Huangze Temple

Huangze Temple

Huangze Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Huangze Temple was first built in the 22nd year of Guangzheng during the Later Shu Dynasty (959 AD). The temple currently preserves structures such as the Zetian Hall, Central Pillar Grotto, Great Buddha Tower, Little South Sea, Lvzu Pavilion, Five Buddha Pavilion, and Wangjiang Tower, along with newly constructed attractions like the Empress Villa and Song Dynasty Tomb Relief Wall. According to the “Huangze Temple Inscription on Temple Affairs” written by Chen Hongen of the Ming Dynasty: “It is said that Huangze Temple was founded by Empress Wu.” The Qing Dynasty's Zhang Bangshen mentioned in "Cloud Route Travelogue": “Empress Wu, while in power, had Huangze Temple built here.” Soong Ching-ling also inscribed in 1963: “Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in Chinese history and an outstanding female politician of the feudal era.”

Guide

Cliff Carvings and Stone Inscriptions

Huangze Temple preserves 6 grottoes, 41 niches, and 1,203 cliff-carved stone statues, carved from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Most were created during the peak of the Tang Dynasty and are distributed across various sites within the temple such as the “Zetian Hall Stone Niche,” “Yinghui Tower Stone Niche,” “Great Buddha Tower Grotto,” “Central Pillar Grotto,” and “Five Buddha Pavilion Niche.”

In addition to cliff carvings, Huangze Temple houses many stone inscriptions, including the famous “Twelve Scenes of Sericulture.” In the 21st year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1816), Guanyuan County Magistrate Zeng Fengji ordered mulberry trees to be planted along both sides of the post roads throughout the county. Before leaving office, Zeng illustrated the process of planting mulberries, raising silkworms, and reeling silk in twelve scenes, which were then engraved onto 14 stone tablets erected here. These works are not only valuable historical relics of sericulture in China but also refined and elegant artistic treasures.

Song Dynasty Tomb Relief Wall

Among the cultural relics at Huangze Temple, a set of Song Dynasty tomb relief stone carvings is undoubtedly a gem of Song Dynasty stone carving art in China. Unearthed between 1974 and 1980 from the Song tombs surrounding the urban district of Guangyuan, there are 24 relief slabs, each measuring 2 meters in length and 0.8 meters in width, all carved from local yellow sandstone. Based on land purchase deeds discovered in the tombs, these were created during the Southern Song Dynasty, with the latest tomb dating back over 800 years. After restoration, these reliefs have been inlaid onto a screen wall measuring 28 meters in length, 4 meters in height, and 0.8 meters in thickness. They are divided into seven categories: “Four Constellation Guardian Beast Figures,” “Theater Performance Scenes,” “Grand Ceremony Music Scenes,” “Male and Female Warriors,” “Filial Piety Story Scenes,” “Tomb Owner’s Daily Life,” and “Floral Designs,” all available for visitors to admire.

Wu Zetian and Huangze Temple

A legend circulates in Guangyuan: During the early Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan era, Lady Yang, wife of Li Shimin’s official and military governor of Lizhou (modern-day Guangyuan), Wu Shiyue, became pregnant by a dragon while boating in the river south of the temple, later giving birth to Wu Zetian. At her birth, a colorful phoenix took flight from the southern mountain just outside the city, circled over Lizhou, and flew toward the edge of the sky. After Wu Zetian ascended the throne, she decreed that the temple be bestowed upon her and her true portrait be carved. The temple was hence named “Huangze” (Imperial Favor). The portrait is a gilded stone sculpture depicting Wu Zetian in her later years and remains preserved in the temple to this day.

Visiting Tips

A visit to the temple takes about half an hour to one hour. In addition, Huangze Temple offers a great vantage point for viewing the entire cityscape of Guangyuan.

Address: Intersection of Nvhuang Road and Binjiang Road, Liangzhou District, Guangyuan City (near the foot of Wulong Mountain on the western bank of the Jialing River)

Type: Heritage Museum / Temple

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 2 hours

Phone: 0839-3607013

Opening Hours:

9:00-17:30

Ticket:

Ticket: 50 RMB

Further Reading:

· China National Third-Class Museum