Laoyemiao

Laoyemiao

Laoyemiao is a cultural tourism attraction.

Laoyemiao is located at the head of Longtou Mountain in Duobao Township, facing Xingzi County across the river. Originally built as a Dragon King Temple, it has a long history. The temple foundation is constructed with granite slabs, stacked to a height of 7 meters, with a winding staircase on the right side. The temple complex covers a total area of over 600 square meters and is divided into six parts: the main temple, the Dragon King Hall, Tongrentang, large and small reception halls, and the kitchen, with auxiliary buildings distributed on both sides of the main temple. The main temple alone spans an area of over 300 square meters, stands 9 meters tall, is 14.2 meters wide, and 26.8 meters deep. It features a mixed structural style of through-tenon and post-and-lintel construction, supported by a total of 52 pillars.

The temple is composed of three sections: upper, middle, and lower. The upper section is the main hall, the middle is the gallery, and the lower is the stage. The interior of the temple features carved patterns on doors, windows, beams, and brackets, all painted with cinnabar lacquer. Inside the hall is a statue of the "Dingjiang King." Two stone steles are embedded in the walls on either side of the temple: the right one inscribed with “Record of the Construction of the Left Li Yuan General’s Temple,” and the left with “Record of the Posthumous Honors Bestowed Upon the Eminent Yuan General’s Temple.” In front of the main hall stand square granite pillars with vertically engraved couplets. The upper line reads: “For centuries the temple has been restored, all to praise our King’s virtues,” and the lower line: “Across ninety thousand li, his divine might is manifest, instantly calming the storms of Li Water.” A pair of stone lions flank the temple entrance platform. Behind the temple are the ruins of Zhu Yuanzhang’s “General Mustering Platform” and “Sword-Plunging Pool.” On the rock face to the left of the temple is a cliff inscription reading “Water Surface, Heart of Heaven,” traditionally attributed to Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang. According to historical county records, the temple underwent three rounds of renovation and expansion in the 22nd year of the Kangxi reign (1683), the 15th year of the Jiaqing reign (1810), and the year of Xinsi during the Guangxu reign (1881). In the Xinsi year of Guangxu, it was renamed “Dingjiang Wang Temple.” Since locals referred to the deity as “Lord” rather than “King,” the temple has since been commonly known as Laoyemiao (Lord’s Temple). In the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), it was bombed by Japanese forces, and in the 35th year (1946), monks restored it with donations from passing merchants, reconstructing it to its Guangxu-era appearance. In 1983, the county government carried out further repairs. It is now a provincially protected cultural relic.