White Cloud Temple
白云观 · Yuetan Subdistrict
sacred architecture
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1White Cloud Temple
Welcome to the White Cloud Temple, or Baiyunguan, one of the most important centers of Taoism in China. Located in the Xicheng District of Beijing, this temple serves as the headquarters of the Chinese Taoist Association and is…
Listen in the app2The Lingxing Gate and Shanmen
Your journey begins at the Lingxing Gate, an architectural masterpiece built in the Ming Dynasty. This seven-story wooden structure is adorned with glazed tiles and stands as a towering guardian of the temple's entrance. …
Listen in the app3Wofeng Bridge and the Coin Tossing Ritual
Just inside the gate, you will find Wofeng Bridge, a single-hole white marble bridge that is the site of one of the temple's most popular folk activities. Beneath the bridge, instead of water, there is a square hole on either…
Listen in the app4Hall of the Spirit Official and Jade Emperor
Continuing north, you reach the Hall of the Spirit Official, or Lingguan Hall. Interestingly, the layout of White Cloud Temple is reversed compared to many other temples; the bell and drum towers are located behind the main hall. …
Listen in the app5Zhenzhen Hall and the Legacy of Qiu Chuji
Zhenzhen Hall is the spiritual heart of the temple complex. It is dedicated to Qiu Chuji, the patriarch of the Quanzhen Longmen sect and a contemporary of Genghis Khan. …
Listen in the app6The Search for the Three Stone Monkeys
One of the most charming traditions at White Cloud Temple is the search for the three hidden stone monkeys. There is a local legend in old Beijing that 'the footprints of the gods are gone, leaving only the stone monkeys in the…
Listen in the app7The Bronze 'Shen' and the Back Garden
In the courtyard south of the Yuanjun Hall, you will find one of the temple's most curious artifacts: the 'Shen'. This is a bronze beast that appears to be a composite of several animals, often described as having the body of a…
Listen in the app8Closing
As you exit through the northern gate of White Cloud Temple, the lingering scent of incense and the sound of the 'Gold Immortal' bell stay with you. You have journeyed through the headquarters of a living spiritual tradition,…
Listen in the app
What is White Cloud Temple?
White Cloud Temple is a place in Yuetan Subdistrict with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Yuetan Subdistrict |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 39.8989, 116.3380 |
| Last updated |
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