Located in the southeast of Zhouzhi County, and along the North Zhongnan Mountain Range, Lou Guan Tai Forest Park enjoys the name of 'the Luckiest Place in the World' not only for its historic remains, but also for its beautiful forest landscape. With an area of 27,500 hectares (about 68,000 acres), over fifty sites in Lou Guan Tai Forest Park have been opened to the public. Besides, Lou Guan Tai Forest Park is maong the earliest in the system of national forest parks in China, and today Lou Guan Tai receives a large number of domestic and foreign tourists annually.

The remote mountains of Louguantai Shan, about a hour's drive south west of Xian, are known as an important place in the development of Taoism (Daoism) and more recently as a wildlife reserve for giant pandas and other endangered animals.

Rare animals known to inhabit the mountains include black bears, the crested ibis, giant salamanders, leopards, monkeys, musk deer, and the white lipped deer.

Legend has it, that it was in this area that the great sage Lao Tzu completed his classic Tao Te Ching in the 6th century BC and gave lectures on his work before leaving China on his journey westwards to an unknown destination.

The scenic hills around the Lougantai Taoist Temple are heavily forested with pine, oak, juniper and bamboo and the area is crossed by a number of fast-flowing mountain streams. Taoism stresses longevity, humility, non-action (wu wei), and reverence for nature. It is easy to see in the natural surroundings of Louguantai what may have drawn Lao Tzu to the area, on his spiritual search for truth, thousands of years ago.

The temple complex consists of a number of wooden pavilions, a dormitory and dining hall for the Taoist monks and a souvenir shop. The temple buildings are fitted with solar panels as part of the abbot's committment to the environment. The grounds also have a gingko tree supposedly planted by the great master himself.

Admission Fee:
Peak-season: CNY 55
Off-season: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 08:00---18:00

Transportation:
1. Take the through bus from Fengqinglu Bus Station (also known as Shuisi Bus Station). Getting there takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
2. On weekends and statutory holidays, the Huan Shan Tour Bus No.1 can be taken at 07:00-10:00 from the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It returns at 14:00-17:00. A round-trip ticket costs CNY12.