Zhitian Palace

Zhitian Palace

Zhitian Palace is a cultural heritage site protected by Minqing County.

Zhitian Palace is located on the banks of the Meixi River in Qianshang Village, Bandon Town, Minqing County, covering an area of 800 square meters.

The front of the palace features a three-arched gate wall, with a central stone-framed double door flanked by two rectangular side doors. The walls between the main and side doors are adorned with murals of a green dragon and a white tiger.

Along the central axis are, in sequence, a stage, side corridors, bell and drum towers, and the main hall.

The main hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, featuring a post-and-lintel wooden structure with a hip-and-gable roof. Its beams are exquisitely carved, the caisson ceiling is uniquely designed, and the brackets, rafters, and dougong are finely sculpted. The beams, columns, purlins, and all four corners are made of nanmu wood, adorned with carvings of flowers, birds, and human figures. The architecture demonstrates bold innovation in craftsmanship and ingenious design.

Legend has it that at the end of the Tang Dynasty, when Wang Shenzhi entered Fujian, his four generals—Chen Yihui, Chen Xianhui, Chen Weiyuan, and Chen Huaiyuan—commanded troops known for their strict discipline and never harassing the local people. After their deaths, the locals built a temple in Qianshang Village (now Bandon Town), GanShang Village, to enshrine the four generals along with their subordinates, Chen and Cai, the two chief managers. The temple was originally named Zhaoxian Temple.

In the early Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, the people of Minqing also enshrined two historical clean officials from Minqing’s history within the temple: Dong Zhen, the Yuan Dynasty county magistrate, and Shen Yuan, the Ming Dynasty county magistrate. The temple was then renamed Zhitian Palace.

In the early Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, a grand temple fair called "Eighteen Shan" was established around Zhitian Palace, lasting for three days.

In the sixth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1856 AD), Zhitian Palace was expanded once again to its current scale.

After 1949, the government relocated the venue of the "Eighteen Shan" festival from the vicinity of Zhitian Palace to Hutou Street.

In 1985, Zhitian Palace was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by Minqing County.

In 1989, Zhitian Palace underwent renovation and was completed in May 1990.

In 2000, the government renamed the "Eighteen Shan" temple fair to the "Minqing 'Eighteen Shan' Commodity Trade Fair and Ancient Residential Culture Tourism Festival."

Bandon Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Minqing County. Established as Bandon Commune in 1958 and restructured as a town in 1984. Located in the southwestern part of the county, it is 25 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 58.5 square kilometers with a population of 40,000, it is traversed by Provincial Highway Wuxiu Line and County Road Hubang Highway. The town administers 27 village committees including Hutou, Lujiao, Zhucuo, Yangban, Banzhong, Bandon, Xixi, Lipu, Qifeng, Louxia, Wendeng, Xiayang, Qiufeng, Banxi, Liban, Beilan, Xiantou, Tangban, Xinhuz, Lintian, Xiannxai, Cheqian, Renxi, Qianshang, Hong’an, Xifeng, and one neighborhood committee, Bandon Neighborhood Committee. Industries include construction, building materials, food, ... More details about Bandon Town++