Dai Temple
» Taishan, Shan Dong

岱庙,泰庙,东岳庙 泰山最大,最完整的古建筑群

Dongyuemiao Temple,Tai Temple

Known as Dongyue Temple or Tai Temple, Dai Temple is the largest and most complete ancient building complex in the city of Tai'an. It was first built during the Qin Dynasty. Since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.), its design has been a replica of the imperial palace, which makes it one out of three extant structures in China with the features of an imperial palace (the other two are the Forbidden City and the Confucius Temple in Qufu).

What it for

Since the Han Dynasty, it had been renovated by the emperors in the past dynasties and became prosperous in the Tang (618 - 907) and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties. The temple is where the emperors make sacrifice to the Gods of Heaven and Earth and worship the God of the Mt. Taishan.

High value

Dai Temple was listed into the world cultural and natural heritage list in 1987 and proclaimed as the national important cultural relic protection unit in 1988. The historical and aesthetic value of Dai Temple is high. Chen Congzhou, a famous landscape architect appraised: "The grand architecture like Dai Temple which is perfectly protected in the center of city is rare not only in Shandong province, but also in China. It is an important sample for studying Chinese cultural and architectural history."

What to see

The Dai Temple has various architectural structures including the Tiankuang Hall, the Yaocan Pavilion, and the Zhengyang Gate, the Bell Tower the Drum Tower, the Han Dynasty Cypress Courtyard and the Tang Dynasty Pagoda Tree Courtyard.

Tiankuang Hall (Palace of Heavenly Blessings)

The Tiankuang Hall is the main structure of the Dai Temple. Built in the Song Dynasty, it is also called the Ren'an Hall or the Junji Hall. In front of the hall there is a huge Ming Dynasty iron censer and two Song Dynasty pails. On each side of the censer and pails stands a pavilion with a stone tablet erected within it. On the tablets are inscribed the poems of Qianlong, a great emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). In the hall is enshrined the God of the Mt. Taishan which is about four meters (13 feet) in a shrine. Above the shrine is hung the plaque inscribed with four Chinese characters "Pei," "Tian," "Zuo" and "Zhen" written by Kangxi, an emperor in the Qing Dynasty. On the walls of the hall is painted a giant Taoist mural. It is said that the mural had been painted in the Song Dynasty. With a height of three meters (10 feet) and a length of 62 meters (203 feet), it depicts the scene of the God of the Mt. Taishan having a tour of inspection and coming back to his palace.

Yaocan Pavilion

Also called Caocanmen or Caocan Pavilion, the Yaocan Pavilion is located outside the South Gate of the Dai Temple. In front of the pavilion is an archway, iron lions, a flag pole and the Double Dragon Pool. The pavilion has a main hall and two side halls. Once in the main hall was enshrined Bixia Yuanjun, a Taoist deity.

Age-old trees

Dai Temple is not only an ancient architecture but also a charming traditional garden. With numerous age-old trees planted in the courtyard, there are two hundred trees over one hundred years old and about twenty of them are ancient cypress trees that nearly one thousand years old. It was said that the five cypress trees that over two thousand years old inside the Han Bai courtyard were planted by Emperor Wu Di of Han Dynasty himself. It is regarded as one of the eight landscape of Dai Temple.

Other must-sees

Other must-sees in the Dai Temple include an archway, a bronze pavilion and an iron tower. Built in 1672, the archway is about 12 meters (39 feet) high and 10 meters (31 feet) wide. Various propitious relief patterns are carved on the archway, such as two dragons playing with a ball, a flock of cranes playing with a lotus and the red phoenix in the morning sun. The columns of the archway are also inscribed with couplets praising the God of the Mt. Taishan.

The bronze pavilion and the iron tower are located at the backyard of the Dai Temple. Also called Jin Que, the bronze pavilion was cast in 1615. In the pavilion is enshrined a Taoist deity. The iron tower was cast in 1565. Originally it was a 13-tier tower. During the Anti-Japanese War (1937 - 1945), it was destroyed and only left four tiers. Both of the bronze pavilion and the iron tower reflect the ancient Chinese artisans' exquisite workmanship of casting.

Getting There

By bus: No. 3, 4, 6, 15.

Attractions around » Taishan, Shan Dong

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

  Weather

  1. How is the weather in Shandong? Anything to prepare?

  Food

  1. What to notice about dining in Shandong?

  Shopping

  1. What are some local products in Shandong? What to notice when buying them?

  Travel

  1. What should I notice when visiting scenic spots?

  • How is the weather in Shandong? Anything to prepare?

    There is a big difference between morning and nights temperature. The average temperature is between 16-26 degrees C, so you should put on or take off clothes at suitable times to prevent from catching a cold. Wear warm clothes when climbing Mt.Taishan, because the temperature on the mountain can be 8 C 10 degrees lower than at the foot of the mountain. Dont forget to bring raincoats or umbrellas.


  • What to notice about dining in Shandong?

    • The food in Shandong belongs to Lu cuisine. The seasoning of Lu cuisine is a bit strong, so that there is a big difference between Lu cuisine and Yue Cuisine. If you dont like strong seasoning you can ask for light seasoning dish.

    • Drink enough water, and eat more fresh fruit.

    • Do not eat food or snack at the little stands along the street, they might not be clean.

  • What are some local products in Shandong? What to notice when buying them?

    Shandong local products
    Donkey-hide Glue, kites, grass art works, green stones from Mt.Laoshan, gyrophora, tommy knocker, Longkou Vermicelli, Dezhou Braised Chicken, pancake, Yantai apples, Laiyang pears, Laoshan green tea, etc.

    Notice: make sure the products you buy are all real, and worth the price.

  • What should I notice when visiting scenic spots?

    • It is very crowded in some hot scenic spots, so please follow your guide closely, in case you will get lost.

    • Take good care of you personal belongings, especially your passport.

    • Please do not reach your head or hand out of the window when in the tour bus.

    • Protect historical sites and the plants around, do not draw or carve on the architectures.

Lying at the foot of Mt. Taishan, the Taoist temple, Dai Temple was the place where the ancient emperors came to worship and pay homage to the God of Mt. Taishan. It is not only an ancient architecture but also a charming traditional garden. Many trees planted here are nearly 1000 years old.

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