Penglai Pavilion 蓬莱阁

Penglai Pavilion perches on the coastal Danya Cliff, 1.5 kilometers northwest of Penglai City, Shandong Province, spanning 32,800 square meters. This grand ancient complex comprises six core structures—Penglai Pavilion itself, Tianhou Palace, Dragon King Palace, Lüzu Hall, Sanqing Hall, and Mituo Temple—along with their auxiliary buildings.

Renowned as one of China’s "Four Famous Towers" (alongside the Yellow Crane Tower, Yueyang Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion), it captivates visitors with its magical scenery and architectural grandeur. The pavilion brims with literary relics, couplets, and stone inscriptions from scholars across the ages.

A celebrated Taoist site, Penglai Pavilion faces the sea, its buildings seemingly floating above the waves. Year-round sea fog wraps around it, earning it the nickname "Fairyland on Earth."

For centuries, it has drawn literati and Taoist practitioners alike. Over 200 ancient inscriptions near the pavilion capture poets’ impressions of the sea. From the pavilion’s corridors, one can spot the distant Changshan Islands and the endless northeastern sea. In spring and summer, mirages often dance over the waters, offering a surreal spectacle.

【Famous Taoist Attractions】

Built during the Tang Dynasty (713–741) and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty (1567–1572), this hall honors Taoism’s highest deities, the Three Pure Ones. Originally housing statues of Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taishang Laojun, the current figures are modern reproductions.

Located south of Binri Tower, this north-facing complex includes a double gate, main hall, and east-west side halls. Built in 1877 (Qing Dynasty), its main hall features a shrine with a seated statue of Lü Dongbin, flanked by a medicine boy and willow spirit.

【Penglai’s Enchanting Scenery】

Perched atop Danya Cliff, the pavilion overlooks sheer drops to the waves. When fog shrouds it, it resembles a celestial palace. Standing atop, visitors feel as if floating above the clouds—truly a "fairyland on earth."

In calm spring-summer weather, mirages form over the sea, creating illusions of islands or buildings that shift and vanish. This phenomenon likely inspired ancient Taoists’ quests for immortals.

West of the pavilion’s beach, jagged rocks form "Yuliang"—a peaceful fishing spot. Elderly anglers often cook their catch on-site, singing joyfully, embodying Taoist tranquility.

Penglai’s steep cliffs offer stunning sunrises. Ancient descriptions tell of a "deep red orb like cinnabar" that flames to life, rising swiftly to glow "as large as a mirror."

On clear nights, the new moon casts golden ripples over the sea, with seagulls skimming the waves—an ethereal scene.

In calm weather, the sea becomes a "mirror of blue." Writer Yang Shuo praised it as "cleansing the soul."

Behind the pavilion, wave-polished pebbles—smooth, colorful, and countless—line the shore, as described by Su Shi: "When the tide recedes, pearls spread endlessly, shining bright."

15km east, a natural stone well (named for its bell-like echo) holds fresh water amid the sea. Moonlight on its surface creates a "golden wave" effect.

A cliff cave, guarded by a lion-shaped boulder, emits mist before rain—wrapping the cliff in a silken veil.

15km east, Lotian Rock’s ten thousand holes drip water year-round, a perpetual "leaking sky" wonder.