Guanghui Palace

Guanghui Palace

Guanghui Palace is a long-standing Taoist architectural relic rich in regional cultural characteristics in Nanxun Ancient Town, and it is a well-known Taoist temple in the town, commonly known as "Zhangwang Temple." It was first built during the Zhiping era of Emperor Yingzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, with a history of over 900 years—predating the establishment of the town itself.

Guanghui Palace was originally a shrine to the Shishan God. According to the town chronicles, "during the Song Dynasty, it had only one hall dedicated to the statue of the Shishan God" and "served as a place of Taoist worship." The palace has undergone several periods of decline and prosperity. During renovations and reconstructions, its scale continued to expand. In the seventh year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1627), a local gentry member named Dong ?? "rebuilt the palace, making it even more magnificent." Afterward, its influence grew significantly, and the Taoist deity enshrined here was the Jade Emperor. The architectural style from that period—featuring a main hall, side halls, bell tower, drum tower, and theater stage—remains largely preserved, and it is likely one of the most intact relics from that time.

Although its layout has gone through several "adjustments" over the centuries, the reconstruction project carried out in the first half of 2003 partially restored Guanghui Palace to its historical appearance. The main structure is the traveling palace of the Shishan Emperor.

Nanxun Town: Nanxun is a prosperous and culturally vibrant ancient town in the Jiangnan region. Its geographical coordinates are between 120°25’–120°26’ east longitude and 30°52’–30°53’20” north latitude. Located on the shores of Taihu Lake and bordering Suzhou, it serves as the eastern gateway for Huzhou connecting to Shanghai’s Pudong area. The Chang-Hu-Shen waterway and National Highway 318 run through the town, giving it a superior geographical setting and convenient land and water transportation. The town covers a total area of 141.3 square kilometers, governs 51 administrative villages and 10 residential communities, with a total population of 116,000 and cultivated land area of 122,500 mu. In 2000... More details about Nanxun Town++