Ziyun Taoist Temple

　　The Xinhui Ziyun Taoist Temple is situated at the foot of Fengshan Mountain in Shijian Countryside Park on Guifeng Mountain, Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, covering an area of 46,000 square meters with a construction area of over 6,000 square meters. Nestled against a mountain and beside water, the temple is flanked by the Azure Dragon (Ziyun Road) winding from south to north on its left and the White Tiger (Shijian Reservoir) flowing from north to south on its right, forming a "treasure basin" layout.

　　Since the Tang and Song dynasties, the ancient Ganging Prefecture—today’s Xinhui—had a Ziyun Cave at the southern foot of Xiangshan Mountain, which served as a place for Taoist followers to preach and conduct activities. According to the Xinhui County Annals, during the Qing Dynasty when Taoism flourished in Lingnan and folk beliefs were widespread, in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), a Taoist priest enshrined Patriarch Lü Dongbin in the Ziyun Cave. Local legend says that Patriarch Lü effectively dispelled disasters and bestowed blessings upon the people, making the cave highly efficacious. As a result, the Ziyun Cave attracted thriving incense offerings and a continuous stream of worshippers and visitors. By the time of the Republic of China, only Taoist priest Liang Rong remained to guard the shrine at Ziyun Cave in Huicheng, but it was later destroyed in war.

　　To promote Taoist culture and restore the old site, in the 1990s devotees initiated the reconstruction of Ziyun Cave. With the active advocacy of enthusiastic individuals and the support of the local government, in 1996, approval was granted by the Guangdong Provincial Religious Affairs Department. Tan Siu, a renowned Hong Kong industrialist and honorary citizen of Xinhui City, donated over 35 million yuan in the name of the “Tan Siu Charitable Foundation” to rebuild Ziyun Taoist Temple. The design was carried out by renowned Chinese architectural experts, imitating traditional Taoist styles and following the Ming and Qing architectural aesthetics. The project was completed on June 26, 2002. The current abbot, Taoist Liu Sichuan, is a standing committee member of the 12th Xinhui CPPCC and has remarkable expertise in Tai Chi, having been invited multiple times for academic exchanges both domestically and internationally, thus helping to promote the fame of both Xinhui Ziyun Taoist Temple and Tai Chi worldwide.

　　The Ziyun Taoist Temple features upturned eaves, carved beams, painted rafters, and exquisitely fine craftsmanship. From a distance, this complex of classical-style architecture shines brilliantly and boasts extraordinary grandeur. Upon entering the mountain gate, there are bell and drum towers on either side, with a Han white jade-carved Immortal Meeting Bridge in the middle. The beams, pillars, and corridors of the various structures are adorned with paintings of flowers, birds, landscapes, and figures, reflecting a rich classical charm. The temple's halls house over ninety deities including the Divine Marshal, the Jade Emperor, the Three Pure Ones, Immortal Lü Dongbin, Huang Daxian, Doumu, the Sixty Heavenly Generals, Guan Shengdijun, the North Emperor, Patriarch Li Hanyi, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Heavenly Queen, and the Dragon Mother. The deity statues are sculpted with serene Taoist visages, lifelike expressions, and portrayals that are kind, majestic, and dignified.