Qidong Liu San Temple

Qidong Liu San Temple

Qidong Liu San Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qidong Liu San Temple is located in the former Wujiawei Township, about 44 kilometers southeast of the county seat. Legend has it that Liu San, a renowned official of the Song Dynasty, was ordered by the imperial court to take up a post in Liuzhou. He set off by boat, traveling dust-covered all the way. When the boat reached the section of Decai Village in Hezhou Town, Official Liu San asked the crew of passing boats where they were. They replied, “Jiuzhou” (i.e., Jiuzhou Village in Qiyang), but Official Liu San misheard it as “Liuzhou.” He immediately disembarked to investigate. Upon seeing the dilapidated state of the place, he stepped off the boat, kicked the horse head stone with his foot, and left a footprint on it right away. Overcome with anger, he passed away on the spot. Learning that such a high-ranking official had died there, local residents went up to a quiet spot 500 meters away on the mountain, dug a burial cave, and prepared to bury him. On the day of the burial, when the residents burned paper money at the spot where he had landed, smoke emerged from the tomb instead. So, the locals built a small temple to commemorate him.

By the time of the liberation, in the area of Jiuzhou, a poor laborer who had stolen from his landlord while working for him was threatened with death upon being discovered. Knowing this, the man fled under cover of night to the small temple for shelter and vowed that if he survived, he would repay the kindness in the future. Not only did he survive, but he also later became wealthy. Upon returning, he voluntarily donated funds to renovate the temple. After this story spread, the site has enjoyed continuous incense offerings. Every year around the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, worshippers from Guangxi, Liuzhou, Changning, Hengyang, Qiyang, and Qidong come here in the tens of thousands.