MYSTERY TEMPLE

He was one of the largest and most important Taoist temples in China. Founded in 276 on the site of the former palace of King Helu, the founder of Suzhou, he continued to prosper.

In the th century it was renamed Temple Kaiyuan, then Temple Tianqing in the th century. Burned during the invasion of Jin in 1012, it was rebuilt between 1146 and 1179. In 1371, the building houses the office in charge of taoist affairs. The ensemble was renovated and enlarged under the Qing in 1674, but during the Révolte rebellion, again very damaged. The three main rooms on a north-south axis are still in very good condition.

The entrance hall is flanked by the door of Good Luck to the east, and wishes to the west, three paved aisles then leads to the Salle des Trois Purities, a structure 40 m high, 25 m deep and 46 m wide supported by 32 columns of stone. At the back is the Salle du Dieu du Tonnerre.

Despite the numerous renovations, the temple has preserved an entirely exemplary Song style.