Chongqing Qixia Palace

Chongqing Qixia Palace

Qixia Palace is located atop a high mountain within the boundaries of Jinji Village, Qixia Township, about 6 kilometers north of the old county seat of Yunyang. It was initially built before the Tang Dynasty and is the most renowned Taoist temple in eastern Sichuan. Legend has it that the famous scholar Fu Jia of the late Qin period once lived in seclusion here. The *Records of Famous Sites* states: “Qixia Temple, formerly known as Shengyun Palace, is located 11 li north of the county. The temple sits atop the mountain, overlooking a sea of peaks, with numerous small hills visible. During the Han Dynasty, the Taoist master Zhai Fayan achieved immortality and ascended to heaven in broad daylight here. Towering cypresses shade the grounds — all planted by the two immortals.” The *Epigraph Catalog* notes: “The *Tang Dynasty Stele of the Cloud-Transcending Venerable Master*, located at Yunsheng Palace, was written by Du Guangting (a Taoist priest of the late Tang and early Five Dynasties period) and is mentioned in the *Nine Regions Gazetteer*. It is now called Qixia Palace.” At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng, the patriarch of Wudang swordsmanship who traveled across China’s famous mountains and rivers, also stayed briefly at Qixia Palace, leaving behind the legendary tale of him riding a tiger down the mountain into town. The existing “Tiger-Tethering Stone” is named after this incident.

Originally, Qixia Palace covered a very small area. It was expanded during the Jingde era of the Song Dynasty (1004–1007), with the establishment of four halls: the Hall of the Divine Spirit, the Hall of the Patriarch, the Hall of the Jade Emperor, and the Hall of the Three Stars, giving it an initial form. In the early years of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1506–1514), Xu Jun, a local resident, funded renovations. “From the Three Pure Ones to the deities such as Zhenwu and Wang Lin, all were adorned entirely in gold, with their attendants also dressed in golden hues. As for the front and rear palace buildings, their pillars were painted red and walls whitewashed, while plaques were meticulously inscribed and decorated without sparing gold or pearls. Even items such as cloud plates, incense burners, and vases were repaired or replaced, all made brand new under Jun’s efforts” (from the Ming Dynasty’s Zhao’s *Record of the Renovation of Qixia Palace’s Deities*). Later, through renovations and expansions in the 14th year of the Qianlong era (1749) and the 9th year of the Daoguang era (1829), by the eve of liberation, it had grown into an ancient architectural complex covering nearly 4,000 square meters with nearly 100 halls and over 30 Taoist priests. After liberation, the Taoist priests gradually returned to secular life and sought employment, and the palace was repurposed by the government as a school and residential buildings. During the Cultural Revolution, all the statues were destroyed. In 1975, the Yundong District Revolutionary Committee demolished parts of the palace, using the timber to build Yundong Middle School.

Qixia Palace has long been a summer retreat in the county. During the intense heat of summer when the scorching sun becomes unbearable, people from all walks of life in the county seat — from the county magistrate to common citizens — would flock to the palace to escape the heat. Although the palace was repurposed after liberation, its surrounding scenery remained unchanged. Every summer, many students and locals still visit. Places such as Golden Basin, Kuilong Well, Sacrifice Cliff, Moon-Stay Pavilion, Pine-Listening Wall, and Fox Cave are often filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation.