Doumu Palace

Doumu Palace

is the most serene spot in the Mount Tai scenic area. Originally known as "Longquan Temple," Doumu Palace is built along a stream and divided into three courtyards—north, middle, and south—with its main gate facing west. The bell and drum towers are directly constructed on either side of the palace gate and are connected to it. Upon arriving at Doumu Palace, looking north, the Heavenly Gate still hangs high and seems far out of reach; looking south toward the path you came, some low peaks and hills are now within sight at your feet.

Doumu Palace is divided into front, middle, and rear courtyards. The middle courtyard has a west-facing main gate with exquisitely carved stone lions crouching beneath it. On either side of the gate are the bell and drum towers. The main hall inside originally enshrined the Goddess Doumu, commonly known as the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha. Today, a bronze statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is placed there. The east side hall originally housed elaborately carved sandalwood statues of Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, all of which were destroyed in 1966; it now serves as an exhibition room for cultural relics. The front courtyard has monks' quarters to the north and the Jiyun Tower to the southeast, both of which have been converted into teahouses. In the center of the courtyard is a natural pond built during the Qing Dynasty's Guangxu reign by Zhao Ercui, which stores water from Longquan Spring to irrigate fields. To the north of the pond is the southern mountain gate. The rear courtyard contains the main hall, side halls, and meditation rooms, with the Listening to the Spring Mountain House and Longquan Pavilion to the east, offering visitors a place to rest and enjoy the scenery. Beneath the pavilion, the stream features the "Three Pools Stacked Waterfall" that dances like a flying dragon, known as the Flying Dragon Stream. Visitors standing among the pools hear the sound of flowing water resembling the music of string and wind instruments.

Outside the western gate stands an ancient locust tree with massive branches lying on the ground, resembling a coiled dragon raising its head—commonly called the Reclining Dragon Locust Tree. On the western cliff south of the palace are inscriptions such as "Luxuriant and Secluded Beauty," "Fairyland on Earth," "A Whiff of Clouds Rises," and the word puzzle "Chong Er" (meaning "boundless wind and moon," symbolizing boundless beauty). North of the palace is the Gaolao Bridge, said to have been built in ancient times by a Taoist follower named Gao. To the north of the bridge, west of the road, is the Ancestral Temple, originally dedicated to Qin Shi Huang but converted into the Three Officials Temple during the Qing Dynasty to worship the Heavenly Official, Earthly Official, and Water Official. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was turned into an elementary school.

Doumu Palace is located on Commercial Street in Yibin City, Sichuan Province, fifty meters from Daguan Tower, serving as a tranquil oasis amid the bustling city. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of over 300 years. According to the 1686 *Xuzhou Prefecture Annals* from the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, Doumu Palace faces east and was founded by the 19th-generation monk Guangjing of the Linji School, who became its founding nun. Covering an area of 1,215 square meters, it consists of an inner and outer courtyard. The inner courtyard houses a Grand Buddha Hall, Arhat Hall, Guanyin Hall, Scripture Depository, Guest Hall, and Tea Room; the outer courtyard includes a garden and nuns’ meditation rooms. Buddhism flourished here during that time.

After the liberation, Abbess Juexian led the nuns in residing here continuously. In the early 1960s, due to the extreme-left religious policies, the temple fell into disrepair. Neighboring organizations, citing safety concerns, sealed the temple’s main gate, demolished the scripture depository, halls, and meditation rooms, and destroyed the Buddha statues. The nuns were forced to live in the kitchen and dining areas, leading to the complete destruction of the once-glorious Ming Dynasty architecture.

After 1980, the Sichuan Provincial Government approved Doumu Palace as an open Buddhist activity site. In early 1994, with strong support and assistance from all sectors of society and relevant departments, Nun Fahui and Abbess Changxin, along with other nuns, jointly initiated the reconstruction of Doumu Palace. The current Doumu Palace features antique-style multi-story buildings with three floors above ground and one below, exuding elegance, simplicity, and classic charm. The temple includes a Buddha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, monastic quarters, guest rooms, and a dining hall. Daily rituals include the morning and evening bells and drums, chanting of scriptures, and spreading of Buddhist teachings to sanctify the land.

Transportation

Within walking distance

Admission

Included in the Mount Tai ticket

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

At the foot of Longquan Peak, East Route of Mount Tai Scenic Area, Taishan District, Tai’an City, Shandong Province

Dai Temple of Mount Tai

Mount Tai’s Eighteen Bends

Tianwai Village

Mount Tai Sky Street

Confucius’ Ascension Spot

Fanzi Cliff

Dai Zong Archway

Mount Tai’s Sacrificial Cliff

Yunbu Bridge

Zhongtian Gate

Scripture Stone Valley

Cypress Cave