Dongyue Temple in Beijing

Dongyue Temple in Beijing

Dongyue Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The temple enshrines the Dongyue Great Emperor.The Dongyue Great Emperor, also known as the God of Mount Tai, has various legendary origins, including theories that he is Jin Hongshi, Taihao, Pangu, the Heavenly Grandson, or Huang Feihu.

Initially built during the Yuanyou era of the Yuan Dynasty, Dongyue Temple in Beijing has a history of over 600 years. It was destroyed in warfare during the late Yuan Dynasty but underwent multiple expansions afterward, becoming the largest Zhengyi Taoist temple in northern China and earning the title “No. 1 Taoist Temple in North China.”

The temple complex is grand and magnificent, covering an area of 96 mu with over 600 various structures. Outside the temple gate is a green-glazed memorial archway built during the Ming Dynasty. The front is inscribed with “Orderly Worship of Mount Tai,” while the back reads “Eternal Prosperity of the Empire,” said to be written by Yan Song, the powerful Ming Dynasty prime minister. Entering the temple gate, there are drum and bell towers on the east and west sides, and north of these are two stone stelae—one inscribed with calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong on the east, and a wordless stele on the west. Dongyue Temple is known as the “Little Forest of Stone Tablets in the Capital.” Originally, the temple housed over 140 stelae, but after wars, only about twenty to thirty remain.

The Dai Zong Bao Dian (Hall of the Great Emperor of Mount Tai) is the main structure of the temple, featuring red walls and blue tiles, resplendent and magnificent. Inside the hall are enshrined the Dongyue Great Emperor and his consort. The entire temple houses over 3,000 statues of deities, all with distinct and vivid expressions, leading to the saying “The divine statues of Dongyue Temple are the finest under heaven.” In addition, the temple includes other uniquely styled buildings such as the Yude Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Zhenwu Hall, Doumu Hall, and Wenchang Dijun Hall, as well as a serene and elegant garden filled with lush trees and rare flowers.

Dongyue Temple in Beijing, referred to simply as Dongyue Temple, is located at No. 141, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. It is the largest Zhengyi Taoist temple in North China and is named after the principal deity, the God of Mount Tai, Dongyue Great Emperor. The temple was established on the site in the sixth year of the Yuan Yanyou era (1319) and completed in the third year of the Yuan Zhi period (1323), and was bestowed the name “Dongyue Ren Sheng Gong” (Benevolent and Holy Palace of Dongyue). Covering an area of approximately 60,000 square meters, it was funded and constructed by the Grand Master of the Zhengyi Sect, Zhang Liusun, and his disciple Wu Quanjie.

Dongyue Temple consists of three architectural complexes along the east, west, and central axes, with six structures situated along the central axis. In June 1997, the Beijing Folklore Museum was established within the temple premises and reopened for religious activities in May 2008.

On November 20, 1996, Dongyue Temple in Beijing was designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as part of the fourth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Starting from July 31, 2021, Dongyue Temple in Beijing has been temporarily closed to the public due to construction.

Location: No. 141, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Latest opening hours: Year-round, 08:30–18:00

Ticket booking: Tickets can be reserved on platforms such as Ctrip and WeChat at 10 RMB per person, with half-price for students.

Further reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Beijing

· Fourth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level