Laojun Cave Taoist Temple: The Enduring Taoist Charm of the Mountain City

Nestled between Longmenhao and Huangjueya in Nan’an District, Chongqing, stands the ancient Laojun Cave Taoist Temple, a thousand-year-old sanctuary of Taoist spirituality. In the morning mist, its soaring eaves pierce the sky, while its blue tiles and red walls peek through the lush pine and cypress trees. This is Chongqing’s oldest surviving Taoist temple—the Laojun Cave Taoist Temple.

Trace its origins back to the Tang Dynasty, when it was first established as a Daoist Tian Shi Dao monastery. During the Ming Dynasty, in the 16th year of the Chenghua reign (1480), after a major renovation and expansion, it was renamed “Tai Ji Palace.” Later, due to the natural cave in the mountain housing a statue of the Supreme Old Lord, it gradually came to be known as “Laojun Cave.” In the fourth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1739), Daoists of the Quanzhen School began to reside here, marking the transition of this ancient temple from the Zhengyi School to the Quanzhen School, making it an important stronghold of the Quanzhen School in the Ba-Shu region.

As you stroll through the mountains, you can see the nine-tiered halls formed during the late Qing Dynasty, built along the contours of the mountain in the shape of the character “Xuan,” resembling a three-dimensional Daoist totem etched into the mountain. The Great Mountain Gate serves as the first barrier, with the three characters “Laojun Cave” written in bold strokes on the lintel, and two stone lions with wide-open eyes guarding the tranquil surroundings. As you ascend the steps, the statues of the Three Pure Ones—the Primordial Lord, the Lord of the Divine Treasure, and the Lord of Virtue—stand solemnly in the Three Pure Ones Hall, with incense smoke swirling around them, as if echoing the ancient sounds of Daoism. The San Guan Hall, Qi Zhen Hall, and Lü Zu Hall are arranged in a harmonious manner, with each hall adhering to the principle of “Dao follows nature,” blending seamlessly with the mountain’s contours.

The caves in the mountains are another marvel of Laojun Cave. The Gu Tu Cave, San Feng Cave, Chunyang Cave, and Shi Hou Cave are scattered among dense forests and The stone carving “Purple Qi from the East” inside the Chunyang Cave is said to be the handwriting of Lu Dongbin, with a flowing and ethereal style; the inscription “Tu Cave Reaching the Sky” deep within the Tu Cave has faded over time, yet one can still glimpse the awe of ancient explorers. These caves are not only natural wonders but also vivid interpretations of the Daoist concept of “cave heavens and blessed lands.”

The over a dozen stele and stone carvings preserved within the cave complex form a three-dimensional history of Daoist culture. The “Gift of the Sword Relief” depicts the legend of Lu Dongbin bestowing a sword to enlighten the world, with flowing lines and vivid expressions; The “Laozi Qingniu Tu” depicts Laozi riding a cow westward, his figure carefree and at ease, embodying the Taoist spirit of transcending the mundane world. The inscriptions left by literati and scholars throughout the ages, some praising the beauty of the mountains and rivers, others reflecting on the mysteries of Taoist teachings, add a rich humanistic atmosphere to this Taoist temple.

Today, the Laozi Cave Taoist Temple is not only a key Taoist temple open to the public in Sichuan Province but also an excellent vantage point to overlook the scenic beauty of the mountain city. Standing at the South Heavenly Gate and looking afar, the Yangtze River flows like a ribbon, and the buildings of the mountain city are densely packed. The hustle and bustle of modern urban life and the tranquility of the thousand-year-old Taoist temple blend harmoniously here. Since its official opening to the public in 1988, this place has not only been a sacred site for Daoist practitioners but also a spiritual home for people seeking to explore traditional culture and understand the ways of nature.

Amidst the morning bells and evening drums, Laojun Cave Daoist Temple stands like an elderly sage who has weathered the storms of time, safeguarding the enduring essence of Daoism and narrating the thousand-year-old legend of the intertwined cultures of Bashu and Daoism to the world.