🌿 Yiquan Temple — A Thousand-Year-Old Taoist Sanctuary and Haven of Hermit Culture at the Foot of Mount Hua
“Many famous mountains are home to Buddhist temples, but Mount Hua stands unique for its Taoist sanctuaries; Yiquan Temple before the mountain is truly the first gateway to ascending Mount Hua.”
—— Hua Yue Zhi, Qing Dynasty
📍 Basic Information
- Address: South section of Yiquan Road, Huayin City, Shaanxi Province, at the northern entrance of the Mount Hua Scenic Area (adjacent to the Mount Hua Tourist Center, serving as the main starting point for hiking)
- Opening Hours: Open year-round | 06:30–18:00 (extended to 19:00 during peak season)
- Admission: Free entry (included in the general ticket for the Mount Hua scenic area; no additional fee required for visiting Yiquan Temple alone)
- Transportation Options:
- ✅ Take the scenic area shuttle bus from Huashan North Station or Huashan Station (approximately 10 minutes)
- ✅ Self-driving visitors may park at the Yiquan Temple Eco-Parking Lot (plenty of spaces, reasonable fees)
- ✅ A must-pass stop for hikers; ascending via the Thousand-Chi Staircase and Hundred-Chi Gorge takes about 2.5–3 hours
⏳ Historical Origins: Founded in the Northern Song, Flourished in Jin-Yuan, Reached Zenith in Ming-Qing
Yiquan Temple was originally constructed during the Huangyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1049–1054) by Jia De Sheng, a disciple of the renowned Daoist master Chen Tuan (Xiyi Xiansheng), who was celebrated as the synthesizer of internal alchemy within Daoism. Initially named "Xiyi Shrine," it was established to venerate Chen Tuan and preserve his teachings on "Sleep Art" and the philosophy of the Primordial Book of Changes.
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📜 Jin-Yuan Period: The renowned figure among the Seven Northern Immortals of Quanzhen Daoism, Qiu Chuji, once resided here to preach, transforming Yiquan Temple into a major center for spreading Quanzhen teachings in Guanzhong. During the Yuan Dynasty, the temple was rebuilt and bestowed the name "Yiquan Temple," derived from the meaning "a mountain with jade-like springs, pure and inexhaustible."
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🏯 Ming Dynasty Prosperity: Extensive expansions occurred under the Jiajing and Wanli emperors, shaping the architectural layout seen today. In the late Ming period, high-ranking Daoist He Yuexi ingeniously designed a garden-style temple complex following the natural terrain, pioneering the harmonious integration of mountain, water, stone, cave, hall, corridor, pavilion, and bridge—a model later hailed as exemplary.
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🛠️ Qing Dynasty to Modern Times: The temple underwent multiple renovations, most comprehensively restored during the Qianlong era. In 1957, it was designated a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Shaanxi Province; in 2006, it was included in the National Scenic Area as part of the Mount Hua scenic zone; and in 2021, completed a comprehensive conservation and environmental enhancement project focused on the cultural relics and surrounding landscape.
🏯 Architectural Layout: Harmonizing with Mountain and Water, Embodiment of Daoist Naturalism
Spanning approximately 10 acres, Yiquan Temple faces south with its back against the residual peaks of YunTai Feng and its front overlooking a clear stream at the valley mouth. It stands as one of China’s rare surviving models of mountain-based Daoist temple gardens, embodying the Daoist philosophy of "harmony between heaven and humanity."
Main Architectural Complexes (progressing northward from south):
- Mountain Gate: A green brick archway bearing a Qing-era plaque inscribed "Yiquan Temple." Flanking the gate are brick carvings reading "Purple Qi Comes from the East" and "Green Ox Departs Westward," alluding to the legendary tale of Laozi transforming into the Buddha.
- Wuyou Pavilion → Wujian Hall → Tongtian Gate: Arranged along the central axis. Wujian Hall, a remnant from the Qing Dynasty, features a gabled roof with gray tiles and houses a copper statue of Chen Tuan lying in repose (recast in 1985 based on Ming Dynasty prototypes).
- Xiyi Shrine: The core hall, three bays wide, enshrines a seated statue of Master Chen Tuan (Ming Dynasty polychrome sculpture, National Grade III Cultural Relic). Before the altar lies the stele inscription "Record of the Rebuilding of Xiyi Shrine" from the 29th year of Kangxi’s reign (1690).
- Yiquan Pavilion & Xixin Pavilion: Built beside the spring. "Yiquan" refers to the natural spring within the temple grounds—its water is sweet, cool, and maintains a constant temperature of 13°C year-round, never freezing in winter nor developing algae in summer. It is recognized as the foremost of the "Seventy-Two Blessed Places" of Mount Hua.
- Curved Corridors and Long Gallery of Cliff Carvings: Over 200 meters long, embedded with 76 stone inscriptions from the Ming, Qing dynasties to the Republic of China era, including poetic verses by renowned figures such as Wang Duo, Lin Zexu, and Yu Youren. Among them, the calligraphy of Qing scholar Liu Guangwen’s "Record of Yiquan Temple" is particularly exquisite.
Notable Scenic Features:
- 🌊 Yiquan Pool: The spring gushes like boiling pearls; the pool bottom is covered in lush green moss resembling embroidery. Known historically as "Jade Spring Flying Snow," it is one of the Eight Scenic Views of Mount Hua.
- 🪨 Wuyou Stone & Longyin Tree: Legend holds that Chen Tuan attained enlightenment while lying on this stone. The ancient cypress tree, "Longyin Tree," over 800 years old, has twisted branches resembling dragons; when wind passes through, it produces sounds like rustling pines.
- 🕳️ Stone Barge (Boat-shaped Structure): Inspired by Jiangnan garden design, symbolizing "compassion across the sea of suffering." Created by He Yuexi, it is a unique example among Daoist temples nationwide.
📜 Cultural Heritage and Significance
| Category | Representative Contents | Cultural Significance |
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| Ancient Architecture | Wujian Hall (Ming structure), main body of Xiyi Shrine (reconstructed in Qing), Stone Barge, Tongtian Gate, and corridors | Living specimen of Shaanxi-style Daoist architecture, illustrating the evolution of temple construction techniques from Song to Qing |
| Stone Inscriptions & Steles | Ming Wanli's "Record of Rebuilding Yiquan Temple", Qing Kangxi's "Yiquan Ode", Yu Youren's "Poem on Visiting Mount Hua", and 76 other inscriptions | A "stone archive" documenting the history of Daoist calligraphy and the literary heritage of Mount Hua |
| Religious Artifacts | Chen Tuan reclining statue (Ming), bronze bell (Jiajing era), iron chime (Qianlong era), and fragmentary Ming edition of the Daozang (held in collection) | Material embodiment of Quanzhen internal alchemy thought, reflecting the influence of Chen Tuan’s teachings on Neo-Confucianism and Daoism |
| Intangible Heritage | Transmission of "Mount Hua Sleep Art" (Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage), Yiquan Temple Temple Fair (celebrated annually on the 15th day of the third lunar month, Chen Tuan’s birthday) | Living practice of Daoist health cultivation traditions |
💫 Cultural Identity: Yiquan Temple is not only the foundational sanctuary of Daoist culture on Mount Hua but also a pivotal landmark where Chinese hermit philosophy, landscape aesthetics, and internal alchemy converge. Academics have hailed it as the "living fossil of Guanzhong Daoist culture."
🧭 Travel Tips: Suggestions for an Enriched Experience
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🌟 Must-Visit Moments:
- Arrive at opening time (6:30 AM) to enjoy the serene atmosphere of dew-kissed stones and mist curling around pavilions;
- Return in the evening to witness the setting sun gilding the eaves of Xiyi Shrine, casting mountain shadows into the jade-clear spring—evoking a dreamlike realm beyond reality.
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📸 Photography Hotspots:
- Capture the Longyin Tree and the soaring rooftops of Xiyi Shrine from the edge of Yiquan Pool;
- Shoot the Stone Barge and its reflection in the pool from a corner of the corridor;
- Frame the distant silhouette of YunTai Peak through the archway of Tongtian Gate.
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📚 Cultural Extensions:
- Book a free lecture on Chen Tuan’s philosophy (every Saturday morning; registration required via official WeChat account);
- Recommended readings: Annotations to Hua Yue Zhi, Research on Chen Tuan’s Daoist Thought, Collected Inscriptions from Yiquan Temple.
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⚠️ Important Reminders:
- Respect religious space—do not touch statues, incense burners, or ancient steles;
- The spring is a cultural relic—please do not drink from it or toss coins;
- Drones are prohibited (within the core protected zone of Mount Hua).
🌄 The Beginning of Ascending Mount Hua, the Gateway to Daoist Inquiry. One Temple Holds Mountain Colors, a Thousand Years Flow with Mystic Springs.
Yiquan Temple is more than just a trailhead—it is a luminous reflection of China’s hermit spirit, shining clearly within the heart of the Qinling Mountains.