Yuci City God Temple

Yuci City God Temple

Yuci City God Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yuci City God Temple is located within the Ancient City of Yuci Scenic Area in Jinzhong and is the oldest and best-preserved city god temple in Shanxi Province. The temple was first built in the 22nd year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1362 AD). In the 6th year of the Xuande era (1431 AD), Cao Xian, the then magistrate of Yuci County, found the old city god temple to be small and crude, so he demolished the old structure and built a main hall with three bays, three side rooms on each of the east and west sides, and a mountain gate with one bay at the current location. After multiple renovations and expansions over time, it has grown into its present scale. The main hall features exquisitely detailed architecture, and in front of it stands an impressive Xuanjian Tower reaching a height of 25 meters.

Yuci City God Temple is situated on the north side of the middle section of East Avenue within Yuci District, covering an area of 6,000 square meters. It is one of the largest and most completely preserved ancient buildings among county-level city god temples in Shanxi Province. In 1984, state funding was allocated for its restoration, and in 1996, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Originally built in 1362 (the 22nd year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty), its initial site was located at Shan Zheng Fang inside the North Gate. In 1368 (the 1st year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty), the old temple was demolished, and a new main hall along with three-bay side rooms on the east and west, plus a one-bay mountain gate, were constructed at the current site on East Avenue. Through nine additional constructions during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the temple complex was finally completed, representing an architectural ensemble spanning the Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods.

Major structures include a five-bay main hall, a five-bay bedroom hall, fourteen-bay side rooms on both the east and west sides, the four-tiered double-eaved Xuanjian Tower, a performance pavilion for rituals, a mountain gate, and bell and drum towers. Among these, the performance pavilion (stage) holds the greatest historical, cultural, and artistic value. It consists of two sections, backed against the Xuanjian Tower, and aligns with its roof to form a gentle, three-tiered wave-like shape that harmonizes naturally with the surroundings. Each of the east and west sides is surrounded by fourteen bays of corridors, which connect seamlessly with the Xianyou Hall and Xuanjian Tower, creating a unified whole. Below the stage, an eight-character glazed ceramic kylin screen wall is diagonally placed in the courtyard, forming a barrier and contributing to an acoustically excellent open space.

Address: Within the Ancient City of Yuci Scenic Area, Fuxing Road, Yuci District, Jinzhong City

Type: Historical Site

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Phone: 0354-3288888; 0354-3296800

Opening Hours:

8:00-18:00

Ticket Information:

No separate admission fee. Included in the 60 RMB ticket for the Ancient City of Yuci Scenic Area.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units