Changchun Taoist Temple

Built by disciples of Qiu Chuji (Master Changchun) in the Yuan dynasty, Wuhan's great Quanzhen school Taoist monastery, with a Sutra Repository and Hall of the Seven Masters. At the foot of Shuangfeng Hill on the north side of Wuluo Road in central Wuhan, disciples of Qiu Chuji (Master Changchun) — one of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen in the Yuan dynasty — built a hermitage and temple here; the name Changchun Taoist Temple comes from his Taoist title, and it is a great “ten directions” monastery of the Quanzhen school in Wuhan. The temple buildings rise terrace by terrace up the hillside: the Sutra Repository holds Taoist canon texts, and the Hall of the Seven Masters enshrines statues of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen; legend says Laozi once stopped here, and the cliff carving of Taishang Laojun (Lord Lao) is an ancient relic within the temple. In modern times both the Taiping army and the 1911 Revolutionary army were garrisoned here, and it was later restored with donations from Zuo Zongtang and others. Taoist ritual music and morning tai chi are part of the temple's daily scene — an island of tranquility in the busy city; admission CNY 10, and it can be combined with Baotong Temple and Hongshan Park for a half-day religious and cultural itinerary.

Getting there: Bus or taxi (Wuluo Road)