Ancient Site Complex of Laojun Temple

Ancient Site Complex of Laojun Temple

Ancient Site Complex of Laojun Temple: It gets its name from Laozi’s eastward journey passing through this area. Legend has it that when Laozi crossed the Luoshan Mountains and the Luo River to enter Quanshui Valley, he arrived at the mouth of Shuangmiao Gorge. There, struck by the unique terrain, he was suddenly filled with wonder. The two mountains—Cock Mountain and Immortal Mountain—soared straight into the clouds, sharply dividing the yellow hills and dense forests. The over 10-meter-wide gorge entrance seemed to separate two entirely different worlds. Outside the gorge lay an open basin with a vast view, where one could see the Luoshan Mountains and Luo River to the north. Inside the gorge was a wide, serene area with murmuring streams, animals playing together, birds singing among fragrant flowers. Surrounded by mountains, the area was tranquil and idyllic—truly a paradise on earth and a perfect spot for spiritual cultivation, preaching, and scripture transmission. Thus, he decided to settle down here. This attracted various deities from land, sea, and sky, who came to protect him. This gave rise to sacred sites such as the Immortal Cave, Stone Man Mountain, Dragon King Cave, Azure Dragon Ridge, Tiger Leap Terrace, and Eagle Cliff. After Laozi continued his journey eastward, a temple was built on the site where he stayed—Laojun Temple (the temple remained well-preserved for thousands of years but was destroyed during reservoir construction last century and has since been rebuilt), and thus the place came to be known as Laojun Temple. On the two mountains at the gorge entrance, temples were built for the Earth God and the Bodhisattva, who were believed to guard the area, giving rise to the name Shuangmiao. Although remote, this place has been a destination for worshippers seeking blessings and protection for thousands of years.

Wenyu Township: Wenyu gets its name from Confucius having given lectures and established a Confucian temple here. The area is rich in natural beauty and blessed with remarkable people. To the east lies the former alchemy site of Lu Ao, which is also the origin of the name of Lushi County. To the west is the Shuangmiao Reservoir, a serene high-mountain lake where a long “dragon” seems to lie at rest. To the south is the protective barrier of Bao’du Stronghold, with perilous terrain and beautiful scenery. In the center is the Shuiyu River Grand Canyon, with towering cliffs forming a narrow strip of sky. To the north is Liulin Ancient Ferry and the bells of Nansi Temple, serving as the gateway to Wenyu. The township covers a total area of 237 square kilometers, governs 32 administrative villages, has 7,748 households, and a population of 29,369. The arable land area spans 34,384 mu, and the forested area covers 267,000 mu. … Wenyu Township Detailed Information++