Iron General Temple

Iron General Temple

The Iron General Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located on the northwest shore of Daming Lake, this courtyard-style building features an ethnic architectural design in a rectangular layout, covering an area of 6,386 square meters. It is surrounded by winding corridors and faces the lake to the south. The complex includes structures such as the Iron General Temple, Buddha General Temple, Moon-Viewing Pavilion, Lakeside Panorama Tower, and Little Canglang, making it a garden within the larger Daming Lake Park. The Iron General Temple is a memorial hall dedicated to Iron Fan.

Iron Fan (1366–1402), from Dengzhou (now Deng County, Henan), was highly regarded by the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, who bestowed upon him the courtesy name "Ding Shi" and appointed him as a judicial officer in the Metropolitan Commandery. After Zhu Yuanzhang’s death, his eldest grandson, Zhu Yunwen, ascended the throne and appointed Iron Fan as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shandong. When Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, launched the Jingnan Campaign against his nephew under the pretext of suppressing officials like Qi Tai who advocated reducing the power of feudal princes, he marched south from Beijing. Upon reaching Jinan, Iron Fan rallied his forces at the Waterside Pavilion on the southern shore of Daming Lake to resist the Yan army’s advance. He successfully repelled the invaders several times and even destroyed their siege equipment. When the Yan forces bombarded the city, Iron Fan ordered the display of Zhu Yuanzhang’s memorial tablet on the city walls, preventing the attackers from firing cannons. He also devised a ruse by pretending to surrender and secretly installed iron plates above the city gate. As Zhu Di led his troops into the city, the iron plates suddenly dropped, striking the prince’s horse. The shaken prince quickly retreated. Unable to capture the city after prolonged efforts, Zhu Di withdrew his forces. Upon hearing the news, Emperor Jianwen promoted Iron Fan to Minister of War. In 1401, Zhu Di attacked again, bypassed Jinan, captured Nanjing, and declared himself the Yongle Emperor. He then returned to seize Jinan. Iron Fan was defeated, captured, and personally interrogated by Zhu Di. Seated on the ground, Iron Fan cursed Zhu Di as a traitor. The emperor had his tongue, ears, and nose cut off before throwing him into boiling oil. Iron Fan died at the age of 37.

Structure of the Iron General Temple

The main eastern gate of the Iron General Temple is a traditional lock-shell style entrance with a bright red door. Just inside stands a Taihu rock, nestled among pine trees. To the north of the gate lies a semi-enclosed winding corridor, with decorative lattice windows along the walls that frame small scenic views. Further north are the Buddha General Temple and the Iron General Temple, separated by a stone stele. Both temples are three-bay structures facing south, with extended eaves, hip-and-gable roofs, red pillars, and green tiles, giving them a classic and solemn appearance. To the west of the Iron General Temple is the Lakeside Panorama Tower, connected by a covered walkway. This two-story tower has five bays per floor, offering panoramic views of the rippling waters of Daming Lake and distant views of the misty, verdant mountains to the south of the city. Today, the Lakeside Panorama Tower houses a restaurant named "Lotus Fragrance Village" within Daming Lake Park. Dining here while enjoying the view adds a refined touch to the experience.

Admission Fee

30 RMB

Opening Hours

Off-season: 6:30–17:30; Peak season: 6:30–18:30

Location

Within Daming Lake Scenic Area, No. 271 Daminghu Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong Province