Dongyue Temple was built between 1314 and 1320. It is the biggest Taoist temple in the north China area. Destroyed by fire, it was later rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty and although the current complex dates back to the Qing dynasty, it retains the style of its earlier incarnations. In the middle of the Hall of Taishan Mountain (one of China's five sacred mountains) are statues of the God of Taishan Mountain and his senior attendants. Temple corridors house 72 statues of deities, called "chiefs of departments", showing officials handing out punishments, some grotesque, to miscreants.

Address: 141 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Tel: (+86 10) 6551 0151, 6551 4148

Open Hours: 8:00-16:30 (Tues.-Sun.)

How to get there: get off at Chaoyangmen Subway Station, and walk 600 meters to the east

Admission Ticket: 10 Yuan

(china.org.cn August 27, 2007)