Gan River, covering an area of approximately 7.81 square kilometers. Here, tree-lined embankments stretch along both sides of the lake, dotted with picturesque islets. The vast waters, beautiful scenery, interconnected waves stretching north to south, and high-rise buildings mirroring each other east to west create a stunning landscape.

The Gan River is picturesque, and Xianghu Lake is breathtakingly beautiful. Formed by the convergence of waters from the South River, North River, East River, West River, and Qing Shan Lake, Xianghu Lake’s layout resembles the shape of an elephant, hence its name. The Wanshou Palace site is located on a small island within Xianghu Lake, covering a total area of about 60 mu (approximately 4 hectares), and is known as the “Prayer Island.” The architectural complex on the island, with a floor space of about 4,600 square meters, is the Zhengyi sect Taoist venue of this sacred site — Nanchang Wanshou Palace. It shines like a pearl embedded in the entire Xianghu Lake Scenic Area and is also hailed as the “Sacred Site within the Scenery.” Accessible via five-meter-wide causeway stone bridges along both the eastern and northwestern shores of Xianghu Lake, the eastern approach is more convenient and serves as the main route for worshippers and tourists.

Stone archways over 10 meters high stand at the mountain gates on both the eastern and northwestern entrances. The eastern gate bears the inscription “Tiezhu Immortal Trail” on the front and “Eternal Guardian of the River City” (calligraphy by Wang Xizhi) on the back; the northwest gate is inscribed with “Prosperous Southern Frontier” (calligraphy by Su Dongpo) on the front and “Blessed Land of the West River” (calligraphy by Huang Tingjian) on the back, exuding grandeur and majesty.

Leading along the lakeside to the palace square, Wanshou Palace extends over 150 meters in depth. From south to north, it includes the palace gate, ceremonial gate (with the three characters “Wanshou Palace” on top), a theater stage, the True Lord Hall, the Tiezhu Well, the Jade Emperor Hall, flanked by the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, the Chenmu Hall to the east, the Doumu Hall to the west, and the Jade Scripture Pavilion at the rear. The layout is rational, the design elegant, the carvings exquisite, and it features contemporary characteristics. Lush greenery and lake views complement each other, making it a heavenly paradise on earth. The True Lord Hall features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, grand and spacious, resplendent in gold and color, with solemn and dignified statues that command reverence. The Jade Emperor Hall is majestic, with the plaques “Boundless Heavenly Virtue” and “Infinite Universe” hanging above the door lintel, and the “Assembly of Immortals Paying Homage” mural painted on both east and west walls. Behind the statue of the Jade Emperor is a large relief carving of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and vibrant murals that offer a transcendent experience upon close observation. The Laojun Hall, also called the Jade Scripture Pavilion, houses a five-ton white marble statue of Laozi, the founding patriarch of Taoism, enshrined at the center. The side chambers feature stone carvings of the Tao Te Ching and the Classic of the Hidden Talisman. The Jade Scripture Pavilion serves not only as a repository for Taoist scriptures and imperial decrees but also as a place where Wanshou Palace Taoists study and lecture. Above the lintel hangs the plaque “All Methods Return to the One,” offering seekers entry into the Tao, enlightenment, and insight into the spirit of the Chinese nation.

To the left front of the Laojun Hall lies a two-meter-long, 60-centimeter-diameter sacred relic transported all the way from Xinjiang — a spiritually potent, 100-million-year-old (Cretaceous period — dinosaur era) petrified wood, a testament to the passage of time and the changes of the world. Behind the Laojun Hall, master architects and garden designers have created a magnificent “Great Backing Mountain” from expertly arranged boulders. Within it, they have crafted features such as a “Flowing Waterfall,” natural karst cave landscapes, and lifelike statues, forming another beautiful scenic highlight for worshippers and visitors to enjoy. The Xianghu Lake Scenic Area also plans to build a 60-meter-tall Wanshou Pagoda on Miaoji Mountain to the southeast, which will form a striking visual dialogue with Wanshou Palace, exuding an ethereal charm.

The Jiangxi Taoist Association is currently headquartered at Nanchang Wanshou Palace.

Admission Fee

10 RMB

Location

Thirty kilometers southwest of Nanchang City, at the foot of Xiaoyao Mountain in Xishan.