Zhongyue temple, Taoist temple in Dengfeng, China
Zhongyue Temple is a Taoist temple at the eastern foot of Taishi Peak in the Songshan range, Dengfeng. Its walled complex covers 110,000 square metres, making it the largest surviving ancient architectural group among China's Five Sacred Mountains. The main hall dates from 1653, during the Qing dynasty, and the grounds contain halls, gate towers and the 118 CE Taishi Que stone pillar.
The complex was originally founded during the Qin Dynasty and received major reconstructions under the Han Dynasty. Over centuries, the site was repeatedly expanded and modified to achieve its present form.
The temple is a major sanctuary of the Quanzhen school of Taoism and was the place where emperors of successive dynasties offered sacrifices to the deity of the Central Sacred Mountain. Its name, Zhongyue Miao, means "Temple of the Central Peak", referring to Mount Song. The site is on the State Council's list of the 21 most important Taoist temples in China.
The site is expansive and requires time to explore the many areas throughout the grounds. Comfortable shoes and plenty of water are important, as there is considerable walking involved and limited shade.
The temple's main hall dates from 1653, rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty after fire destroyed the Ming-era complex in 1644. The grounds cover 110,000 square metres, the largest surviving ancient architectural group among China's five sacred mountains. Since 2001 the site has been listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (5-357).
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