Ruins of ancient Taoist temple found in north China

Archaeologists in Hebei Province, northern China, have uncovered the remains of a Taoist temple from the Song Dynasty (960-1279). This significant find resulted from a collaborative three-month excavation project in a village within Hebei’s Wuyi County. The effort involved experts from the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, along with local cultural relic preservation departments. The archaeological site spans an area of 400 square meters and comprises various features, including an earthen platform, a Taoist structure, a water trench, two water wells, seven ash pits, and three stoves. Guo Jiqiao, a researcher at the institute, provided these details about the discovery. Recovered artifacts encompassed architectural elements, everyday items, and tools used in production, with the majority of these objects tracing their origins to the Song Dynasty, as per Guo’s explanation. Jia Guihu, who serves as the director of the cultural relic preservation department in Wuyi County, emphasized the profound significance of this archaeological excavation in shedding light on the dissemination of ancient Taoist culture throughout China.