Xinchang Chenghuang Temple

Xinchang Chenghuang Temple

Xinchang Chenghuang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Chenghuang Temple was originally located inside the west gate of Xinchang County, now the site of the Cultural Center. The Jiatai Shaoxing Annals from the Southern Song Dynasty recorded that the temple was “one hundred steps west of the county,” describing a north-facing, street-side complex extending three sections deep. In late 1986, due to the expansion of West Street, it was relocated to Qianfo Rock.

The current Chenghuang Temple features flush gable roofs and consists of three sections along its north-south axis: the entrance porch and stage, the main hall, and the rear hall.

Chenghuang Temple Stage: Originally built for god-worshipping theatrical performances, this structure dates back to the Ming Chenghua era and is a rare surviving example in the Jiangnan region. It was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site in 1963. During the mid-Qing Dynasty, it hosted annual worship performances. In the 1930s and 1940s, as Yue opera performed by women rose in popularity, early actresses such as Xiao Dangui, Yue Ruihua, Wang Xinghua, Shi Yinhu, and Yao Shuijuan performed here. In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic, the temple stage became a hub for Xinchang’s dramatic culture. In February 1952, actresses such as Lü Ruiying and Jin Caifeng from the East China Experimental Yue Opera Troupe performed “The Butterfly Lovers” here.

Chenghuang Temple Main Hall: (formerly the rear hall of the Chenghuang Temple) This three-bay, two-corridor structure is made of wood and stone, connected with mortise-and-tenon joints. The central bay of the beam frame uses raised beams, while the side bays use through-tenon construction. Rebuilt in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign, the entire hall is supported by 28 locally sourced Xikeng stone pillars. The pillars feature inscriptions carved in relief or intaglio, showcasing exquisite calligraphy and fine carving techniques. The inscriptions largely promote moral conduct, virtue, and the punishment of evil.

Along the east-west axis of the Chenghuang Temple, there is a stele corridor at the front and a screen wall at the rear. The stele corridor stretches 35 meters, with each stone stele and tablet reflecting a piece of Xinchang’s history. The 15-meter-long screen wall displays a set of large stone-carved artifacts — a complete stone animal procession, originally part of the sacred path in front of the tomb of Lü Guangxun, Minister of Works during the Ming Wanli era. The tomb was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but in late 1987, the stone figures were relocated from the back hill behind Lizhao Village in Ruyao Town. This is the most intact and exquisitely crafted set of stone animal processions preserved in our province.

Scattered throughout the courtyard of the Chenghuang Temple are also: Songhua petrified wood (fossilized wood), originally from the rockery of the former East Garden of Prime Minister Wang’s residence on Chengtan Lower Street during the late Southern Song Dynasty; a seated meditation urn belonging to monks of the Great Buddha Temple; a stone horse trough unearthed from the ruins of the Nanming Post Station from the Song Dynasty; and a stone sheep and a stone lion from the memorial archway in front of the tomb of He Yu, son of Ming Dynasty Ministry of War Minister He Jian (from Yangyu Village outside the town), each unearthed separately.

Address: Qianfo Rock, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City

Type: Temple

Opening Hours:

All day

Ticket Information:

Free admission.