Xiezhou Guandi Temple

Xiezhou Guandi Temple, at 145 West Wuyi Road in Xiezhou Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng, southern Shanxi, China, is regarded as the largest and most important temple dedicated to Guan Yu, the Three Kingdoms general venerated as the god of loyalty and wealth. Xiezhou is traditionally considered his hometown region, which gives the site special standing among Guan temples across the Chinese world. The complex is laid out along a north-south axis, with a front courtyard of gates, memorial arches and pavilions leading to the main hall and a rear section containing the Chunqiu Pavilion, where Guan Yu is shown reading the Spring and Autumn Annals. Visitors walk through stone paved courtyards shaded by old cypress trees, passing carved wooden beams, stone lions, glazed tile roofs and steles from various dynasties. Most of the present buildings date from the Ming and Qing periods after repeated rebuilding. Incense burning and prayers for fortune are part of the experience, and local worshippers visit throughout the year. A visit takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Mornings in spring and autumn are comfortable and quiet, whereas large crowds and ceremonies gather around festival days connected to Guan Yu, when the temple is lively but crowded. The temple lies about 20 km southwest of Yuncheng city, reached by Didi in around 30 to 40 minutes from Yuncheng North station. Booking a ticket a day ahead gives a small discount over the gate price.