Xiezhou Guandi Temple
解州关帝庙
The largest and highest-ranking Guandi Temple still standing, the homeland of Guan Yu and known as the 'Ancestor of Martial Temples', with a majestic palace-style complex.
Guan Yu was from Hedong's Xie County, today's Xiezhou Town in Saline Lake District, Yuncheng City. The Xiezhou Guandi Temple was first built during the Sui dynasty, and most of its surviving structures were rebuilt in the Qing dynasty. Covering about 70,000 square meters, it is known as the 'Ancestor of Guandi Temples' and the 'Ancestor of Martial Temples'. The temple has two parts. The southern section is the Oath Garden, featuring the Gentleman's Pavilion and the Oath Archway themed on the Oath of the Peach Garden. The northern section is the main temple, with a central axis that includes the Duan Gate, Zhi Gate, Wu Gate, the Imperial Calligraphy Pavilion and the Chongning Hall. In the back courtyard, the Spring and Autumn Tower houses a statue of Guan Yu reading the Spring and Autumn Annals by night, and its overhanging galleries are ingeniously constructed. Worth examining closely are the iron flagpole in front of the Chongning Hall, the stone balustrades and the plaque reading 'Ten Thousand Generations' Human Pole'. The temple is about 20 kilometers from Yuncheng city center and is accessible by bus. Admission is tens of yuan (confirm with the official source). Allow about 2 hours for a visit. Nearby Changping Village has the Guandi Family Temple, Guan Yu's ancestral home, which is worth visiting on the same trip.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00 (until 17:30 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Changping Guandi Family Temple
- Yuncheng Salt Lake
- Shengtian Lake
- Mausoleum and Temple of Emperor Shun
- Yuncheng Museum
- Guangren Wang Temple (Five Dragons Temple)
- Yongle Palace
- Dayudu Scenic Area