On the southern face of Mount Laoshan in Qingdao is the magnificent Taiqing Palace which was built during the Song Dynasty. Surrounded by a forest of cypresses, the Palace was considered a sacred place in ancient times and was a major pilgrimage place for the Taoists. There are halls with statues of a number of Taoist deities like the Gods of Heaven, Earth Water, Agriculture, Medicine, etc. The halls contain numerous epigraphs donated by ancient celebrities. Genghis Khan’s decree engraved on the outer stone walls and Kublai Khan’s stele that date back to the 11th and 12th centuries are priceless treasures at the Palace.
