Qingcheng Shan

In Guan County, about 60km from Chengdu, is Qingcheng Shan, a mountain that can be visited as a Chengdu day trip. During the Han dynasty it became a center of Taoism when a Taoist master made the mountain his home. The Shangqing Hall sits over 1,600m above sea level and is the highest temple on the mountain. Halfway up the mountain is the Tianshi Cave where the old master used to give his lectures and is now home to the Taoist Association. Most of the buildings have histories going back to the Han dynasty or earlier, but the actual structures are mainly Qing dynasty or later. Many of the buildings, in accordance to Taoist beliefs, blend into the natural surroundings without disturbing nature's grace.