White Cloud Temple (Baiyun Guan)
白云观
The ancestral home of the Longmen sect of Quanzhen Taoism and Beijing's largest Taoist temple. The Spring Festival fair features the Old Beijing customs of touching the stone monkey and throwing coins through the coin hole.
White Cloud Temple was first built in the Tang dynasty. Qiu Chuji, a Yuan-dynasty Taoist master, cultivated here. It is one of the three ancestral temples of the Quanzhen school of Taoism and the seat of the Chinese Taoist Association. Along the central axis are the Lingguan Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Old Discipline Hall, Qiu Ancestor Hall, and Three Pure Ones Pavilion. The small stone monkeys carved on the mountain gate are said to cure illness if touched. The tradition of throwing coins through the coin hole at Wofeng Bridge is also popular. Admission is about 10 yuan. The Spring Festival fair draws huge crowds. It is at Baiyun Road in Xicheng District. Walk about 15 minutes from Muxidi Station or Nanlishilu Road Station on Subway Line 1.
Opening hours
08:30–16:30
Nearby sights
- Capital Museum
- Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
- Niujie Mosque
- Fayuan Temple
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Nantang)
- Miaoying Temple (White Dagoba)
- Yuyuantan Park
- Beijing Planetarium