Li River Temple

Li River Temple

Li River Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Putian City.

Li River Temple

Hanjiang’s Li River Temple, also known as the City God Temple, was built in the autumn of the fifth year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1666). It is located on Jianqian Road in Hanjiang (historically known as Fengling), facing south and backing north. The temple is higher in the south and lower in the north, with the overall architecture built along the terrain: the halls rise step by step, appearing increasingly lofty and adding to the grandeur of the structure. After being renovated in 1985 with funds donated by overseas Chinese, Mazu and her attendants — Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear — also became important deities enshrined at Li River Temple in Hanjiang. It is now a cultural heritage site protected by both the municipal and district governments.

The overall structure of Li River Temple features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, with a post-and-lintel and Dougong (bracket) construction. The main gate leads to two courtyards inside, including an entrance hall and a front hall, while the main hall spans three bays across three sections.

On the 19th day of the first lunar month each year, Li River Temple holds its annual Lantern Festival fair. The temple and its surroundings are decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, with curtains hanging densely, creating an atmosphere of solemn elegance. The central hall displays vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings arranged into the shapes of birds and beasts. The middle hall showcases delicately crafted vegetarian dishes made from hundreds of varieties of flowers, presenting a vibrant splash of colors like a flourishing garden in spring — beautiful and appreciated by all. The temple lights up hundreds of pairs of huge red candles, each weighing over five jin (2.5 kg), adorned with gold-painted dragons and phoenixes, shining brilliantly. These are placed on classic antique red copper candleholders, arranged in tiers, poetically called the “Candle Mountain,” illuminating the night with dazzling brilliance.

Address: Jianqian Road, Xiaoyi Community, Hanxi Subdistrict, Hanjiang District

Hanxi Subdistrict: Located in the southern part of Hanjiang District, Putian City, Fujian Province, Hanxi Subdistrict covers the western half of the urban area of Hanjiang. It spans an area of 3 square kilometers, with a total population of approximately 35,000. It governs 10 communities. National Highway 324 (Fuzhou-Xiamen Road) passes through the area. In 1961, Hanjiang Town was established, which was renamed Hanjiang Subdistrict in 1984. In February 1993, Hanjiang Subdistrict was abolished and replaced by Hanxi and Handong Subdistricts. By 1997, Hanxi Subdistrict covered an area of 3 square kilometers with a population of 19,000, governing six neighborhood committees — Xiaoyi, Jianqian, Qingnian, Yanning, Louxia, and Baowei — and two village committees — Hanxi and Canglin. Later, it governed Hanxi, Canglin, Louxia, Xiaoyi, Qing… More detailed information about Hanxi Subdistrict++