The amazing murals of Shanxi's Yongle Palace

The Yongle Palace in Ruicheng county of Shanxi province, the largest Taoist palace in the country, is known for its numerous murals.

Construction of the palace — built to worship Lyu Dongbin, the founder of the Taoist mainstream Quanzhen sect — began in 1247. During its 110 years under construction, numerous Taoist murals were created, covering more than 1,000 square meters of the palace. They have been well-preserved.

The murals show distinctive characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and are mainly composed of vivid figures, uninterrupted compositions, steady lines and vibrant colors, representing the skills of painters at the time.