Dai Temple, Ancient temple complex at Mount Tai, Tai'an, China

Dai Temple, also called Dongyue Temple, covers 100,000 square metres at the southern foot of Mount Tai in Tai'an. Its main hall, Tiankuang Hall, built in 1009 under Emperor Song Zhenzong, measures 43.67 m east-west, 48.7 m north-south and 22.3 m high, with nine bays across and five deep under yellow glazed tiles. The grounds hold 211 steles and inscriptions and over 200 old trees, among them the Han cypress and Tang locust.

The temple was founded during the Han Dynasty around 200 BCE as a religious site. Major rebuilding and expansion took place during the Tang and Song Dynasties, reshaping the complex into largely what visitors see today.

The name Dai comes from Daishan, another name for Mount Tai. The Tiankuang Hall holds a mural, the Return of the God of Mount Tai from His Inspection Tour, 62 m long and 3.30 m high, painted on its east, north and west walls. Red Guards damaged it in 1966, and ink slogans were written on the lower north wall.

The complex covers 100,000 square metres at the southern foot of Mount Tai, entered through the Yaocan Pavilion and the Double Dragon Pool area before the main gate. The grounds hold over 200 old trees and 211 steles, so allow time to walk between the halls. The museum founded in 1986 inside the temple holds more than 10,000 objects.

Stone tablets carved with text from multiple historical periods are scattered throughout the grounds, including inscriptions from the Han Dynasty recording imperial visits. These stones provide a tangible record of rulers and religious leaders who came to this sacred place over thousands of years.