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  Zhongnan Mountain & Louguan Terrace
Louguan Terrace is the legendary birthplace of Taosim. It is here that Taoism's founder, Lao Tzu, once gave classes and wrote the Taoist classic "Tao Te Ching." The sacred terrace monastery is called Louguantai 楼観台. It is located about 70 kilometers north of Xian. Xian (Xi'an) City is where one typically begins the journey to Louguan Terrace. It is among China's most famous old cities, the former capital for many centuries, and home to a massive collection of terra cotta statues and artifacts that date back to China's Qin Dynasty (− 211-206).
Legend relates that Lao Tzu stopped at Louguan Terrace before he left China, and it was here that he wrote the Taoist classic "Tao Te Ching." He eventually disappeared from China, traveling west, it is said, because of his distaste for the corruption of 6th century BC China.
The story goes like this: "One day, Governor Yee'xi of Han'gu Pass beheld purple clouds floating east, and meteors rushing west. He knew somebody was coming. Yes, Lao Tzu was crossing the Han'gu Pass. So Yee' xi went forward to meet Lao Tzu and invited him to come to Louguan Terrace to give classes. It is here too that Lao Tzu presented his work -- the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) -- before leaving China via the Gateway to the West.
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