The Baopu Taoist Temple lies hidden away on Geling Mountain, which surrounds West Lake. Few people know about it, and neither the guidebooks on Hangzhou nor organized tours often bring tourists here.

Taoism is associated with the Chinese philosopher Laozi, whom many believe was not even a real person. Even Confucius himself was confused by him and wrote the following:
“I know that birds fly; I know that fish swim; I know that animals can run. Running creatures can be trapped, and swimming creatures can be caught in a woven net. Those that fly can be shot down with an arrow.  But the dragon is beyond my understanding; on the wings of the clouds and winds, it rises to the heavens. Today I saw Laozi, and he is like a dragon!”

The temple was originally a summer retreat built by Ge Hong, a Taoist chemist and medical expert who worked on developing an elixir of immortality and was also regarded as a great authority on chemistry. Baopu is Ge Hong’s Taoist name.

The building was constructed during the Jin Dynasty; it was later used as an imperial garden, then demolished, rebuilt, and expanded. Today, it is considered one of the largest Taoist architectural complexes in China.

The centerpiece of the temple is the Gexian Hall, the sacred site. Above it is an observation deck; from here, Ge Hong watched the sunrise, the stars, and the moon. His observations helped his astronomical research. The hall is made of wood and brick.