Shaolong Temple

　　Local chronicles record that 4,700 years ago, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, practiced Taoism and alchemy on this mountain. When the elixir was completed, the sky displayed an unusual cloud that was neither red nor purple. The Yellow Emperor then named the mountain Jinyun, from which Jinyun Mountain derives its name. The "Collected Biographies of True Immortals Through the Ages" in the "Orthodox Daoist Canon of the Zhengtong Era of the Ming Dynasty" also states: 'When the Yellow Emperor came to refine stones at the Jinyun Hall and was making alchemy on the ground, a cloud appeared that was neither red nor purple — this was called Jinyun, hence the name Jinyun Mountain.' Shaolong Temple on Jinyun Mountain was the place where the Yellow Emperor practiced alchemy and cultivation, and it is renowned for the Taoist alchemy, martial arts, medical techniques, and health preservation methods passed down from the Yellow Emperor to the present day.

　　Shaolong Temple on Jinyun Mountain was the place where the Yellow Emperor practiced alchemy and cultivation, and it is renowned for the Taoist alchemy, martial arts, medical techniques, and health preservation methods passed down from the Yellow Emperor to the present day.

　　Shaolong Temple was first built in the 31st year of the Chenghua era during the Ming Dynasty (1485), and has experienced several rises and declines throughout history.

　　In 1998, it was rebuilt under the leadership of Taoist Master Li Yi and his disciples. It is now the largest Zhengyi Sect Taoist temple in Southwest China and a long-established sacred site for Taoist health cultivation.

　　Shaolong Temple is nestled in the secluded valley of Jinyun Mountain, a famous health mountain over 1,050 meters above sea level. The temple faces east and covers an area of over 70 acres, with a total construction area of 5,000 square meters. It includes three main halls and six major halls: the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the Hall of the Jade Emperor, the Hall of the Divine Generals, the Hall of the Star Lords, the Hall of the Goddess of Mercy, and the Hall of the God of Wealth. It is a district-level cultural relic protection unit. Jinyun Mountain, along with Mount Qingcheng and Mount Emei in Sichuan, is known as one of the “Three Great Religious Mountains of Shu”. Since the time of the Yellow Emperor’s alchemy, Jinyun Mountain has always been a gathering place for culture and spirituality. Founders of Taoism such as the Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, the Patriarch Chen Tuan, and the Patriarch Zhang Sanfeng all cultivated here. They created the “Four Wonders of Jinyun” — characterized by “Taoist Banquets,” “Taoist Tea,” “Taoist Wine,” and “Taoist Methods” — forging the cultural style of Taoist health cultivation on Jinyun Mountain.

　　Shaolong Temple was first built in the 31st year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1485), and has a history of over 500 years. Speaking of the origin of the name “Shaolong,” one must mention the Jielong Bridge. About a stone’s throw north of Shaolong Temple lies a deep ravine, on the cliff of which ancient stone carvings of the three characters “Jielong Bridge” can be found. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor built the bridge here to ensure the Ba people lived and worked in peace and prosperity, enjoying peace and tranquility, and to continue the dragon vein of Ba Mountain.

　　In the year 1485, lightning struck and broke the bridge, triggering a mountain flood. The dragon veins of Ba Mountain shook, and an immortal moved a temple to the bridgehead, naming it “Shaolong,” which means “continuing the dragon vein.” Thus, the temple was named “Shaolong.” During the War of Resistance against Japan, the then abbot, Venerable Longshu, resolutely donated all the temple’s property to the International Red Cross to save war orphans and establish educational facilities. It was turned into the “Beiquan Orphanage.” The orphanage was headed by Ms. Zhou Zhilian, one of the four great educators, and housed over a thousand orphaned children. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the temple’s property was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution. On March 13, 1998, with the approval of the Beibei District Government, the foundation-laying ceremony for the restoration of Shaolong Temple was held. Construction officially began in August of the same year, taking half a year, and it was completed and opened to the public on February 12, 1999. The rebuilt Shaolong Temple is located at the forest entrance of Jinyun Mountain, facing east and covering more than 70 acres. It consists of three main halls and eight major temples. Its architecture is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces water on one side. To the left, a clear spring flows into an emerald pool, and to the east, a wide expanse of land resembles an open mountain gate. The temple is nestled among the mountains and waters, resembling a grand armchair crafted by nature, perfectly embodying the Taoist ideals of being flanked by the Azure Dragon on the left and the White Tiger on the right, with auspicious clouds soaring overhead and crystal-clear waters rippling below.

　　The temple grounds are shaded by ancient trees such as ginkgoes, osmanthus, and camphor trees, as well as rare plants like acacia, monk fruit trees, and tree ferns. An ancient couplet at the original temple read: “The mountain is like jasper, the water like ink; the clouds are in the blue sky, the moon is in the pines,” which speaks to its enchanting natural scenery.

　　Reconstruction began in March 1998 and the temple officially opened to the public in February 1999. The temple is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces water on one side. To the left, a clear spring flows into a mirror-like pool, and to the east, a wide expanse of land resembles an open mountain gate, as if situated on a grand armchair formed by the mountains and waters. The temple houses ancient pines, ginkgoes, camphor trees, and osmanthus trees towering above, along with clumps of nanmu bamboo, kui bamboo, and flower bamboo, as well as rare plants such as acacia and tree ferns. The rebuilt temple covers an area of over 30 acres, with over 8 million yuan invested in constructing key structures such as the Hall of Divine Generals, the Hall of the Jade Emperor, the Hall of the God of Wealth, the Hall of the Star Lords, the Hall of the Goddess of Mercy, the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the mountain gate archway, the tea pavilion, and the incense room. These buildings fully showcase the series of Taoist cultural elements — Taoist banquets, Taoist tea, Taoist exercises, and Taoist rituals.

　　In 2000, Min Zhiting, President of the China Taoist Association, visited the temple and provided important guidance on the development of its Taoist discipline.

　　“The temple has been renewed; looking up, one sees the majestic halls enveloped in curling incense smoke; the scenery has become even more splendid; looking out, one takes in the lush pine forests and thriving medicinal herbs.” The rebuilt Shaolong Taoist Temple is now radiating youthful vitality. It is not only an important religious site in Chongqing but also a major cultural landmark of the city.