Editor's note

This year is the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Shanghai metro. The subway has facilitated more than 13 billion journeys during its 21 years, and half of Shanghai citizens cite the metro as their favored mode of transport. To commemorate the anniversary, each week the Global Times will take an in-depth look at one metro station and its surroundings. In the case of downtown stations, we will focus on points of interest within walking distance; while for suburban areas, we will cast our net a little wider.

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There is an ancient Chinese saying: "The lesser hermit lives in seclusion in the remote country; the greater hermit does so in the city" (Xiaoyin yinyu ye, dayin yinyu shi). Walking out from exit 4 of Yuanshen Stadium Station on Line 6, the "greater hermit" - Taiqing Gong (Qinci Yangdian Temple, 476 Yuanshen Road, 5876-8959) - is visible on the other side of the road. Shanghai's largest Taoist temple, it is located in bustling central Pudong New Area, near Century Avenue.

Greater hermit

When the afterglow of the winter setting sun is pouring off from the temple's golden roof down its red walls and scarlet gates, you may discover that it is not necessarily in rural solitude that true peacefulness resides.

There isn't a formal ticket window at the entrance of the temple, but only an old man behind a wooden desk selling 5-yuan ($0.17) admission tickets and giving out two complimentary joss sticks.

Taiqing Gong was said to have originally been built by the founder and first ruler of the Eastern Wu at the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in honor of his mother. The first temple was called the Holy Mountain Manor East. After several rounds of destruction and rebuilding, the Shanghai Taoist Association renovated the temple in the 1980s and religious activities resumed in the early 1990s. In the late 1990s, the temple was expanded to its current configuration.

Covering an area of over 2,000 square meters and based on a north-south axis, with the entrance at the southern end, the temple is divided into three sections, each containing one of the three main pavilions. The buildings surround a rectangular main courtyard in the siheyuan model, and are home to a multitude of statues of all sizes, representing deities, each with their specialty. The middle part of the temple is worth perusing for its trinity of Taoist gods in the hall of Sanqing Dian.

At the rear of the temple is a humongous hall for the storing of scriptures, Cangjing Dian. Up the stairs above the side halls is a glittering collection of 61 golden life-sized Taoist statues.

The temple organizes religious ceremonies throughout the year, some of which commemorate the anniversary of gods whose statues are housed in the temple. As well as the official celebrations, the temple also has daily religious activities, like visits of pilgrims, religious services, seminars and monk training. The sound of percussion and wind instruments accompanied us on a recent visit. There was a ceremony being held in Sanqing Dian, and a monk in black Taoist robes peeked his head out from inside.

Taiqing Gong, Shanghai's largest Taoist temple Photos: CFP and Global Times

Sporting pursuits 

Emerging from the smoky peacefulness of the temple, the clattering of skateboards made by a group of young adolescents immediately breaks the calm. Top Toys Skate Park is part of Yuanshen Sports Center (665 Yuanshen Road, near Zhangyang Road), which is next to exit 3 of the metro station. The park boasts over 15 obstacles with different difficulty levels, ranging from shallow gradients for beginners to vertical ramps for experienced skaters. There are also bright floodlights and an on-site store. The venue often hosts national-level skateboard competitions. It is open from noon to 7 pm Monday to Friday, and from 11 am to 7 pm on weekends. Admission is free.

Yuanshen Basketball Park, which is just beside the skate park, is the regular competition and training venue for the Shanghai Sharks, the basketball team that Yao Ming played for before he entered the NBA. It is also open to the public. After undergoing renovation at the beginning of this year, the floorboards and basket supports are both brand-new. It opens from 9 am to 10 pm daily. (Ten yuan admission before 4 pm every day, and 15 yuan admission after that).

As well as the skate park and the basketball court, the 160,000-square-meter Yuanshun Sports Center is also home to an indoor swimming pool (5885-7797), Pudong Tennis Center (the largest tennis center in Shanghai, 5860-0327), a badminton and table tennis center, a tai chi training center and a boxing club.

After a good workout, refuel at one of the restaurants inside the Yuanshun Sports Center. Dining options include the vegetarian Jujubetree (Zaozi Shu, 5821-9979) and Mr Su Seafood Restaurant (400-733-9993).

Top Toys Skate Park has over 15 obstacles. 

Top Toys Skate Park has over 15 obstacles.