Cycling The Silk Road In China – Where Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching

In the morning, Jules casually mentioned to me, that it is not on our planned route, but we were not far from Lou-guan-tai which is where Lao Tzu (or Lao Tse) wrote the Tao Te Ching in the 6th century BC.

It was a great idea to stop and visit this place….
Finally the ugly urban landscape was replaces with green mountains with many picturesque peaks.
The soft clouds fell like skirts around the tall mountain peaks.
Each peak had a long country road running down and connecting it like rivers to the main road.

Many of the mountains were farmed, and it was interesting to see these terraced fields and how they worked these fields with a bull and hand held tools, working at such steep angles…

The actual entrance to temple area, was a major construction site.
They plan to relocate the panda center to this area, and they are building luxury hotels, a shopping area, restaurants and services.

We left our van behind and hiked up the mountain to the temple.
The surrounding gardens were beautiful, and the temple itself was an old and beautifully kept temple.
It was decorated with images of Lao Tse and other Chinese sages.
The intricate carving were meticulously painted.

Over the hills of the temple, a huge sculpture of the legendary Lao Tzu stood tall… And looking very wise…well… As wise as a sculpture can look…

I climbed many stairs and stood at the high platform which Lao Tzu used to give his sermons and talks….
I closed my eyes and recaptured some of his wise sayings….. I know them all by heart….
I only wish I could embody more of them…