Feixian Temple on Qingcheng Mountain

Feixian Temple on Qingcheng Mountain

After crossing the Wuxian Bridge at Jianfu Palace on Qingcheng Mountain and passing over the road, you’ll see an archway marking the back mountain’s entrance. An inscription reads: “To enjoy the scenery, enter Changping. Reflect on the righteous banner of Xiao Bo, the untold stories of Xian Zhong, the hidden traces of Tang Qiu, and the vestiges of Du Yu. The past stirs lofty verses, adding timeless passion to ancient heroism; to explore wonders, ascend Daimian. Behold the Buddhist temple of Tai’an, the tomb clusters of the Song and Ming dynasties, the flying springs of Linggu, and the cloud caves of Danyan. The landscape is best appreciated slowly—a tranquil mountain spirit shared in equal measure.”

Passing through the archway and ascending along the winding mountain road, which snakes through overlapping peaks, you’ll see a pavilion towering into the clouds called “Feixian Pavilion.” Looking down, Jianfu Palace appears and disappears amid the lush greenery shaded by ancient trees. The golden characters “Qingcheng Mountain” on the front mountain gate shine brightly, while the red cliffs of Mount Zangren opposite stand like a city wall. Gazing upward, Shangqing Palace is veiled in misty clouds and emerald haze. The road crosses Feixian Ridge, where the ruins of the ancient Feixian Temple can be seen.

The name “Feixian Temple” originally comes from Lu You’s verse: “It’s laughable how even immortal beings can’t forget worldly things.” The ancient temple was destroyed in the late Qing Dynasty. In the early years of the Republic of China, Ma Likian, the Taoist abbot of Changshou Palace, rebuilt three halls on the original site, but they were destroyed again in 1949. In 1982, the Taoist Association of Qingcheng Mountain established the Qingcheng Mountain Taoist Beverage Factory next to the ruins of Feixian Temple. Over time, dozens of three-story antique-style buildings with red eaves and flying rafters were constructed. The original name of the temple was restored, and a Taoist school was opened within the temple grounds. The factory also produced Taoist dairy wine and mineral water beverages.

A hundred steps down from Feixian Temple lies the wonder of Xiangshui Cave. This deep, narrow gorge stretches tens of meters into the earth, where the Baiyun Stream plunges down in a series of cascading waterfalls stretching over a hundred meters. The gorge is overgrown with ancient trees, and although the sound of rushing water fills the air, the depths remain hidden from view—hence the name Xiangshui Cave (Echoing Water Cave). At the top of the cave stands a pavilion and a stone tablet: the pavilion offers a viewing spot, and the tablet commemorates the site.