Tumu Xianzhong Temple

Tumu Xianzhong Temple

Tumu Xianzhong Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The site of Xianzhong Temple is located in Tumu Village, Tumu Town, Huailai County, Hebei Province. Tumu Village is 10 kilometers west of the county seat, adjacent to the Woniu Mountain tourist area to the east, backed by the spurs of the Yanshan Mountains to the north, and situated by the Guanting Lake to the south. The Beijing-Zhangjiakou Highway runs along the north side of the village, while the Beijing-Baotou Railway passes through the south. With beautiful mountains and waters and convenient transportation, the site of Xianzhong Temple within the village is renowned both in China and abroad. It was built in the first year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty (1450) to commemorate the hundreds of high-ranking officials and 500,000 troops who sacrificed their lives for the country during the “Tumu Crisis” on August 14 of the 14th year of the Zhengtong era (1449). At that time, the temple had a main hall with five bays, a three-bay front porch, one stone stele (recording the names of the deceased officials), and 66 memorial tablets for the officials who died for the country. It was used to honor the fallen officials, provide relief for their families, bestow posthumous titles, and comfort their spirits, ensuring their legacy would endure for generations.

When Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne (1464), he issued an imperial edict ordering the Huailai garrison commander to renovate Xianzhong Temple. On the day the temple was completed, Emperor Xianzong personally wrote the inscription for the stele, inscribed the temple plaque, and erected another stele. Over time, due to historical changes, the temple fell into disrepair and eventually collapsed, suffering further damage from fires, leaving only ruins.

During the Wanli era, Hu Enshen, the military defense commissioner of Huailong, oversaw the reconstruction, composed an inscription, and ensured its legacy.

In the early years of the Republic of China, local residents raised funds for another restoration and erected a stele recording the temple’s original construction, destruction, and rebuilding. General Feng Yuxiang visited Xianzhong Temple when he was stationed in Zhangjiakou.

The original Xianzhong Temple covered an area of 3,150? (approximately 4.7 mu), stretching 70 meters from north to south. It had two courtyards and two mountain gates. The first mountain gate faced south and was elevated 1.5 meters above the ground, with a golden plaque reading “Xianzhong Temple” (written by Emperor Xianzong) hanging above it. On either side of the gate were wooden couplets: “The loyalty of a generation shines upon ancestral altars; the integrity of a thousand autumns strengthens the mountains and rivers.” Passing through the first gate, there was a 40-meter-long pathway leading to the second gate, which had a lower gate and two side gates. The main gate was only opened three times a year for public ceremonies (on Qingming Festival, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, and the first day of the tenth lunar month), while the side gates were used at other times. Above the second gate was a plaque reading “Lofty Integrity” (written by Pan Lichun), accompanied by wooden couplets: “Upholding the rites of a thousand autumns, honoring the loyalty of a generation.” Upon entering the second gate, there was a main hall with three bays, two side halls, and six wing rooms on the east and west sides. The couplet in the main hall read: “The elders still mourn; the defeat is too painful to recall. The esteemed should know — if the sovereign lives, why ask about one's humble body?” After years of neglect and fire damage, only the main hall with three bays and several stone steles remain today.

Given the significant domestic and international impact of the “Tumu Crisis,” where they valiantly resisted foreign invasion and sacrificed their lives for the country, their patriotic spirit has continued to inspire future generations. Therefore, restoring Xianzhong Temple serves not only as an educational site for patriotism but also as a potential tourist destination. We sincerely welcome visionary individuals and descendants of those who heroically sacrificed themselves during the “Tumu Crisis” to invest in the restoration of Xianzhong Temple as an eternal tribute.

Tumu Village: Tumu Village was once the seat of the Tumu Town People's Government. National Highway 110 runs south of the village, while the Beijing-Zhangjiakou and Beijing-Xinjiang highways pass by the village to the north and south. Backed by Baodian Slope, a spur of the Yanshan Mountains, and facing the flat grain-producing plains to the south, the village is located in a hilly area and is the largest village in the town. … More information about Tumu Village++