Shengzhou City God Temple

Shengzhou City God Temple

Shengzhou City God Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Located at the southern foot of Lutai Mountain within Shengzhou city, this is a highly renowned structure in the Jiangnan region. The temple was first built in 1345. Due to its long history, the building has suffered from various natural disasters, especially termite infestation, and has been repaired eleven times throughout history. In recent years, it underwent large-scale renovation and has now been restored and opened to the public. When Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty visited Shengzhou, he climbed Lutai Mountain to the City God Temple and inscribed the four characters “First among Streams and Mountains” (溪山第一), hence the Shengzhou City God Temple is also known as the “First among Streams and Mountains Tower” (溪山第一楼). The temple boasts a grand architectural scale, exquisite material selection, masterful carvings, harmonious decorations, and an overall cohesive design, earning fame across Jiangnan and being hailed as a unique masterpiece.

Shengzhou City God Temple is located at No. 9 Baibu Jie, Chengguan Town. Its construction dates back to an early period, with written records found in the Southern Song Dynasty's Jiatai Huiji Annals (《嘉泰会稽志》). The existing structure was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty.

The temple is majestic in appearance, ranking first among similar City God Temple structures in the province. It features an eight-character screen wall, a moon terrace, the First among Streams and Mountains Tower, a ceremonial gate, a theater stage, the City God Hall, and a rear hall, all complemented by side rooms, wing rooms, interstitial rooms, and chambers on both sides. The design is unique, the layout ingenious. Not only does it have an extraordinary presence, but the architecture is also exquisitely crafted, especially the brick, stone, and wood carvings, which are peerlessly refined. It is acclaimed as the foremost of Jiangnan’s three carving arts and is known as the “Three Wonders.”

The ancient theater stage within the temple, with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, is tall and imposing, a rarity in the world. Renowned Yue Opera performers such as Yuan Xuefen, Fu Quanxiang, Fan Ruijuan, Wang Wenjuan, and Shi Yinhuahave all performed on this stage. Thus, historians refer to it as the cradle of Yue Opera art. The main hall of the temple is beautifully shaped, with carefully selected materials—all imported timber—including four golden pillars made from the rare tree species of imported kempas ironwood, hailed as the “First Pillar of Jiangnan.”

To the west lies Huian Temple, which complements the City God Temple seamlessly, forming a unified whole. It is presided over by the eminent monk Wudao. Devotees place their faith here. To the east is the country’s first specialized drama museum and the Yue Opera Art Center, forming a contiguous and captivating scenic area. The Shengzhou City God Temple scenic area is a blessed land and artistic paradise on earth. It is a tourist destination integrating culture, travel, religion, entertainment, and shopping, where one can cultivate the mind and spirit, explore ancient Yue culture, trace the roots of Yue Opera, study the art of the three carvings; and even converse with the divine, leaving behind worldly distractions...

During the Qing Dynasty, someone ascended the tower to view the panoramic cityscape and left behind this account: “The county town spans seven li with some variation, with four gates: the eastern Gongming Gate, the western Laibai Gate, the southern Yingtai Gate, and the northern Wangyue Gate, all equipped with towers and moon walls. The layout of the markets is round and expansive in the southeast, while narrow and elongated in the west, encircled by protective city walls that resemble dried yellow croaker fish.” However, today, looking down from the First among Streams and Mountains Tower, clusters of high-rises rise like bamboo shoots after rain, and the entire city has developed into a ship-like shape, small at both ends and large in the middle—the former appearance of the “Yellow Croaker City” is hardly recognizable. Still visible are Mount Shan and the Shan River. Looking southwest from the tower, one sees the silvery waves of the Shan River, with misty light and cloud shadows evoking a sense of boundlessness; gazing northwest, Mount Shan comes into view, with its uniquely beautiful peaks, boundless blue sky, verdant summits, and the evening glow over the misty waters, instantly clearing the heart.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province