Bailu Qingyuan Palace

Bailu Qingyuan Palace

Bailu Qingyuan Palace in Hejiang County is located at No. 47 Xingfu Street, Bailu Town, Hejiang County, Sichuan Province (on the east side of the old street), at the border between Sichuan and Chongqing. It is situated 20 km from the county seat of Hejiang, 2 km from the Chongqing border, 110 km from downtown Chongqing, and 25 km from Fubao Town. The site lies along the major transportation route from Hejiang to the Fubao Scenic Area, Chongqing, and Shima Town, featuring well-maintained roads and convenient external access. Outside the mountain gate is the Bailuchang Old Street (a provincial-level protected historic architectural complex). Bailuchang was established in the third year of the Shunzhi era in the Qing Dynasty (1645), with the ancient street stretching approximately one kilometer in length. Originally one of the better-preserved old streets in the county (though largely damaged from 2012 to the present), it once stood as a historical gem. Across from the palace is the Shiguan Mansion, the estate of Shi Jinsheng, the largest local landlord in the county (well preserved), designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic. To the left is the Yuwang Temple (demolished in the 1990s to build an elementary school), and at the lower end of the street lies the Deng Family Ancestral Hall (a provincial-level key cultural relic), the hometown of Ma Dan, a veteran Red Army soldier and wife of Guan Xiangying.

The entire Taoist temple complex consists of the historically significant “Wanshou Palace” and “Qingyuan Palace.” Wanshou Palace (Jiangxi Guild Hall) was built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of nearly 300 years. It was funded by Jiangxi immigrants and primarily enshrined deities such as “Xu Zhenjun,” “Zhang Tianshi,” the reigning emperor, as well as ancestors of the Jiangxi community. It also served as a gathering place for people from Jiangxi. Qingyuan Palace was constructed in the 11th year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, over 140 years ago, and was built by local residents to commemorate Li Bing. It mainly houses deities such as “Chuanzhu (Li Bing)” and the Dragon King.

The main structures of Wanshou Palace (Jiangxi Guild Hall) are well preserved. The original ancient guild hall and large-scale wooden carvings depicting the Qing-era migration from Huguang to Sichuan are unique in central Sichuan, boasting high artistic and historical value. In 1993, the Luzhou Municipal People’s Government designated it as a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit, and in 2012, it was further recognized as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

The current total usable area of the temple complex is 4,120 square meters, including: 1,500 square meters for Wanshou Palace, 1,000 square meters for Qingyuan Palace, 520 square meters for the kitchen, offices, Dharma lecture halls, dormitories, and 1,100 square meters for green space.

Layout, Cultural Features, and Architectural Style of the Temple Complex:

The architectural style of Wanshou Palace resembles that of southern Taoist temples from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It features thick firewalls all around and consists of a mountain gate, theater stage, side scripture towers, the main hall, and rear hall, arranged in ascending order from low to high.

The mountain gate is grand and imposing. The thick brick wall supports a stone-brick structure barbican archway with six pillars and five bays. The central entrance is flanked by intricately carved reliefs, horizontal inscriptions, couplets, and ornate carvings. Above the door lintel and frame are the vertical plaque “Wanshou Palace” with dragon-pattern borders and the horizontal plaque “Wanshou Palace” with meander-pattern borders. Flanking these are deeply carved guardian deity statues, with further plaster relief decorations above. On both sides of the archway are arched side gates with stone domed roofs, whose lintels and plaques also bear horizontal inscriptions and couplets.

Theater Stage and Scripture Towers: Upon entering the mountain gate is the theater stage. It is supported by 14 massive stone pillars, each 50 cm in diameter and 8.2 meters tall. At the center of the roof ridge sits a treasure top, flanked by plaster dragons, mythical beast heads, and upturned eaves. The front pillars of the stage feature the couplet: “Through the ages, emotions remain the same; many fortunes and honors pass like yesterday’s events; right and wrong shall be judged in the end; the virtuous and wicked, loyal and treacherous, will meet their fate upon their final bow.” The upper and front lintels are carved with over a hundred figures portraying more than ten representative historical anecdotes (most notably the Qing migration scene). The struts and hanging pillars are adorned with exquisite carvings. The theater stage is uniquely designed and exquisitely built. Especially notable are its carvings, bold in style, vividly expressive, rich in Taoist cultural atmosphere, and representative masterpieces among Qing Dynasty wood carvings. The stage and the side scripture towers are well preserved. A large stone-carved Bagua (Eight Trigrams) diagram is located on the central stone staircase above the courtyard.

Main Hall (Wanfa Zongtan): Ascending four stone steps from the theater stage leads to a spacious courtyard, which then leads up twelve more stone steps to the grand and imposing main hall. With six pillars and five bays, and a depth of four bays, the hall spans 340 square meters. Its interior is supported by 16 stone pillars, each 50 cm in diameter, arranged in four rows. The beams feature carved camel humps. At the center is the “Wanfa Zongtan,” above which are enshrined the “Three Pure Ones” and other heavenly sovereigns at the forefront, flanked by deities such as “Cihang,” “Jiuku Tianzun,” “Lingguan,” as well as “Wenchang,” the Medicine King, the God of Wealth, and the deities of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity. Noteworthy within the Wanfa Zongtan is the Light Tower: standing 2.5 meters tall with 19 levels and 2,076 deity lamps. The Taoist couplets carry deep meanings, such as “The higher the Tao, the more dragons and tigers submit; the greater the virtue, the more spirits revere,” hung at the front; “Through countless kalpas, the Dharma is bestowed to reveal profound truths; through the ages, enlightenment unfolds the hidden mysteries,” hung on both sides upon entering the hall; and “From the heavens descends judgment, stars align in their proper places; the vast firmament bestows grace as immortals spread the profound teachings,” hung within the Wanfa Zongtan. Couplets such as “The Tao gives birth to One, One to Two, Two to Three, Three to all things; humans follow the earth, the earth follows the heavens, the heavens follow the Tao, the Tao follows nature,” and others, are suspended above the central heavenly sovereigns. Additional inscriptions include “The South Sea’s Cihang ferry rescues all beings to reach peace,” “The heavenly Taiyi light dispels the eight sufferings and three calamities,” and “The Primordial General, the One-Qi Deity, guards all purity,” each placed near the respective deities.

Rear Hall (Sanjiao Hall): Climbing eight stone steps from the main hall leads to the rear hall, a traditional Chinese courtyard spanning 300 square meters. It includes a central hall, side rooms, a connecting hallway, and inner courtyards, resembling an immortal mountain retreat. A striking couplet reads: “The teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism guide self and others from here; the self-creation and transformation of heaven, earth, and humanity unfold entirely within this space,” with the horizontal plaque reading “Supreme Dharma Bridge.” At the center is the Taoist representation of the Jade Emperor, with Confucius on the left and the thousand-armed Guanyin (Buddhist representative) on the right, embodying the harmony of the three teachings. To the left is the Yingfo Hall (enshrining the Three Western Buddhas), and to the right is the Zhongxiao Jieyi Hall (enshrining Guan Yu, the God of Loyalty and Righteousness).

Qingyuan Palace (Chuanzu Hall), built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1872), is over 140 years old. Covering an area of 1,000 square meters, its current halls, side scripture towers, and courtyard are well preserved. The central area features 16 stone pillars, each 50 cm in diameter, arranged in five rows. Hanging at the front of the hall is the couplet: “Opening the gorges, breaking the valleys, dredging the Longxi River to irrigate fertile fields; battling demons, conquering evil, seeking everlasting peace and eternal security.” This praises the great achievements of Chuanzhu Li Bing. At the center of the front courtyard, illuminated by natural light, Chuanzhu is enshrined at the center, flanked by the Dragon King on the left and the Yuwang (Yu the Great) on the right. The central beam of the roof ridge bears the inscription: “Heaven opens the literary fortune, the imperial way prospers; harmonious winds and rains bless the nation and its people.”

Bailu Qingyuan Palace is an officially approved religious activity venue by government religious authorities and is one of the major Taoist temples in Luzhou City. The current abbot, Oluoming (dharma name), holds the highest-ranking Taoist credential in Luzhou. Religious activities conducted here adhere to Taoist doctrines, teachings, and regulations, and are protected by national law.

Bailu Town: Located at the eastern gateway of Hejiang, Bailu Town was formed from the merger of the former Bailu, Shuizhu, and Miao Township. It borders Jiangjin District of Chongqing, situated 120 km from downtown Chongqing, 60 km from Luzhou, and 30 km from the county seat of Hejiang, covering a total area of 77.1 square kilometers. In 2010, Bailu Town governed 11 administrative villages—Dashan, Baisong, Liangchongtan, Nanmu, Wangcheng, Shuizhu, Yinping, Jianghe, Yuanwan, Dengjiaping, and Miao—and one community, Bailu. The town is located in the northeastern part of Hejiang County and enjoys very convenient transportation. It borders Jiangjin District of Chongqing to the east and north, … More detailed information about Bailu Town++