Gongjing Huguang Temple

Gongjing Huguang Temple

Gongjing Huguang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huguang Temple, also known as Yuwang Palace or the Guild Hall of the Two Lakes, faces south with its back to the north. The temple complex features grand architecture, a majestic presence, and classic traditional design, much like other temples in Gongjing. It includes two main halls, one row of auxiliary halls, east and west wing rooms, and dozens of courtyards of various sizes. At the center stands a stage, surrounded by viewing galleries; the mountain gate faces the Xushui River. There is a wide stone terrace between the mountain gate and the screen wall. From the mountain gate to the rear main hall, there is an elevation change of over ten stone steps, giving the temple a solemn, dignified, and imposing atmosphere that inspires awe. The front hall of Huguang Temple houses a statue of the handsome Guan Yu, flanked on either side by Zhou Cang and Guan Ping. The main hall enshrines the deity statue of Yu the Great (Da Yu). The statue, made of painted clay with a gilded finish, depicts him wearing a ceremonial crown and a dragon-patterned robe, with flowing beard and a majestic, lifelike presence full of spirit. Behind the main hall, the courtyard contains several large, tree-trunk-sized yellow bucket trees. Their lush foliage spreads out like canopies, shading the courtyard and covering the rooftops. Built in the early years of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty, the site still retains a massive screen wall, the stone terrace behind it, and most of the decorative carvings on the wing rooms (including intricately crafted eaves, bracket arms, ox-head carvings, and vivid clay sculptures on the roof ridges).