Wei Dao Guan on Pingjiang Road

　　There is a saying in Suzhou: “Wei Dao Guan was built before Guanqian Street.” Wei Dao Guan is located at No. 16, Wei Dao Guan Qian, Pingjiang Road, Suzhou. It was listed as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1982. Originally named Hui Dao Guan, it was first built in the early Yuan Dynasty by the Taoist priest Deng Daoshu on the site of an abandoned garden that had belonged to the Shangguan family during the Song Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, it came under the administration of Xuanmiao Guan. In the 12th year of the Chenghua era (1476), the abbot Zhang Fuchun rebuilt it, and in the 20th year of the Jiajing era (1541), Wu Shiliang, the magistrate of Changzhou County, funded its renovation and bestowed its current name. In the 4th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1665), Zhou Hongjiao carried out major repairs and expansions, followed by another round of renovations in the 15th year of the Jiaqing era (1810). Further restorations were conducted in the 14th year of the Guangxu era (1888), in 1917, and in 1953.

　　The complex faces south and, in the early 1950s, covered an area of 1,950 square meters with 54 halls. The surviving structures mainly consist of the central and western routes. The central route includes, in sequence, the Mountain Gate, Lingguan Hall, Xuan Di Hall, San Qing Hall, and Rear Hall (Dou Mu Hall), among which the San Qing Hall is the main hall of the entire complex. According to the inscription on the “Record of the Reconstruction of Wei Dao (Guan)” stele from the first year of the Guangxu era, the San Qing Hall was originally built in the 4th year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1509), making it nearly 500 years old. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, major construction was undertaken, and in the first year of the Guangxu era, moderate renovations were carried out. This hall remains largely intact today, measuring three bays wide (approximately 13 meters), 17 meters deep, and over 10 meters high, with a flush-gable roof, flat-style beams, and all side walls supported by chamfered square stone pillars. The column bases are plain blue stone dished-style pedestals, preserving remnants of Ming Dynasty architecture. Inside the hall, there are various statues, inscribed steles, and records of renovations. The colorful Taoist murals on the fan-shaped wall and the blue-background, gold-character couplets on the front golden pillars are still clearly visible. In its heyday of incense offerings, the Hall of Xuan Di and the San Qing Hall enshrined the Beiji Xuan Tian Shangdi and the Three Pure Ones respectively, with cloud-shaped canopies above and ritual offerings below. The halls were brightly lit with lamps and candles, filled with the fragrance of incense, reaching the peak of their splendor.

　　The various halls within the complex are connected by courtyards. On both sides of the central route halls are corridors, which connect to the eastern and western routes through moon gates, originally adorned with finely carved brick plaques. The western route is known as Xihua Hall, consisting of three sections. The hall once displayed a plaque inscribed with the words “Ke Yi Hong Jiao.” In front of the hall were five single-story rooms used as kitchens, storage, and bathing facilities, along with an ancient well. Outside the wall was an open space of about one acre, where the Taoist priests grew mixed trees and vegetables and fruits. To the west of the hall lies the Li Geng Tang Pan residence, with white-bark ancient pines and the lush green leaves of crape myrtles from the residence stretching over the wall, creating a charming contrast with the temple.

　　Address: No. 16, Wei Dao Guan Qian, Pingjiang Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

　　Transportation: Take bus No. 301, 301, 305, etc., in Suzhou City and get off at Pingjiang Road Station.