Zixia Palace

Zixia Palace

The Zixia Palace scenic area is commonly known as the Heavenly Lingxiao Hall, or Earthly Zixia Palace.

On August 18, the reconstruction of Leshan Zixia Palace — the ancestral home of the Western School of Taoism in China — was officially approved and commenced by the Leshan Municipal Government.

Zixia Palace was first built during the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty and has historically been a sacred site of Taoism. As the ancestral temple of the Western School of Taoism, it was founded by Li Hanxiu, a Taoist priest of the Qing Dynasty, widely regarded as the pioneer of the Western Alchemical School. Master Li Hanxiu chose to build here due to the exceptional feng shui of Zixia Palace. He constructed shrines, erected statues, created deity names, and compiled sacred texts, which brought Zixia Palace great renown. By the late Qing Dynasty, it had already achieved a large and complete scale.

Due to various historical reasons after the founding of the People's Republic, only part of the main structure remains at Zixia Palace today — currently serving as its activity venue: three brick-and-tile houses covering approximately 200 square meters.

The Leshan Zixia Palace reconstruction project is under the jurisdiction of Tongjiang Town, Leshan City. It is located 1.5 kilometers west of the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, within the Bishan Lake scenic zone, 2.5 kilometers from the city center, 30 kilometers from Mount Emei, and 130 kilometers from Chengdu, offering convenient transportation.

Once rebuilt, Zixia Palace will cover a total area of 33,500 square meters, with the architectural planning area spanning 6,500 square meters. The initial phase of construction is expected to cost around 80 million yuan. The first phase will be completed within two years. The reconstructed Zixia Palace will be unprecedented in scale, with architectural style and cultural essence continuing the traditions of the flourishing Taoism of the Song and Tang dynasties, while also offering more comprehensive social functions.

The rebuilt Zixia Palace will serve as a key pillar of the Taoist tourism and cultural circle in Leshan and even Sichuan, playing an important role in shaping a new concept of Leshan’s religious tourism culture. It will surely drive the development of tourism, dining, hospitality, culture, and other industries across the Leshan region, propelling the local economy to new heights.

The reconstruction of Zixia Palace is guided by traditional Taoist architectural principles, emphasizing maximum respect for nature and the preservation of the original terrain and environment. It fully embodies the Taoist philosophy of “harmony between man and nature,” showcasing Taoist ideals and culture. Based on the traditional layout of Taoist monasteries and the characteristics of the terrain, major halls such as the Lingguan Hall, Hanxiu Hall, Sanqing Hall, Bagua Pavilion, and Doumu Hall will be built in a stepped arrangement along the central axis. Flanking the main halls will be shrines to the Three Officials, Four Sovereigns, Goddess of Mercy, and the God of Wealth. The functional zones are clearly divided, and the layout is rational and convenient. Upon completion, it will present an atmosphere of classical elegance and a feeling of being in a celestial realm.

Harmony through Tao leads to peace. The reconstruction of Zixia Palace will renew opportunities for the development of Taoist culture in this sacred land of Leshan.