Xining Tuluo Temple: A Taoist Sanctuary by the Huangshui River
On the slopes of Loushan Mountain north of Xining City, the Huangshui River winds like a jade-green ribbon around the mountain, where a Taoist temple steeped in millennia of spiritual tradition stands quietly. This is Tuluo Temple, hailed as the “Northern Huangshui Scenic Wonder.” Loushan Mountain boasts unique terrain, with peaks and ridges resembling a coiled dragon. Surrounded by mountains and water, the eastern pass is strategically located, forming a natural layout of “mountains encircling water, one pass as the key,” adding an air of mystery and grandeur to this Daoist holy site.
Trace the history of Tuluo Temple back to the Han Dynasty. It is said that it was originally built as the “Temple of the Wise and Holy” to commemorate Deng Xun, the Han Dynasty’s Protector General of the Qiang Frontier. During his governance of the Huangshui River basin, Deng Xun implemented a policy of conciliation, earning the deep affection of the local people. Later generations erected this temple to honor his virtues. Over time, the shrine gradually evolved into a religious site, successively known as “Tuluo Mountain Temple,” “Beishan Temple,” and “Yongxing Temple.” Due to its proximity to the Nanshan Temple across the city, it was also colloquially referred to as “Beichan Temple,” becoming one of the two major religious landmarks in Xining, complementing each other across the city.
Today, the existing buildings of Tuluo Guan are mostly constructed in harmony with the natural terrain, seamlessly blending natural landscapes with human-made structures. As one ascends the steps, halls such as the Sanqing Hall, Wuhuang Hall, and Doumu Hall come into view, their intricately carved beams and painted rafters showcasing the exquisite beauty of Daoist architecture. The halls are adorned with gold and brilliant colors, and the glazed tiles shimmer in the sunlight, harmonizing with the evergreen pines and cypresses in the mountains, creating a three-dimensional landscape painting.
Even more astonishing are the caves embedded in the mountain rocks. The Wuliang Cave, the Qizhen Cave, and the Sanshi Cave, among others, feature exquisite sculptures inside, depicting Taoist deities or the images of sages and saints, each with unique expressions and lifelike details. The murals stretch endlessly, their colors still vibrant despite the passage of time. The content primarily features Taoist legends and scenic landscapes, executed with delicate brushwork and evoking a sense of profound beauty, making them a treasure of Northwest Taoist art.
As a key provincial-level cultural relic protection unit and a provincial-level Taoist temple open to the public, Tuluo Temple is not only a place for religious activities but also a microcosm of Xining’s historical and cultural heritage. It stands quietly on Loushan Mountain, bearing witness to the vicissitudes of the Huangshui River basin, and attracts people from all over the world with its unique charm to explore the Taoist essence and cultural heritage embedded in the mountains and waters.
