Zhouzhuang Chengxu Taoist Temple

Zhouzhuang Chengxu Taoist Temple

Zhouzhuang Chengxu Taoist Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

Chengxu Taoist Temple is a well-known Taoist temple in the Zhouzhuang area. It is a sacred site of Taoism, a religion founded in the Eastern Han Dynasty by Zhang Ling and with a history of over 1,800 years. Taoism venerates Laozi as its supreme deity and regards his work, the "Tao Te Ching," as its primary scripture. It emphasizes spiritual cultivation and the pursuit of immortality. Chengxu Taoist Temple was first built during the Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty, boasting a history of over 900 years. Originally named "Shengtang," it was donated and constructed here by people from Chengxu, Wujiang, hence its name. Unfortunately, due to years of neglect, the temple fell into disrepair. In 1994, the Zhouzhuang government funded its restoration, bringing back its former appearance.

Upon entering the temple, the first deity you see is a Taoist guardian god known as Wang Lingguan. He holds a golden whip and glares fiercely with three eyes, as if warning all evildoers not to harm the world any further. With three eyes, the middle one can discern good from evil, which is why he punishes evil and promotes good. The whip in his hand is said to be the longest in the universe, so those who do wrong should never harbor any illusions—no matter where they flee, they cannot escape his punishment.

After passing the Hall of the Divine Official, you will arrive at a square, which is where Taoist priests conduct their rituals. Here, you can see a bronze tripod. It is said that those who are unwell can eliminate all illnesses simply by touching the tripod and then their own body—but of course, this is just a beautiful wish of the people.

Next is the main hall of Chengxu Taoist Temple, the "Hall of the Holy Emperor," which enshrines the Holy Emperor, also known as the Dark Heavenly Emperor or the True Martial Emperor. Originally the prince of the Western Pure Joy Kingdom, despite his royal status, he had no attachment to the throne. At the age of 15, he left his parents and came to Mount Taihe to cultivate himself. No matter the wind or rain, he remained steadfast in his practice. After 42 years, he finally attained enlightenment. During his cultivation, he often went without food or drink, and his stomach and intestines could not bear it, frequently causing trouble inside his body. So he removed them and threw them aside, continuing his practice. His stomach and intestines, having listened to his chanting, eventually became enlightened and transformed—his stomach into a giant turtle and his intestines into a huge snake, which often harassed the people and harmed the world. The Holy Emperor subdued them and made them his mounts, known as the famous Turtle and Snake Generals. On his left and right are the Golden Boy and Jade Girl, and nearby are ten heavenly generals. The first is Kui Xing, who governs the descent of literary stars; in ancient times, he oversaw those who achieved top honors in the imperial examinations. The second is Wen Tianjun, the heavenly physician who oversees physical health. The third is Zhao Xuan... (text truncated), who is associated with... (text truncated). Then come the generals responsible for wind, rain, thunder, and other natural elements. The others include... (text truncated), roughly equivalent to the human concepts of "benevolence, righteousness, and propriety."

Exiting the Hall of the Holy Emperor, you will find the Doumu Hall, which stands at the highest ground level in Zhouzhuang—meaning, without realizing it, you have been ascending step by step. Doumu is the mother of the Big Dipper in the heavens and governs life and death. To her left is Cihang Zhenren, also known as Guanyin Bodhisattva in Buddhism, whose birthdays are on the 19th of February, June, and September. To her right is the Thunder Ancestor, who protects the safety of the local townspeople. Nearby are the Sixty Jiazi, which were used in ancient times to mark years. Many of us have heard the saying, “Thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west bank,” or “Every sixty years, the feng shui turns.” Now, you could say they are our respective guardian deities. Exiting the Doumu Hall, to your left, you’ll see a tree—it is one of Kunshan’s Three Treasures, the Qionghua flower, which Emperor Yang of Sui once admired while digging the Grand Canal and traveling to Yangzhou. It has eight small blossoms, resembling the Eight Immortals gathering together. Its flowering season is at the end of April, and it is exceptionally beautiful, truly one of a kind under heaven.

Address: Zhongshi Street, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou (within Zhouzhuang Ancient Town scenic area, near Puqing Bridge)

Type: Historical Site / Historic Architecture / Taoist Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 30 minutes

Phone: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town Hotline: 4008282900; 0512-57211699

Opening Hours:

Monday–Sunday, 8:00–16:30

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Zhouzhuang Ancient Town ticket.

Zhouzhuang Town: Zhouzhuang Town is located in the northeastern part of Kunshan, bordering Taicang City and Changshu City. It was formed by the merger of the former Zhouzhuang, Xinzhen, and Luyang towns, and is designated as the central area of the northern urban district by the Kunshan Municipal Party Committee and Government. The town covers an area of 81.56 square kilometers, with a local resident population of 43,000 and a migrant population of 60,000. It administers two subdistrict offices (Xinzhen and Luyang), 12 community committees, and 15 administrative villages, comprising a total of 112 neighborhood groups and 382 villager groups. It has been awarded titles such as “Nationally Recognized Beautiful Environment Town,” “Jiangsu Provincial Civilized Town,” and “Suzhou Advanced Town for Investment Promotion...” More details about Zhouzhuang Town++