Old Mazu Temple & Laomagong Stage
老妈宫
A Mazu temple in the Shantou treaty-port district, with porcelain-inlaid roof ridges. Across from it, the Old Mazu Temple Stage hosts Chaozhou opera performances on a regular basis. Nearby is the old Laomagong zongzi shop, the spiritual center of old Shantou.
Old Mazu Temple is the Tianhou Temple on Shengping Road in Shantou. It was built during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty and is dedicated to Mazu. It is the most important folk-belief site in the old urban area of Shantou. In earlier times, people from Chaoshan came here to pray before going overseas. The porcelain inlay on the roof ridges, colorful porcelain pieces arranged into opera figures, dragons and phoenixes, is a signature of Chaoshan architectural decoration. The neighboring Guandi Temple is equally ornate. Across from Old Mazu Temple, the Old Mazu Temple Stage was rebuilt on its original site in 2018. It is a traditional Chaoshan opera stage. On weekends and holiday evenings, it hosts Chaozhou opera, Chaozhou music and puppet shows, free or at low cost. It also hosts Gongfu tea and folk-culture events. It is the easiest place to experience Chaoshan intangible cultural heritage. The 'Old Mazu Temple zongzi', a sweet and savory glutinous rice dumpling dating from the 1920s, is a famous Shantou snack sold beside the temple. Admission is free. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, or about 1.5 hours with a performance. Getting there: it is in the Little Park treaty-port district and within walking distance. Notes: check the stage's notices or official social media account for performance times. Do not photograph the statues head-on inside the temple. There are night snack stalls around Shengping Road in the evening.
Opening hours
07:00–18:00; stage performances mostly in the evening
Nearby sights
- Cunxin Shantang Charity Hall
- Shantou Qiaopi Museum
- Shantou Xiaogongyuan Historic District
- Zhongshan Park, Shantou
- Shantou Seaside Promenade
- Queshi Bridge
- Shantou Stone Fort Park
- Queshi Scenic Area