Zhongwei Laojun Terrace

Zhongwei Laojun Terrace

Laojun Terrace is located on Xinglong Mountain within Changle Town in Zhongwei. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and standing solitary on one, it enjoys vast mountain vistas and tranquil terrace surroundings, making it the largest Taoist site in the Shuofang region. The terrace was historically known as the "Quanzhen Temple of Laojun Terrace on Xinglong Mountain." During its restoration and reconstruction in the early 1990s, the nearby "Taiqing Mountain Hongfo Temple" was also incorporated into the temple grounds of Laojun Terrace. It was rebuilt to its original style and location, so both Laojun Terrace and Hongfo Temple were collectively renamed "Taiqing Mountain Laojun Terrace Quanzhen Temple."

Since its establishment, Laojun Terrace has suffered repeated damage from wars, fires, earthquakes, and wind erosion, with halls destroyed and cultural relics lost. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple buildings and even the ancient pagoda outside the site were completely destroyed, leaving only ruins. In the mid-to-late 1980s, with approval from the county religious affairs department, local residents spontaneously raised funds and donated materials to repair the terrace and rebuild the temple complex. By the early 1990s, the main structures rose from the mountaintop platform, restoring the former glory of the Taoist temple.

The main structures of Laojun Terrace are arranged along a central axis comprising the South Heaven Gate, Taibai Hall, Central Tower, and Sanqing Hall (the main hall). They are symmetrically distributed on both sides, harmoniously integrated, majestic in scale, and unified in design. Approved as a Taoist activity site in 1991, it has now become a key attraction on Zhongwei’s "Temple Culture Tourism Route," receiving over 50,000 visitors annually. From the terrace, visitors can gaze in all directions: to the east, fiery Danxia landscapes greet the morning purple haze; to the west, an iron dragon crosses the sands while a white horse holds its reins; to the south, undulating peaks and sheer gullies unfold; to the north, the Carbon Mountain glows at night with fields crisscrossing like woven silk. Later generations praised it in poetry:

Zhongwei’s scenic wonder, Taiqing Mountain,

Where emerald flames curl around Carbon Mountain Cave, and purple mist points to Laojun Terrace.

Gaze afar at the flying dragons of Sand Dune Slope, or look down upon the bustling boats on the Yellow River.

Most delightful are the herds roaming the hills, and the tractors plowing the fields.

Ningxia Zhongwei

Changle Town: The seat of Changle Town. Covering an area of 918 square kilometers with a population of 21,000. Postal code: . It administers 1 neighborhood committee and 15 village committees: Changle Town; Nitan Village, Malutan Village, Zhaolin Village, Dalujie Village, Liuying Village, Gaotan Village, Liying Village, Shuiche Village, Shangyou Village, Huangtao Village, Changle Village, Heyan Village, Shangshipeng Village, Xiongjiashui Village, and Luquan Village. … Changle Town detailed information++