Fuhua Temple

Fuhua Temple

Fuhua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Fuhua Temple, located on Wenti Road in Huinan Town, Shanghai, was built in the second year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1342), 44 years earlier than Nanhui City. Originally named “Ganlin Temple,” it featured a main hall and side wings, with a “Fuhua Well” situated slightly to the east behind the main hall. The well was dug before the temple was constructed, hence the name was later changed to Fuhua Temple. The temple houses an ancient bell cast in the fifth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty, weighing 1,600 kilograms, standing 1.6 meters tall with a circumference of 3.4 meters. It boasts a uniquely elegant design, with a flared petal-shaped mouth. The bell is adorned with raised patterns and inscriptions, including a prayer: “With one golden chime, tigers roar and dragons cry; the imperial winds blow clear and solemn, and maritime routes remain peaceful.” It is regarded as the temple’s most treasured relic.

In front of the main hall stands an ancient ginkgo tree, said to have been planted during the Chunyou era of the Southern Song Dynasty, with an age of approximately 750 years. It is the second oldest tree in Shanghai and a witness to the history of Nanhui City. The tree stands 18 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 6.5 meters. Its straight trunk and lush canopy have endured through the ages, remaining vigorous and bearing abundant fruit every year. The ancient temple, ancient bell, and ancient tree have coexisted for nearly a thousand years, forming an inseparable bond.

During the Cultural Revolution, religious activities at Fuhua Temple were forced to cease, and the temple was repurposed as a factory. The bell stand inside was destroyed, and the ancient bell was left exposed in the courtyard, weathered by sun and rain, and subjected to random strikes. In 1981, a park was established and named after the “ancient bell,” with the massive bell placed inside a pavilion. Furthermore, the temple grounds were occupied to build a sports stadium. Since then, the temple and the tree have been separated, turning the ancient ginkgo into a feature within the stadium grounds.