Main Hall of Xifang Temple

Main Hall of Xifang Temple

The Main Hall of Xifang Temple is a national key cultural heritage site.

Xifang Temple

It is now a provincial-level cultural heritage site, located at No. 18 Tuoling Lane in the city. It was first built in the first year of the Yongzhen era of the Tang Dynasty (805 AD) and rebuilt in the fifth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1372 AD). It underwent multiple renovations afterward. In the third year of the Xianfeng era (1853 AD), everything except the main hall was destroyed in a war fire. It was subsequently reconstructed during the Tongzhi and Guangxu eras. The existing main hall has a hip-and-gable double-eave roof, is constructed with nanmu wood, spans three bays in width, and features painted beams and brackets. The wooden bases under the columns are largely intact. There are also other Qing Dynasty structures such as side corridors and the abbot’s quarters. Jin Nong, one of the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou” and a renowned painter and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, spent his later years here. Comprehensive restoration began in 1992, including the rebuilding of the mountain gate hall and other buildings. It was turned into the “Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics Memorial Museum” and opened to the public.

On October 7, 2019, the Main Hall of Xifang Temple was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Sites.

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Sites