Qingyang Palace (Green Ram Temple)

Qingyang Palace (Green Ram Temple) on the West First Ring Road in Qingyang District is considered the oldest and most important Taoist temple in southwestern China, with a documented history reaching back to the Tang dynasty, though most surviving structures date from Qing-dynasty rebuilding. The complex is arranged along a formal north-south axis through gates, halls, and courtyards, culminating in the octagonal Hall of Eight Trigrams, the temple's architectural centerpiece, decorated with carved dragon columns and Taoist cosmological motifs. A pair of bronze goat statues near one of the main halls, said to have healing properties when touched, draws a steady stream of visitors rubbing them for luck. Surrounding gardens include mature trees and a small stele forest documenting the temple's history. A visit through the main halls and gardens takes about an hour to ninety minutes. The octagonal hall and bronze goats are the most visited features and draw the heaviest foot traffic, while the side courtyards and stele areas stay quieter throughout the day. Weekday mornings are calmest; the temple sees a noticeable rise in worshippers and tourists on Taoist festival dates and around Chinese New Year.