The Eight Immortals were a legendary group in Chinese mythology. Each immortal’s power could be focused to either give life or destroy evil. 

Eight Immortals Temple (or Palace) is located in Changle Fang, on the site of the Tang Dynasties Xingqing Palace. The Taoist temple was established in the Song Dynasty due to the legend of a scholar meeting the Eight Immortals on this site. It was then reconstructed in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and the current architecture of the temple is in the Qing Dynastic style. 

On the screen wall outside the entrance, “Wan Gu Chang Qing” (last forever) is carved in Chinese characters. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are located to each side of the temple gates. Between the temple gate and the hall at the back of the complex, there are three rows of houses. The Eight Immortals Hall, with its colored clay sculptures, is located inside the second row of houses. 

As the largest Taoist temple in Xian, Eight Immortals Temple is a pilgrimage center for Taoist followers in the Shaanxi Province. Taoist rites are held during the Double Ninth Festival, and temple fair is held every Apr. 15 according to the lunar calendar.

The temple can be divided to be three parts on the whole:

The main components of the first part contain the mountain gate, the archways, the screen walls, the bell and drum towers, and five halls. Entering the gate, visitors can see the bell and drum towers standing on the left and right sides respectively and the Bridge of Meeting Immortals sitting in the middle of the courtyard. The bridge is said to be built in memory of Wang Chongyang (founder of Quanzhen Branch of Taoism), who was enlightened by the Ganhe River by Ludongbin (a famous legendary immortal of Taoism). Inside the main hall Linggong Hall, the colored statue of Yulingguan (a Taoist patron saint) is enshrined and worshiped, with General Green Dragon and General White Tiger alongside.

The second part is the core of the temple and the plaque hanging here is said to be the handwriting of Emperor Guangxv. The Eight Immortals Hall is the main shrine of this part, where grand Taoist ceremonies and activities are staged. In the center inside the hall there are the colored clay sculptures of Emperor Donghua of Taoism and the eight immortals.

On the front of the third part is the Doumu Hall with the calligraphy of Empress Dowager Cixi. The immortal Empress Doumu is the leader among the many immortals in this hall. At the eastern courtyard, there are the Luzu Cave, Hall of the King of Medicine, and Taibai Hall.