Chongqing Qixia Palace

　　Qixia Palace, located atop a high mountain within the boundaries of Jinji Village, Qixia Township, about 6 kilometers north of the old county seat of Yunyang, was first built before the Tang Dynasty. It is the most famous Taoist temple in eastern Sichuan. Legend has it that the prominent scholar Fugia of the late Qin period once lived in seclusion here. The "Yu Di Ji Sheng" (Geographical Records of Victories) states: “Qixia Temple, formerly known as Shengyun Palace, is located eleven li to the north of the county. The temple sits atop the mountain peak, overlooking the surrounding peaks, with numerous small hills visible. During the Han Dynasty, Zhai Fayi cultivated immortality here and ascended to heaven in broad daylight. Towering cypresses shade the area — all planted by the two immortals.” The "Biao Mu" (Record of Stone Tablets) says: “The 'Tang Yun Wai Zun Shi Bei' (Tang Dynasty Stele of the Venerable Master Beyond the Clouds), located at Yun Sheng Palace, was written by Du Guangting (a Taoist priest from the late Tang and Five Dynasties period) and is mentioned in the 'Jiu Yu Zhi' (Nine Regions Record). It is now called Qixia Palace.” At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng, the patriarch of Wudang swordsmanship who traveled across famous mountains and rivers nationwide, also stayed briefly at Qixia Palace, leaving behind the legendary tale of riding a tiger down the mountain into town. The existing “Tiger-Tethering Stone” derives its name from this story.

　　Originally, Qixia Palace covered a very small area. It was expanded during the Jingde era of the Song Dynasty (1004–1007), when four halls were established: the Lingguan Hall, Ancestral Master Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, and Three Stars Hall, giving it an initial form. In the early years of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1506–1514), Xu Jun, a local resident, donated funds for renovations. “From the Three Pure Ones to the deities such as Zhenwu and Wang Lin, all were adorned entirely in gold, with their attendants also dressed in golden colors. As for the front and rear palaces, the pillars were painted red, the walls whitewashed, and the plaques deeply inscribed with fine strokes — no expense was spared on gold and pearls. Even items such as cloud plates, incense burners, and vases were repaired or replaced, all renewed to a splendid state. Wasn’t all this thanks to Xu Jun’s efforts?” (Ming Dynasty Zhao, “Record of the Renovation of the Deities’ Statues at Qixia Palace”). Later, through renovations and expansions in the 14th year of the Qianlong era (1749) and the 9th year of the Daoguang era (1829), by the eve of liberation, it had grown into an ancient architectural complex covering nearly 4,000 square meters with nearly 100 halls and more than 30 Taoist priests. After liberation, the Taoist priests gradually returned to secular life and found employment, and the palace was repurposed by the government as a school and residential buildings. During the Cultural Revolution, all the statues were destroyed. In 1975, the Yundong District Revolutionary Committee demolished parts of the palace, using the timber to build Yundong Middle School.

　　Qixia Palace has long been a summer retreat in the county. Whenever the scorching summer sun made the heat unbearable, people from all walks of life in the county seat — from the county magistrate to ordinary citizens — flocked to the palace to escape the heat. Although the palace was repurposed after liberation, its surrounding scenery remained unchanged. Every summer, many students and locals still visit. Places like Golden Basin, Kuilong Well, Self-Sacrifice Cliff, Moon-Stay Pavilion, Pine-Listening Wall, and Fox Cave often echo with laughter and conversation.