老君洞

Chongqing Laojun Cave - Laojundong - Tiger Cave - Chunyangdong

Useful Information

Location:	Nanshan Street, Nan'an District, Chongqing (29.545034, 106.597587)
Open:	All year daily 8-17. [2021]
Fee:	free. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Chongqing Laojun Cave, No. 29, Laojunpo, Nanshan Street, Nan'an District, Chongqing, Tel: +86-23-6288-1055.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

老君洞 (Laojundong, Tiger Cave) is, despite the name, not a show cave, it is a popular Taoist temple built on top of a forested hill with great views on the capital Chongqing. It is the biggest and most important Taoist temple in Chongqing. The temple is best reached on a really long stone staircase (think about the staircase in Kill Bill) which leads to an ensemble of wooden buildings right below the hill, and a pavilion on top of the hill. The hill is composed of reddish limestone and between the temple buildings is an exposed rock face which was used centuries ago to carve in reliefs with religious motives. To protect these artworks a roof was built, which rests on two massive wooden beams. This part of the temple seems to be responsible for the use of the term dong (cave) in connection with this place, although it is not underground. It is more like the buddhist rock cut temples which exist all over China.

Nevertheless, there is actually a real cave. The entrance tunnel is decorated with a pagoda, in the same style as the other temple buildings. This cave is named 春阳洞 (Chunyangdong, Spring Sun Cave).