Shangqing Palace stands near the summit of the front mountain at around 1,500 metres, the endpoint of the main pilgrim route and the highest of the named temple complexes. Originally Jin Dynasty in foundation, the current buildings are substantially Qing reconstruction, but the site's commanding position and the surrounding old-growth forest give it a power that transcends its architectural particulars.
The main halls contain a significant collection of Taoist ritual objects, calligraphy, and a Tang Dynasty bronze mirror. On clear days — which are not guaranteed and not common — the views across the Chengdu plain from the upper pavilion are considerable. The cable car from the base deposits visitors near here, but the experience of ascending on foot through the successive temple complexes is a meaningfully different one, and the forest along the path is genuinely ancient.