Louguantai

 

General Information of Louguantai

Chinese Name: 楼观台 Pronunciation: Lóuguāntái

Scenic Area: 323 square kilometers

Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 Hours

Address: Zhouzhi County, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

 

Ticket Price

• Admission Ticket Fare: Free
   

• Surcharge Inside the Scenic Spot

Attractions	Peak Season (March 1st -November 30th )		Low Season (December 1st -February 28th /29th )
Louguantai National Forest Park	Full Price	Half Price	Full Price	Half Price
	35 yuan	20 yuan	30 yuan	15 yuan
Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area	Free
Temple of God of Wealth	Free
Yansheng Taoist Temple	Free
Huanü Spring	Free

• Note: Children between 1.2 meters(not including) to 1.5 meters, minors aged 6(not including) to 18, seniors aged 60 to 64 could buy the half-price ticket.
  
   

• Ticket Free of Charge Policy

1. Children under 1.2 meters(including) or under 6 years(including) are free for the ticket.
2. Seniors aged 65 or over are free for the ticket.

 

Opening Hours

Attractions	Opening Hours
Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area	10: 00-17: 00
Temple of God of Wealth	9: 00-18: 00
Yansheng Taoist Temple	9: 00-18: 00
Huanü Spring	9: 00-17: 30
Louguantai National Forest Park	8: 00-18: 00

    
   

What You Need to Know About Louguantai

As the origin of Taoist culture, Louguantai is also named “Shuojingtai”(Scripture Explaining Platform). Located along the north range of Zhongnan Mountains, about 15 kilometers away from Zhouzhi County, Xi’an, it is the famous Taoist cultural holy land in China and is honored as the birthplace and fairyland of Taoist.
 

Louguantai acquired its name from the Ancient Louguan Taoist Temple built in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046B.C. - 771B.C.), the place where Laozi composed Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), which has a long history of about 2,600 years.
 

Louguantai is well-known for Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area and Scripture Explaining Platform. Except for all of the Taoist culture, it is also the nearest place for you to enjoy nature in Louguantai National Forest Park.
 

As a 4A grade scenic spot, Louguantai attracts more than 500,000 tourists at home and abroad per year since 1978, with more than 30 Taoist Temples, one stone stele, five provincial culture and relic sites, and seven kinds of over 20 ancient trees. It is surrounded by emerald green bamboos and lush trees.

 

Big Events Happened in Louguantai

In 1957, Ren Farong, the director of the Religions for Peace, went to Louguantai and acknowledged Liang Zonghe the Taoist priest as his mentor. From that time on, Ren Farong has lived in Louguantai.
 

In 1982, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration approved to build Louguantai Forest Park, which is not only one of the 12 earliest forest parks in China, also the first forest park in Northwest China.
 

In 1993, Shaanxi provincial government approved to set up “Louguantai Scenic Spot” in Louguantai with an area of 323 square kilometers.
 

On April 4, 2014, the International Forum on Dao De Jing held the Ceremony of Celebrating the Renovation of Louguantai Taoist Temple in Shaanxi, China & Praying for World Peace, which attracted hundreds of attendants.
 

Lee Shau Kee, chairman of Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd, provided financial assistance for the ceremony and organized a delegation of more than 60 persons to attend it. He also donated 500,000 yuan for the restoration and expansion of Louguantai.

 

Attractions and Highlights at Louguantai

Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area

Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area has been opened for all tourists since March 1, 2012. Constructed along with the north-south mountain range, the whole scenic area follows the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912).
 

It shows the Taoist philosophy by forming the unique siheyuan composition(courtyard surrounded by buildings on all four sides). Various halls are built for honoring Taoist gods, folk gods, and Taoist grandmasters. Therefore, Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area earns the fame of the world’s largest Taoist temple.  
 

Other main attractions include Zhongsheng Palace, Ginkgo Tree Planted by Laozi and Cai Zhizhong Chinese Study Art Museum.
 

Temple of God of Wealth

Temple of God of Wealth is located at Zhaodai Village, Zhouzhi County, which is the hometown of Zhao Gongming. The temple mainly enshrines Zhao Gongming. He is the most famous god of wealth in Chinese culture, as well as a celebrated figure in Taoist culture.
 

In the main hall, the statue of Zhao Gongming stands. He rides a black tiger, with a black steel hat on his head and a steel whip in his right hand. There are a lot of other statues of other gods of wealth, such as Fan Li, Mazu, and Wong Tai Sin.
 

Yansheng Taoist Temple

Yansheng Taoist Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), where Princess Yuzhen of the Tang used to spend her monastic life. She named the temple “Yansheng” in commemoration of her mother, wishing that everyone on earth would be immortal.
 

A lot of famous poets, such as Li Bai and Su Shi, came here and wrote many popular poems. The temple has been rebuilt many times in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Now the whole building complex centers on the original site built in the Tang Dynasty, covering the area of 76,000 square meters.
 

Huanü Spring

Huanü Spring acquired its name from an interesting legend. It is said that Laozi once came here to test whether Xu Jia, one of his students, could be qualified to learn Taoist scriptures or not. Laozi stuck his crutch into the ground and turned grass into a beauty.
 

It proved that Xu Jia did not put his whole heart into Taoism because he was tempted by the beauty. Laozi pulled out his crutch from the ground in anger, and then a spring spouted from there.
 

There are three major palaces in Huanü Spring. Some famous goddesses in Chinese fairy tales are enshrined there, such as Jiutian Xuannü, He Xiangu, and Nü Wa.  
 

Louguantai National Forest Park

Located along the north range of Zhongnan Mountains in the north of the Qinling Mountains, Louguantai National Forest Park has a total area of 275 square kilometers, with an altitude from 501 to 2,997 meters. It is full of lush trees, clean water, and fresh air, especially various kinds of bamboos and pine trees.
 

Except for all of those natural landscapes, Louguantai National Forest Park also provides an experience of Taoist culture for you. The main attractions include Scripture Explaining Platform and Alchemy Peak. 

 

Interesting Story of Louguantai

It is said that Laozi planted two ginkgoes in Louguantai. One is a female tree planted in Zongsheng Palace in Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Scenic Area. Another is a male tree planted in the Scripture Explaining Platform.
 

The female tree is over 2,000 years old, even though its three-meter diameter truck has grown hollow and suffered a severe fire in the 1970s. Now, the ginkgo is still vibrant, blooming new branches.

 

You Can Trave in This Order

Enter from the square near the parking lot around Louguantai bus station→ Enter Zhongnan Ancient Louguan Taoist Temple from Zheng Shan Men→ enter Louguantai National Forest Park→ Scripture Explaining Platform→ Alchemy Peak→ Exit from the West Gate of the park→ Enter Huanü Spring→ Enter Yansheng Taoist Temple from its North Gate

 

Best Travel Time

Louguantai is worth visiting all year round. There are more travelers in summer, followed by spring, autumn, and winter.

 

How to Get to Louguantai

By Bus

Take Huan Shan Tour Bus No. 1(departing from the north square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda from 08: 30 a.m. to 11: 00 a.m.) and get off at Louguantai Station. It returns from 13: 30 to 17: 30. A one-way ticket fare is 12 yuan.

By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去楼观台。English: Please take me to Louguantai.

If you go to Louguantai by taxi from Sofitel Xi’an on Renmin Square (city center), it takes about 1.5 hours (about 240 yuan).

If you go to Louguantai by taxi from Xi’an North Railway Station, it takes about 1.5 hours(about 240 yuan).

If you go to Louguantai by taxi from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, it takes about 1.5 hours(about 300 yuan).