Longhu Mountain 龙虎山

Longhu Mountain (Dragon-Tiger Mountain) is located in Guixi County, 20 kilometers southwest of Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province. It is the ancestral home of Zhengyi Dao (Orthodox Unity Tao) in Taoism. In the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling, the founder of Zhengyi Dao, once practiced alchemy here. Legend has it that "when the elixir was successfully refined, a dragon and a tiger appeared, hence the mountain was named Longhu Mountain."

According to Taoist classics, Zhang Sheng, the fourth-generation descendant of Zhang Daoling, settled in Longhu Mountain during the Three Kingdoms period or the Western Jin Dynasty. Since then, the descendants of the Celestial Masters (Tianshi) have lived in Longhu Mountain for generations, practicing immortality techniques, preaching at Shangqing Palace, and cultivating their virtues at the Celestial Master's Mansion. The lineage has been passed down for 63 generations over more than 1,700 years. Almost every generation of the Celestial Master was revered and granted titles by feudal dynasties, reaching the rank of first-class official, equivalent to the highest position among court ministers. Together with the lineage of Confucius, they formed the two great hereditary families in Chinese cultural history: "Zhang in the South and Kong in the North."

Shangqing Palace and the Successor Han Celestial Master's Mansion were repeatedly endowed with silver by successive dynasties, undergoing countless expansions and renovations. Their construction area, scale, and layout rank among the finest in Taoist architectural history. During its heyday, Longhu Mountain had over 80 Taoist temples, 36 Taoist courtyards, and several Taoist palaces, earning it the title of "Capital of Taoism."

Xianren Cheng, also known as "Xianyan" (Immortal Cliff), is a massive peak adjacent to the Luxi River to the east. From a distance, it stands steep on all sides. Caves wind through the mountain, with stone cavities resembling wells, and lush forests and bamboo groves shrouded in mist and clouds. It is called "Immortal City" because it has been a residence of "immortals" since ancient times. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, Zhang Sheng, the fourth-generation Celestial Master, built a temple on its summit—the present-day Dou Shuai Palace—housing a statue of Laozi to honor his virtues.

The Tang poet Gu Kuang's poem Viewing Immortal City from Anren Port depicts Xianren Cheng as a misty, otherworldly place, evoking fascination. Today, the Xianfeng Bridge spanning the cliffs and the mountain-circling trail are fully accessible. Climbing to the summit, one can overlook the majestic 99 peaks of Longhu Mountain, as vivid as dragons soaring and tigers leaping. It truly lives up to the verse: "On thousand-foot cloud cliffs, the Immortal City blooms like a white lotus; lingering at the peak, the scenery outshines Penglai."

Shangqing Town is an ancient town steeped in Taoist culture. Its name derives from Taoism: "Shangqing" (Supreme Purity) refers to the celestial realm of Shangqing in Yuyu Tian, where Lingbao Tianzun—the highest Taoist deity among the "Three Pure Ones"—resides. The town was founded in 625 CE (the 8th year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty), with a history of over 1,300 years.

Surrounded by mountains and built along the river, the town boasts beautiful scenery, rich culture, and a gathering of historical figures, retaining its ancient charm. The Tang dynasty monk Mazu Daoyi built Yingtian Temple here, developing a branch of Zen Buddhism. The Southern Song neo-Confucian Lu Jiuyuan founded Xiangshan Academy, one of the four great academies of the Southern Song. For decades, the Zhengyi Dao Celestial Masters thrived here, governing Taoist affairs nationwide.

Ancient sites in the town, such as Changqing Fang, Liuhou Family Temple, Celestial Master's Mansion, Shangqing Palace, and Dongyue Palace, have been preserved. The town’s old streets, riverside stilt houses, and ancient docks still retain the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, exuding a strong historical and cultural atmosphere that bears witness to its past prosperity.

The birthplace of Chinese Taoism lies at the original site of Zhengyi Guan at the foot of Longhu Mountain. In the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling, the first Celestial Master, led his disciples to Yunjin Mountain to refine the Nine Heavens Divine Elixir. "When the elixir was completed, a dragon and a tiger appeared," so Yunjin Mountain was renamed "Longhu Mountain."

When Zhang Sheng, the fourth-generation Celestial Master, returned to Longhu Mountain, he built "Ancestral Celestial Master Temple" to honor his ancestor. During the San Yuan Festivals (three major Taoist festivals), he held rituals to transmit talismans, drawing Taoist followers from across the country and creating a bustling scene described as "a nation of immortals with eternal light." The temple was renovated repeatedly and renamed several times; in the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed "Zhengyi Guan," a name still used today.

The current Zhengyi Guan was rebuilt on the original site in the Song dynasty architectural style, incorporating elements and artistic features of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With gray tiles and white walls, it is simple, elegant, majestic, and imbued with a transcendental aura.

The Celestial Master's Mansion is the residence and ritual site of successive Celestial Masters. This royal-style complex of Taoist ancient buildings is located in the center of Shangqing Town, backed by Xihua Mountain, facing Pipa Peak, and adjacent to the Luxi River. Set against hills and water, it exudes grandeur.

Inside the mansion, camphor trees shade the sky, and birds nest in the treetops, creating a serene, fairyland-like atmosphere. As a garden-style private residence of Taoist leaders, it is unparalleled in China.

Shangqing Palace is where successive Celestial Masters preached, transmitted talismans, and cultivated virtue. Known as the "Taoist Headquarters," "Abode of Immortals," and "Place of Divine Investiture," it is situated in a feng shui treasure land called "Nine Dragons Gathering" east of Shangqing Town, surrounded by streams and mountains—a gathering place of celestial energy.

The classic Water Margin (one of China’s four great novels) vividly describes Shangqing Palace. The current palace, highlighting elegance, softness, and harmony, is magnificent and solemn. Sites such as the Blessed Gate, dismount Pavilion, Lingxing Gate, Bell and Drum Towers, Dongyin Courtyard, Fumo Hall, and Demon-Suppressing Well have been restored, recreating the scene of curling incense and melodious Taoist music from days past.