Five Officials Temple

Five Officials Temple

Five Officials Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit under state protection.

Known as the "First Tower of Hainan," Five Officials Temple is located 5 kilometers southeast of Haikou City, covering an area of approximately 6.7 hectares. In the 15th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1889), the people of Hainan built this site to commemorate five prominent historical figures who were exiled to Hainan Island during the Tang and Song dynasties: Li Deyu, Duke of Wei Guo from the Tang Dynasty, and Li Gang, Duke of Zhongding; Zhao Ding, Duke of Zhongjian; Li Guang, Duke of Zhuangjian; and Hu Quan, Duke of Zhongjian, hence the name "Five Officials Temple."

The temple complex consists of the main tower along with auxiliary structures on both sides, including Su Gong Temple, Xuefu Hall, Five Officials Retreat, Guanjia Hall, Fubo Temple, Fusu Spring, cwNB236ＷMengzui Terrace, and other ancient buildings.

The main tower is a two-story red wooden building with traditional dougong (bracket) architecture, standing 9 meters tall and covering a floor area of 450 square meters. A plaque inscribed with "Five Officials Temple" hangs above the main entrance on the first floor, while the second floor features a horizontal board inscribed with "First Tower of Hainan." Statues of the five officials are displayed in the hall downstairs. The pillars of the hall feature a famous couplet from the Qing Dynasty that highly praises the five officials, adding grandeur to the "First Tower." The couplet reads: "Thinking only of the nation, not of themselves, they remained resolute despite a thousand trials; prioritizing the people’s worries before their joys, they hoped talents would rise and not let down this tower." And: "The Tang lamented its decline, the Song regretted its partial peace—how many talents were exiled overseas? Their teachings resonate with the sages, inspiring future learners—the upright spirit of heaven and earth resides in this tower."

To the right of the main tower are Xuefu Hall and Five Officials Retreat. Xuefu Hall was where Guo Wanxiu, a renowned scholar from Zhejiang, once lectured. Five Officials Retreat was a place where Hainan scholars in the late Qing Dynasty studied the classics, history, and literature, later converted into the Hainan Exhibition Hall. Exhibits include a bronze drum from the Han Dynasty, a bronze bell from the Ming Dynasty, a stone stele engraved with Emperor Huizong of Song's slim gold script inscription "Edict of Shenba Jade Qing Wanshou Palace," three ci poems by Su Shi including "Linjiangxian" and "Xingxiangzi" along with his portrait in stone relief, four Tang poems handwritten by Hai Rui along with his large "Longevity" character stele, and a 1.5-meter-tall bronze statue of Sakyamuni cast in the early Yuan Dynasty.

On the eastern side of Five Officials Temple is Su Gong Temple, built in the 45th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1617) to commemorate the great Song Dynasty literary figure Su Dongpo. It has been renovated multiple times during the Shunzhi, Qianlong, and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty. The temple displays a collection of stone tablets inscribed with Su Dongpo’s poems. In front of the temple are a memorial archway, an arched bridge, a lotus pond, and a pavilion. To the east of the temple lies Qiong Garden, covering 0.67 hectares, featuring attractions such as Fusu Spring, Sufu Pavilion, Xinxin Pavilion, and Xianyou Cave.

Fusu Spring is known as the "First Spring of Hainan." Legend has it that in the fourth year of the Shaosheng reign during the Northern Song Dynasty (1097), Su Dongpo was demoted and sent to serve as Qiongzhou Bieji (a minor official post) in Changhua Army (now Danzhou City). Passing through this area, he stayed overnight and noticed residents drinking murky water from the city river. Observing the terrain, he pointed to the ground and said, “Dig here, and you will find two springs.” The locals dug as instructed and indeed discovered one clear spring and one murky spring, both sweet to the taste. The clear one became Fusu Spring, and the murky one was called Xinxin Spring. Later, structures such as Su Gong Temple were built around the springs. Xinxin Spring disappeared in the early Ming Dynasty. The current Fusu Spring is a square ancient well rebuilt in the 58th year of the Qianlong reign (1793) by Ye Rulan, the magistrate of Qiongzhou.

Sufu Pavilion has a history of over 300 years. It was initially constructed in the 48th year of the Wanli reign (1620) by Weng Ruyu, the magistrate of the Ming Dynasty. During construction, a stone brick inscribed with a poem by Su Dongpo was unearthed. The pavilion’s construction was halted due to Weng’s promotion and was later completed by his successor, Xie Jike.

Xinxin Pavilion is a long rectangular building, originally named "Shiyuan Pavilion." It was built because of a poem by Su Dongpo and has been preserved through generations of renovations.

Xianyou Cave was built in 1916 by Zhu Weichao, who served as an observer in Hainan. Legend says that while constructing Qiong Garden, he dreamed of drinking with Liu Dun, Hainan’s first recorded poet and Taoist priest from the Song Dynasty, at Sufu Pavilion. Liu pointed outside the pavilion, saying it was the site of his birthplace, then ascended to heaven. Upon waking, Zhu was moved and built an artificial rock cave at the site Liu indicated. He named the cave after a line from Liu’s poem: "In Xianyou Cave, there is not a single soul." The current inscription "Xianyou Cave" at the cave’s entrance was written by Zhu Weichao.

On the eastern side of Five Officials Temple are also the Two Fubo Temples and a Worship Pavilion. In the 45th year of the Wanli reign (1617), Deputy Envoy Dai Xi built the Zhaongzhong Temple. During the 1915 renovation of Five Officials Temple, the Two Fubo Temples were relocated to their current site. They now enshrine the Western Han Dynasty’s former Fubo General Lü Bode and the Eastern Han Dynasty’s later Fubo General Ma Yuan. In front of the temples is a Worship Pavilion with simple, classic design.

After the liberation, the government placed great emphasis on the restoration of Five Officials Temple. It underwent comprehensive renovation in 1954, and further repairs in 1974 and 1984. From 1994 to 1996, over 18 million yuan was allocated to build the Three-story Five Officials Temple Exhibition Hall within the scenic area, covering a total floor space of 4,188 square meters. The hall includes 10 exhibition rooms primarily showcasing the history of the Five Officials, as well as cultural and historical materials of Hainan Island. Supporting facilities such as arched bridges, flower beds, and green spaces were also added, all set against the backdrop of the "First Tower of Hainan."

The historic sites of Five Officials Temple are closely connected, forming a magnificent complex. Over the centuries, literati and artists have visited, leading to its ancient title "Qiongtai Scenic Wonder." Today, it is recognized as one of Haikou’s Eight Scenic Spots—"Sacred Temple Stacked in Green." After the liberation, revolutionary leaders such as Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, and Chen Yi visited and left passionate poems. It is now listed among the province’s first group of tourism sites open to foreign visitors.

In 1991, Five Officials Temple received 150,000 visitors. In 1992 and 1993, the visitor count exceeded 400,000 each year, and in 1996, it welcomed 350,000 visitors.

Address: No. 169 Haifu Road, Haikou City, Tel: 65353047

Ticket Price: 20 RMB per person

Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Li Deyu (787–850), courtesy name Wenrao, was a native of Zanhuang in Zhao Commandery (present-day Zanhuang, Hebei). He was a Tang Dynasty politician and literary figure, leader of the Li Faction during the Niu-Li Factional Struggles, and the second son of Li Jifu, Vice Director of the Secretariat.

Li Deyu came from the Western Ancestral Branch of the Zhao Clan of Zhao Commandery. Early in his career, he entered officialdom through hereditary privilege, successively serving as a Proofreader, Imperial Censor, Hanlin Academician, Secretariat Drafter, Observer of Zhexi Circuit, Vice Minister of War, Military Commissioner of Zhenghua and Guide, Military Commissioner of Xichuan, Minister of War, Vice Director of the Secretariat, Military Commissioner of Zhenhai, Military Commissioner of Huainan, among others. He served four reigns—Emperor Xianzong, Muzong, Jingzong, and Wenzong—and briefly served as chancellor. However... [More details on Li Deyu]

Li Gang, courtesy name Boji, literary name Liangxi Jushi, was from Shaowu, Fujian. He was born on the 12th day of the first lunar month in the sixth year of the Yuanyou reign (1083) during the Song Dynasty. His father, Li Kui, passed the imperial examination and served up to the position of Compiler in the Jixian Hall and Prefect of Dengzhou, concurrently as Pacification Commissioner of the Southwest Circuit. From a young age, Li Gang harbored lofty aspirations and possessed a strong sense of loyalty and patriotism. At the age of 14, he accompanied his father in Yan’an. When the Western Xia army invaded and laid siege to the city, Li Gang fearlessly rode atop the city walls.

In the third year of the Chongning reign (1104), Li Gang ranked first among the students admitted to the Imperial College. In the second year of the Zhenghe reign (1112), he passed the highest-level examination and was appointed as a professor in Zhenjiang. Soon after... [More details on Li Gang]

Zhao Ding (1085–1147), courtesy name Yuanzhen, literary name Dezhan Jushi, was from Fudi Village, Wenxi County, a famous prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty who fought alongside Yue Fei against the Jin invaders. Zhao Ding passed the imperial examination in the fifth year of the Chongning reign (1106) during the Northern Song Dynasty and was appointed as Prefect of Luoyang, later promoted to Magistrate of Kaifeng. In September of the first year of the Jingkang reign (1126), when the Jin army captured Taiyuan, the court discussed ceding three towns for peace. Zhao Ding firmly opposed it, declaring, “The land of our ancestors must not be given away—why deliberate?” The following April, when the capital Kaifeng fell and Emperors Huizong and Qinzong were captured, the Jin wanted to install Zhang Bangchang as emperor and forced Song officials to sign the agreement... [More details on Zhao Ding]

Li Guang (December 16, 1078 – April 22, 1159), courtesy name Taifa (also recorded as Taiding), literary name Zhuangwu Laoren, was from Shangyu, Yuezhou (present-day southeastern Shangyu, Zhejiang). He was a renowned official, literary figure, and poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, one of the Four Eminent Officials of the Southern Song, and a descendant of Tang Prince Ruyang Li Jin. He passed the imperial examination in the fifth year of the Chongning reign (1106) during the Northern Song Dynasty and was appointed as Prefect of Kaihua, later transferring to Changshu. He rose through the ranks to serve as Vice Chancellor but was transferred out due to disagreements with Qin Hui, becoming Prefect of Shaoxing and later Supervisor of Dongxiao Palace. In the 11th year of the Shaoxing reign (1141), he was demoted and exiled to Tengzhou, and later to Changhua Army. After Qin Hui’s death... [More details on Li Guang]

Hu Quan (1102–1180), courtesy name Bangheng, literary name Dan’an, was from Xiangcheng, Luling, Ji Zhou (present-day Zhixia Town, Qingyuan District, Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province). He was a literary figure and patriotic official of the Southern Song Dynasty, one of the “Five Loyalists and One Upright” of Luling, and grouped with Li Gang, Zhao Ding, and Li Guang as the “Four Eminent Officials of the Southern Song.”

In the second year of the Jianyan reign during Emperor Gaozong’s reign (1128), Hu Quan passed the imperial examination. Initially appointed as a military judge in Fuzhou, he recruited local militias to assist in defending against the Jin invasion when they crossed the Yangtze River. He was later appointed as a Compiler in the Privy Council. In the eighth year of the Shaoxing reign (1138), when Qin Hui advocated for peace, Hu Quan strongly opposed it in a memorial, pleading for the execution of Qin Hui and the councilor Sun... [More details on Hu Quan]

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units