Qingyang Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty, the most prosperous period for Taoism, when great wealth and care was lavished on Taoist Temples. The Qingyang holds some of the finest Taoist artifacts in the world and is the oldest Tao temple in the region.
The most significant Taoist relics at the temple include a wooden engraving of Dao Zang Ji Yao (Abstract of Collected Taoist Scriptures) and the stone sculpture of Patriarch Lu Dongbin (Taoist Chinese God) stone sculpture.
The temple is comprised of Sanqing Hall, Doulao Hall, Hunyuan Palace, the Eight Trigrams Pavilion, and Wuji Palace. The most impressive hall is Eight Trigrams Pavilion with a beautifully colored glaze dome. The octagonal building reflects ancient Chinese philosophy, which states that the sky is round and the earth is square. Outside Sanqing Hall stand two intriguing bronze figures. The goat-like statues are hard to describe since they resemble a goat with mouse ears, ox nose, tiger paws, rabbit back, snake tail, dragon horns, horse mouth, goat beard, monkey neck, chicken eyes, dog belly and pig thighs. The figure seems to represent the union of the Chinese Zodiac, and visitors like to rub the goat for good luck.
One of the most impressive facts about the temple is that it is still used by many locals because it provides a serene place to eat, drink and play Mahjong.
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