Free check-in at Laoshan Shenqing Palace! A millennium of heritage + top autumn red leaves

Laoshan hides a low-key yet story-filled Shenqing Palace, featuring ancient maple wonders older than the ginkgo at Taiqing Palace, along with Daoist charm passed down from the Song and Yuan dynasties and marks of wartime history. Best of all, it’s free and requires no reservation. The autumn red leaf season is breathtakingly beautiful! 🌿 Cultural History: A millennium-old legend hidden deep in the mountains Shenqing Palace is located on the western slope of Furong Peak in Laoshan and is one of the "Nine Palaces, Eight Temples, and Seventy-two Monasteries." It once rivaled Taiqing Palace in fame and is an important carrier of Daoist culture in Laoshan. According to the "Laoshan Chronicles," it was first built during the Song dynasty, underwent renovations in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and was refurbished again during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty. The palace once enshrined the Three Pure Ones and had a Jade Emperor Pavilion. The east wing served as a retreat, the west wing as the Hall of Salvation, with ginkgo and crape myrtle trees in the courtyard and pine and bamboo shading the left side of the hall. At its peak, it owned vast temple properties including Cangkou Airport, and Haiyun Monastery was one of its branch temples. What moves people even more is its wartime memory—during the Anti-Japanese War, it served as a "secret arsenal" for guerrilla fighters, repairing firearms and manufacturing ammunition. The 1945 "Battle of Shenqing Palace in Laoshan West District" dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army. Every brick and tile of the ruins today bears the blood and patriotism of the nation. After enduring Japanese bombings and the passage of time, it was listed as a district-level cultural relic protection unit in 2005. The Jade Emperor Hall was rebuilt in 2018. Though the ancient temple no longer fully retains its original appearance, it carries even greater historical weight. 📍 Geography and Key Highlights: A collision of nature and culture - 350-year-old maple tree: The pentagonal maple tree west of the Jade Emperor Hall is the absolute star! Its roots entwine giant rocks, creating the spectacular "tree hugging stone, stone hugging tree" scene. Over 350 years old, its leaves transition from orange-yellow to fiery red in autumn. The backlighting at sunset is perfect for atmospheric photos. To the south is another 150-year-old pentagonal maple, and the two trees together create a serene scene. - Ruins and Cliff Inscriptions: Walking among the ruins, you can see the remains of the hall foundations, stone steps, and an ancient well. The Changchun Cave below the cliff is inscribed with the characters "Dongtian" (Cave Heaven), and the "Place to Shed Dust" inscription from the Qianlong era testifies to the cultivation life of Daoist practitioners in the past. - Mountain Scenery: Located halfway up the mountain, surrounded by peaks, the hike offers views of Laoshan’s lush greenery and the winding Baisha River in the distance. The natural monument "No Grinding Needed, Naturally a Monument" is hidden in the forest. 🚗 Complete Travel Guide: Pitfall Avoidance + Practical Tips 1. Transportation: - Metro preferred: Take Line 11 to Beiqiushui Station, exit north, navigate on foot to "Mountain Coffee," then hike 30 minutes along a trail (wear non-slip shoes!). - Driving alternative: Navigate to "Huahua Langzi Scenic Area Office," park for 10 yuan/day, then walk 10 minutes to the site (vehicles are prohibited during forest fire prevention periods; follow on-site notices). 2. Best Time to Visit: - Viewing period: Late October to mid-November. Early to mid-November is peak time for ancient maple red leaves—miss it and wait a year. - Photography time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for beautiful sunset light on the red leaves. Weekday mornings have the fewest visitors; on weekends, arrive before 10 AM to avoid crowds. 3. Suggested Route: Shenqing Palace ruins → ancient maple tree check-in → Changchun Cave → natural monument → descend and relax at Mountain Coffee, or try the charcoal pot chicken farmhouse feast at the foot of the mountain. You can also visit the Jiushui Scenic Area (to see maple reflections in the pools) and Taiqing Palace (with its millennium-old ginkgo) nearby. 4. Notes: - Free admission with no reservation required, open all day. It’s recommended to arrive before 1 PM to allow enough time. - Strictly no fire sources allowed in the mountain. Bring your own drinking water and snacks. Carry out all trash (Leave No Trace). - The ancient tree branches are fragile; do not climb or break branches to protect this century-old natural gift. This ancient mountain temple, rich in Daoist charm, wartime history, and remarkable trees, not only has the "Instagrammable" looks but also a deeply intriguing heritage. Climb high in autumn, gaze at the red leaves reflecting on the ancient site, and you will truly understand another side of Laoshan~