Guiai Tianhou Temple

Guiai Tianhou Temple

Guiai Tianhou Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Wenling City.

Guiai Tianhou Temple is located at the southeastern foot of Qilin Mountain in Gui'ao Village, Shitang Town, Wenling City, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. According to local accounts, the temple was first built during the Ming Dynasty, while the existing structure was constructed during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The temple complex consists of a main gate, a theater stage, east and west wing rooms, and a main hall. It features a symmetrical central axis, a complete structure, and is small yet exquisitely designed. The main gate has three bays, with the central bay serving as the main entrance, which is taller and grander than the side gates. Directly above the central gate is a bluestone plaque inscribed with the three large characters “Tian Hou Gong” (Tianhou Temple). On either side are plaques inscribed with “Hai Yan” (Calm Seas) and “He Qing” (Clear Rivers). The theater stage has a hip-and-gable roof and is richly decorated with grey plaster sculptures and colorful paintings. The east and west wing rooms each have two bays and two stories, functioning as viewing galleries. The main hall has three bays, with a total width of 10.77 meters and a depth of 9.2 meters, covering an area of approximately 294 square meters. The grey plaster sculptures on the gable walls and roof ridges, the colorful paintings on the beams, panels, and the caisson ceiling of the theater stage, as well as the carvings on the stone column bases, are all vibrant and diverse, showcasing strong local characteristics and artistic appeal.

Gui'ao Village: Located southwest of Shitang Town and within the Nan Port area of Shitang, Gui'ao Village covers an area of 0.077 square kilometers and includes geographical features such as Coffin Islet, Qilin Mountain, and Deer Head Cape. The village is home to the municipal-level cultural heritage site — the Mazu Temple. It has a total of 358 households, with a population of 1,010 people, including 29 Party members. The village’s two committees consist of: the Party branch with 2 members (Party Secretary: Guo Xianfeng, Party Committee Member: Chen Qihua), and the Village Committee with 5 members (Director: Guo Dingjian, Deputy Director: Yang Liuqin, Village Committee Members: Chen Xiangfang, Chen Liulan, Chen Feng). There are 51 village representatives. The village’s pillar industry is fishing, supplemented by... More detailed information about Gui'ao Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Zhejiang Province