Luoyang Guanlin Temple

Luoyang Guanlin Temple

Luoyang Guanlin Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit in China.

• The head of Guan Yu is buried here, making it a sacred site for worshipping the God of War.

• You can view imperial plaques personally inscribed by Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.

• The temple houses over a hundred intricately carved stone lions from the Qing Dynasty, all vivid and lifelike.

Introduction

Located about 7 kilometers south of Luoyang City, Guanlin Temple may not be large in size, but it enjoys immense popularity due to the burial of the head (skull) of Guan Yu, the famed general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. According to ancient feudal burial customs, emperors were interred in “mausoleums,” nobles and generals in “tombs,” while only sages could be laid to rest in “sacred groves.” Over two millennia, Guan Yu’s status rose from noble to Martial Saint, and the only place comparable to “Guanlin” is the Confucius Forest in Qufu, Shandong.

In 1596 during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, construction began on the temple and cypress trees were planted on the site of the original Han Dynasty Guan Yu temple. It was expanded during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era (1735–1799), forming the basic layout seen today. The architectural style of Guanlin Temple follows traditional palace design. Upon entering the main gate, visitors walk along the central axis to successively see the main gate, ceremonial gate, pathway, worship hall, main hall, second hall, third hall, stone memorial archway, and octagonal pavilion. Behind the temple complex lies the tomb mound where Guan Yu’s head is buried.

When visiting Guanlin Temple, aside from paying homage to the Martial Saint Guan Yu, there are many highlights worth seeing. The 49 studs on the ceremonial gate built in the Ming Dynasty and the 81 studs on the main gate from the Qing Dynasty reflect Guan Yu’s rise in status from noble to emperor between the two dynasties.

When you visit the ceremonial gate and the second hall, don’t forget to look up at the plaques: “Might Across the Six Directions” and “Shining Bright as the Sun and Moon,” inscribed respectively by Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu. As you walk from the ceremonial gate toward the worship hall, you’ll see over a hundred “pillar-top carved stone lions” on both sides — each small lion exquisitely round and lively, free from any stiffness, representing the pinnacle of Central Plains stone carving during the Qianlong period. Inside the main and second halls, there are also numerous wooden carvings and statues related to Guan Yu, such as the Oath of the Peach Garden, the Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu, and Guan Yu Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at Night.

Every September, Guanlin Temple hosts a grand international pilgrimage ceremony, during which worship groups from home and abroad gather to pay tribute to the Martial Saint. During the Spring Festival, the temple also holds a large temple fair, sometimes featuring folk performances to add to the festive atmosphere. Guanlin Temple is not far from the Longmen Grottoes, and many tourists visit both sites together.

Located in Guanlin Town, Luolong District, Luoyang City, adjacent to the Longmen Grottoes to the south, Luolong Avenue to the west, and the clear waters of the Yi River to the east, it is said to be the burial site of Guan Yu, the Shu general from the Three Kingdoms period. It is one of the three major Guan Yu temples in the world and the only ancient classic architectural complex in China that combines “tomb, temple, and sacred grove.” It is now a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

In ancient times, emperors’ tombs were called “ling,” nobles’ tombs “zhong,” commoners’ graves “fen,” and sages’ resting places “lin.” Since Guan Yu was revered as the “Martial Saint,” his tomb is also called Guanlin. In 219 AD during the Jian’an era of Emperor Xian of Han, Guan Yu was killed by Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu. Sun Quan sent someone to deliver Guan Yu’s head to Luoyang under cover of night, attempting to frame Cao Cao. Cao Cao saw through the scheme and had an agarwood body carved for Guan Yu, burying him with the rites of a noble outside the southern gate of Luoyang City.

According to inscriptions in the temple, in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, a memorial archway was built in front of Guan Yu’s tomb mound, and the temple was constructed in 1596. It was renovated during the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of 100 acres, it has over 800 cypress trees, more than 150 halls, and currently preserves over 70 stone tablets and 4 stone memorial archways. It is a well-preserved and rigorously laid-out ancient architectural complex centered around a central axis.

At the front is a double-eaved theater stage. In the past, during the temple fairs held on the 13th days of the first, fifth, and ninth lunar months, grand operas were performed here.

The main gate was built to imperial specifications, with each door embedded with 81 studs — the highest rank in feudal society. The gate bears the inscription “Guanlin.” A pair of white marble stone lions from the Ming Dynasty stand guard in front.

The ceremonial gate features a plaque inscribed by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty, reading “Might Across the Six Directions.” The “six directions” refer to east, west, south, north, above, and below, symbolizing Guan Yu’s might over the world. The ceremonial gate is named for its symbolic representation of propriety. A pair of iron lions weighing about 1,500 kilograms stands in front.

A stone-paved pathway with railings leads from the ceremonial gate to the main hall. The railings are lined with 104 uniquely carved stone lions of varying expressions and sizes atop the pillars. Some play with embroidered balls, others frolic with cubs. On both sides of the pathway are bell and drum towers, two 4.6-meter-high dragon-pillar ornamental columns, numerous stone tablets, and two incense burners.

The worship hall is where civil and military officials gathered annually for ceremonies, also known as the “Hall of Enlightening the Sage.” On the eastern side inside hangs a large iron bell donated by Luoyang residents to pray for Guan Yu’s blessings of peace and abundant harvests. On the western side stands a replica of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, 3.5 meters long. The western wall features the engraved stone stele “Imperial Edict Granting Funds for the Renovation of Guanlin.” In the center of the worship hall hangs the plaque “Divine Fame Shines Bright,” inscribed by Emperor Qianlong in 1750 during his tour of Central China, along with a couplet praising Guan Yu’s spirit.

The main hall is connected to the worship hall and is the principal structure of Guanlin. It is seven bays wide and three bays deep, about 20 meters tall, with painted beams and golden decorations. The plaque “Majestic as Song Mountain” was also written by Cixi. The main gate features 12 exquisitely carved Ming Dynasty wood relief panels depicting scenes such as the Oath of the Peach Garden, the Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu, the Beheading of Cai Yang, the Flooding of Seven Armies, the Single Saber Meeting, and the Contest for the Brocade Robe — reflecting the carving skills of the Ming era.

Inside the hall sits a statue of Guan Yu in imperial robes, wearing a 12-tiered crown, a dragon-embroidered robe, with phoenix eyes, silkworm brows, a long beard, and a red face, seated solemnly. To his left stands Guan Ping with a sword, to his right Zhou Cang with a blade, flanked by Wang Fu, Liao Hua, and statues of the Southern Song Dynasty’s Left Prime Minister Lu Xiufu and Right Prime Minister Zhang Shijie, contributed by later generations.

The second hall is a five-bay hip-and-gable roof structure. It bears a plaque inscribed by Emperor Guangxu reading “Shining Bright as the Sun and Moon.” The front eaves are painted with scenes from stories such as Guan Yu Passing Through Five Passes and Slaying Six Generals. Inside the hall sits a statue of Guan Yu in green robes with visible armor, a scholar’s cap, battle boots, furrowed brows, and an intense gaze toward the southeast — known as the “Guan Yu Glaring at Eastern Wu in Armor.” Beside him, Guan Ping holds a seal and Zhou Cang a blade, both rendered vividly and powerfully.

The third hall is a five-bay gable-and-hip roof building, also called the “Bedchamber Hall.” On the left inside is a depiction of Guan Yu “Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at Night,” and on the right a sleeping statue (the original no longer exists). In 1989, a new “Guan Yu Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals” statue and an animated reclining Guan Yu statue were created. Below the eaves are large murals depicting the Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu, Guan Yu’s Mighty Presence in Jingzhou, and the Battle of Changsha.

The tomb mound is an irregular octagon, enclosed by brick walls covering 250 square meters and standing over 10 meters high. At the center of the mound wall is a stone tomb gate inscribed with “Spiritual Pivot.” The gate has four small round holes; visitors who toss coins into them can hear a “ding-dong” sound, believed to signify answered prayers.

In front of the mound is an exquisite octagonal pavilion, commonly called the “Bagua Pavilion.” Inside stands a 4.8-meter-tall stone tablet, with the 15-character inscription “Temple of the Divine, Loyal, Martial, Sacred, Benevolent, Brave, and Majestic Guan Sheng Emperor” on the front, and Guan Yu’s life story and other titles on the back. Two stone memorial archways in front bear numerous inscriptions from later generations, featuring various calligraphic styles including seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive scripts — all praising Guan Yu.

“Guanlin’s Verdant Cypresses” is one of Luoyang’s “Eight Lesser Scenic Spots.” The ancient cypresses form a dense, lush grove. After sudden rain followed by clearing skies, mist rises like curling incense smoke, drifting eerily around the mound — a fantastical scene that never fails to amaze. For millennia, Guan Yu has been widely revered as an embodiment of loyalty and righteousness, a moral exemplar. His virtues of “loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and bravery” embody the spirit of the Chinese nation. The resulting “Guan Yu Faith,” a unique cultural phenomenon, has become a bond connecting Chinese people worldwide. On September 29th each year, the Guanlin International Pilgrimage Ceremony is held, attracting overseas temple representatives and clan associations for grand worship rituals. Guanlin has become a sacred site for Chinese people globally and a renowned tourist destination.

Address: No. 2 Guanlin South Road, Luolong District, Luoyang City

Type: Historical Site / Tomb & Ancestral Hall

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0379-65962018

Official website: http://www.guanlinmiao.com/

Opening hours:

8:00-18:30

Further reading:

·First batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

·Sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units