A globe of Daoist temples
Sacred mountains, ancestral temples and the places Daoism lives today, from Wudang and the White Cloud Temple to centres in North America.
Drag to turn the world · + / − to zoom · click a marker. Map data: Natural Earth (public domain).
Choose a place
Click any marker, or a name below, to read about it here. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons with credit, and every place links to its own website, Wikipedia page and a map.
Near Denver & Minneapolis
- USA Shaolin Kung Fu Academy (Shifu Heng Chao) – Denver, Colorado
All places 聖地
Louguantai 樓觀台
Where, by tradition, Laozi gave the Daodejing to the gatekeeper Yin Xi. One of the oldest Daoist sites, with a temple and a forest of steles.
Tradition: Classical / Quanzhen
Taiqing Palace, Luyi 太清宮
Traditional birthplace of Laozi, honoured here since the Han dynasty.
Tradition: Laozi worship
Hangu Pass 函谷關
The western pass where many accounts place Laozi's departure on his ox, leaving the 5,000 characters behind.
Tradition: Classical
Wudang Mountains 武當山
Daoist mountain of Zhenwu and of the internal martial arts. The Purple Heaven Palace and the bronze Golden Hall crown its 72 peaks. UNESCO World Heritage (1994).
Tradition: Quanzhen, Zhengyi, Wudang
White Cloud Temple (Baiyun Guan) 白雲觀
Ancestral temple of Quanzhen Daoism and the Longmen branch, home of the Chinese Taoist Association. Qiu Chuji is buried here.
Tradition: Quanzhen Longmen
Longhu Shan (Dragon-Tiger Mountain) 龍虎山
Seat of the Celestial Masters for nearly 2,000 years, with the Mansion of the Celestial Master. UNESCO World Heritage (China Danxia).
Tradition: Zhengyi (Celestial Masters)
Qingcheng Shan 青城山
Green-forested mountain where Zhang Daoling taught. A cradle of religious Daoism. UNESCO World Heritage (with Dujiangyan).
Tradition: Celestial Masters / Quanzhen
Heming Shan (Crane Cry Mountain) 鶴鳴山
Where Zhang Daoling received Laozi's revelation in 142 CE.
Tradition: Celestial Masters
Maoshan (Mount Mao) 茅山
Home of Shangqing (Supreme Clarity) Daoism and of Tao Hongjing.
Tradition: Shangqing
Gezao Shan 閣皂山
Historic centre of Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) Daoism.
Tradition: Lingbao
Huashan 華山
Western of the Five Sacred Peaks, with cliff-side paths and hermitages. Chen Tuan meditated here.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Taishan & Dai Temple 泰山 · 岱廟
Eastern Peak, the foremost sacred mountain, where emperors made sacrifices to heaven. UNESCO World Heritage.
Tradition: State and folk Daoism
Hengshan (Northern Peak) & Hanging Temple 恆山 · 懸空寺
Northern Peak. Its Hanging Temple, clinging to a cliff, honours Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism together.
Tradition: Three Teachings
Hengshan (Southern Peak) 衡山
Southern Peak, shared by Daoist and Buddhist temples around the Grand Temple of Mount Heng.
Tradition: Daoist & Buddhist
Zhongyue Temple, Songshan 中嶽廟
Daoist temple of the Central Peak, a short way from the Buddhist Shaolin Temple on the same mountain. Daoism and Chan side by side.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Laoshan 嶗山
Seaside Daoist mountain where Qiu Chuji and other Quanzhen masters taught. Taiqing Palace stands on its slopes.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Kunyu Shan 崑崳山
Where Wang Chongyang taught and Quanzhen took shape.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Chongyang Palace 重陽宮
Ancestral court of Quanzhen, built where Wang Chongyang was buried.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Yongle Palace 永樂宮
Famous for its Yuan-dynasty murals of the Daoist pantheon. Dedicated to Lü Dongbin.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Baxian Gong (Eight Immortals Palace) 八仙宮
The largest Daoist temple in Xi'an, honouring the Eight Immortals.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Qingyang Gong (Green Ram Palace) 青羊宮
Chengdu's great Daoist temple, where legend says Laozi reappeared.
Tradition: Quanzhen
Xuanmiao Temple 玄妙觀
Over 1,700 years old, with one of the largest Daoist halls in China (Sanqing Hall).
Tradition: Zhengyi
Wong Tai Sin Temple 黃大仙祠
Hong Kong's most visited temple, known for kau cim fortune sticks.
Tradition: Folk Daoism / Three Teachings
Ching Chung Koon 青松觀
A large Quanzhen temple with gardens and an active community.
Tradition: Quanzhen Longmen
Zhinan Temple 指南宮
Mountain temple of Lü Dongbin overlooking Taipei.
Tradition: Folk Daoism
Office of the Celestial Master (Taiwan line) 天師府
After 1949 the 63rd Celestial Master, Zhang Enpu, re-established the line in Taiwan, where Zhengyi priests are numerous.
Tradition: Zhengyi
Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism / International Taoist Tai Chi Centre 蓬萊閣
International centre founded by Master Moy Lin-shin. Its Taoist Tai Chi Society has branches across North America.
Tradition: Daoist (Moy Lin-shin)
Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego
Founded in 1970, one of the first Daoist religious organizations in the United States.
Tradition: Daoist
Abode of the Eternal Tao
A Daoist hermitage and teaching centre for meditation, qigong and the classics.
Tradition: Daoist
Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts
An acupuncture and Chinese medicine college rooted in Daoist practice.
Tradition: Daoist medicine
USA Shaolin Kung Fu Academy (Shifu Heng Chao)
Joseph's own teacher's school. It is Buddhist Shaolin rather than Daoist, but it teaches tai chi, qigong and the Chan view of stillness in motion.
Tradition: Shaolin (Chan) with tai chi & qigong
Details change: please check a centre's own website for current schedules before visiting. Know a place that should be here? Tell me.