Yuanmiao Temple, the earliest Taoist temple in Quanzhou

Quanzhou Ancient City Walk, stop three: Yuanmiao Temple! Yuanmiao Temple is located at Xinfukou on Dong Street in Quanzhou City, commonly known as 'Heavenly Temple', and was originally built during the Taikang period of the Western Jin Dynasty (282 AD), initially named Baiyun Temple. In 1295, it was renamed Xuanmiao Temple, drawing from the phrase 'mystery upon mystery, the gateway of the manifold secrets' from the Tao Te Ching, and in 1668 it was renamed Yuanmiao Temple, a name that has been used to this day. It is the first Taoist temple in Fujian after the introduction of Taoism and also the earliest Taoist temple in Quanzhou. Yuanmiao Temple is renowned in southern Quanzhou for its long history, grand scale, complete collection of alchemical treasures, and the emergence of famous Taoist figures. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the 'Daoji Si', the authority managing Taoism, was located within Yuanmiao Temple. Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, the temple has suffered repeated destruction and occupation, with only the left ridge of the central hall and four rooms remaining. The whereabouts of the dragon steps are unknown, and the dragon pillars were moved to the Shanmen Gallery of the Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple's Zhunti Zen Forest in the 1970s. The reconstructed Hall of the Three Purities is five bays wide and five bays deep, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, majestic and splendid. The six carved dragon stone columns, each 3.2 meters high and 0.84 meters in diameter, are exquisitely crafted. The eight stone windows on the east and west exterior walls and the five wall surfaces behind the hall are inlaid with stone and brick carvings depicting Taoist story patterns. The roof has nine flying eaves with dragon ridges, on which are carved Laozi's alchemy furnace, flying dragons, qilins, and various Taoist ornaments, all showing great ingenuity. Address: No. 56 Xinfukou, Licheng District, Quanzhou City Hours: 8:00-17:30 Admission: Free PS: It is a 10-minute walk from Chengtian Temple to Yuanmiao Temple