Tianshui Fuxi Temple

Tianshui Fuxi Temple

Tianshui Fuxi Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key cultural relic protection unit in China, and a patriotic education base.

Fuxi Temple, the birthplace of Fuxi, the cultural ancestor of humanity and a sacred site for ancestral worship in China, is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit in China. Located on Fuxi Road, Xiguan, in downtown Tianshui, the temple was first built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. After nine renovations, it has evolved into a grand complex of ancient architecture and is currently the most completely preserved Ming Dynasty temple dedicated to the worship of Fuxi in China. It is hailed as the "No. 1 Temple of China" and attracts countless domestic and international tourists for ancestral worship and sightseeing. Every year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, a grand worship ceremony is held here by the public; in July of the Gregorian calendar, the Gansu Provincial People's Government organizes a large-scale public sacrificial ceremony. The annual Fuxi Cultural Tourism Festival has become one of China's top ten most promising festival events. The public sacrificial ceremony has been listed as one of China's first intangible cultural heritages.

One of the famous ancient architectural complexes in northwestern China, originally named Taihao Palace and commonly known as Renzong Temple, it is located on Fuxi Road, Xiguan, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. In 1963, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the Gansu Provincial People's Government and is now a key cultural relic protection unit in China.

Fuxi Temple faces south and is built along the street, featuring nested courtyards in a layout of four courtyards and four layers, vast and serene. The ancient buildings within the temple include a theater stage, memorial archway, main gate, ceremonial gate, Xiantian Hall, Taiji Hall, bell tower, drum tower, and Laihe Hall, totaling 10 structures; new buildings include morning rooms, stele corridors, and exhibition halls, totaling 6 structures. In total, there are 76 rooms of old and new buildings. The entire architectural complex, including the memorial archway, main gate, ceremonial gate, Xiantian Hall, and Taiji Hall, is arranged along a central axis in a progressive and majestic manner.

Among them are many famous attractions. Upon entering the memorial archway gate, you reach the main entrance. This gate has five bays, spanning a total width of 18 meters and a depth of two bays. The central lintel originally hung a large plaque inscribed with the words "Matching Heaven and Earth," written by Hu Zuozong, a renowned Ming Dynasty calligrapher from Tianshui. Now, it displays a plaque reading "Taihao Palace," which carries a similar meaning to "Matching Heaven and Earth," both praising Fuxi’s boundless benevolence toward humanity. Although this main gate of Fuxi Temple underwent partial repairs during the Qing Dynasty, its main structure still retains the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty—an exceptional rarity. To this day, the roof remains intact, with dragon heads at both ends of the ridge, tails facing inward, complete ridge beasts, and a central treasure bottle; the ridge is adorned with entwined peony patterns. This set of simple yet elegant, exquisitely crafted ornaments holds considerable artistic and craftsmanship value, having drawn attention from many domestic architectural experts and artists. Stepping into the front courtyard, you’ll see an ancient locust tree on the east side, said to have been planted during the Tang Dynasty. Having withstood over a thousand years of time, wars, and natural disasters, it still stands tall and proud, inspiring awe.

Facing you is a grand ancient building with green-tiled roofing and a majestic structure—this is the Wenzu Hall. Although rebuilt in the third year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1738 AD), its painted decoration retains the warm color tones of the Ming Dynasty, much admired by experts. Passing through the ceremonial gate, you enter the middle courtyard. The spacious area gives an immediate sense of openness. This is the central part of the Fuxi Temple architectural complex. At the center is a raised platform, with halls, pavilions, towers, and kiosks arranged at varying heights, together with the ancient cypresses scattered throughout the courtyard, forming an organic and lively whole. Folklore says that there were originally 64 ancient cypresses in the front and back courtyards, planted according to the 64 directions derived from Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams. Thirty-seven remain today, evergreen in all seasons and full of vitality. These age-old cypresses have now become precious cultural relic trees.

Also called the Main Hall or Grand Hall. Located in the center of the rear part of the middle courtyard, it is the principal structure of the Fuxi Temple architectural complex. The original Taihao Palace built in the 19th year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1483 AD) was its predecessor, though the original site may not have been the same as the current hall’s location. It was expanded in the second year of the Jiajing reign (1523 AD) and then inscribed with the name "Xiantian." It underwent multiple renovations in the 10th year of the Jiajing reign, the 10th year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1653 AD), the fourth year of the Qianlong reign (1739 AD), between the 10th and 12th years of the Jiaqing reign (1805–1807 AD), and between the 11th and 13th years of the Guangxu reign (1885–1887 AD), eventually taking its current form. The hall is 26.4 meters wide (seven bays) and 14.05 meters deep (five bays). The hall stands majestically atop a broad terrace, with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof adorned with dragon head ridges and carved heavenly palace finials, giving it a noble and elegant appearance with extraordinary presence. Despite multiple renovations, it still retains the style of the Ming Dynasty. The upper eave has seven bays, and the lower eave features a surrounding corridor, with naturally proportioned and well-balanced structures. The central and side bays of the front facade feature carved lattice doors and windows adorned with auspicious motifs such as coiling dragons, phoenixes, cranes, and deer, decorated with plants like peonies, mugwort, and pine branches—lavish and exquisite. Over time, the colors have faded, lending a sense of historical depth. Inside the hall, the sacred statue of Fuxi stands over three meters tall, holding the Eight Trigrams, with a piercing gaze, seated solemnly in the shrine, radiating spiritual presence. Originally, there was a dragon horse statue to its right and a stone disc of the River Chart and the Luo Book to its left, but these were removed in 1941 by the 13th Provisional Production Cooperative and have since been restored to their original forms. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with a combination of caisson ceilings and a central coffered ceiling (in the middle), with the caisson ceiling inlaid with a diagram of the 64 hexagrams of Fuxi, while the coffered ceiling features paintings of the River Chart and Fuxi’s Early Eight Trigrams, uniquely integrating decoration with Fuxi’s legacy. On moonlit nights, standing in the middle courtyard, moonlight filters through the branches of ancient cypresses, casting silver light on the ground, while the old iron bell on the eaves of the Xiantian Hall sways gently in the wind, its chime sounding light and ethereal, as if transcending the mortal realm.

Morning Rooms: Found in both the middle courtyard and the third courtyard, they are symmetrically arranged on the east and west sides in front of the Xiantian Hall and the Taiji Hall. Originally built in the second year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1523 AD), there were 20 rooms at the time. They were renovated in the 10th year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1653 AD), six rooms were repaired and 14 new ones built in the fourth year of the Qianlong reign (1739 AD). Between the 10th and 12th years of the Jiaqing reign (1805–1807 AD), 10 rooms were renovated, and between the 11th and 13th years of the Guangxu reign (1885–1887 AD), they were reconstructed into 16 rooms—five on the east and west sides in front of the Xiantian Hall in the middle courtyard, and three on the east and west sides in front of the Taiji Hall in the third courtyard. Currently, only three rooms remain on the east side of the Taiji Hall. The rooms feature a hanging hip roof and are made of earth and wood. In December 1989, five rooms each were reconstructed on the east and west sides in front of the Xiantian Hall terrace, adopting a veranda-style, brick-and-wood structure. The morning rooms are designed in imitation of palace-style architecture. According to ancient customs, civil and military officials would prepare in these rooms before attending court—either freshening up or adjusting their attire—before waiting quietly for the imperial drums and bells summoning them to the throne hall. Civil officials used the western morning rooms, while military officials used the eastern ones.

Bell Tower: Located on the east and west sides of the Xiantian Hall terrace. A common structure in temples, representing the saying “morning bells and evening drums.” Built between the 10th and 12th years of the Jiaqing reign (1805–1807 AD), both towers have a hexagonal spire roof and are small and delicate. Originally enclosed, with only one side as a door, the carved lattice windows between the pillars have all been removed, making them indistinguishable from pavilions. The bell tower was destroyed by fire in 1940 after the 13th Provisional Force stationed in Fuxi Temple, and the large iron bell from the Qing Dynasty has been lost. The existing bell pavilion was reconstructed in 1988 by the Tianshui Museum. The folk organization for Fuxi worship, the "Shangyuan Society," recast an iron bell, which now hangs inside. The drum tower remains, but the drum itself has long disappeared. According to interviews, the original drum was very large and loud—in 1944, the China Drama Society’s Dai Ya Drama Troupe even borrowed it to accompany thunder sounds during their performance of the play Thunderstorm in Tianshui.

In Tianshui, the 16th day of the first lunar month is traditionally believed to be Fuxi’s birthday. Following custom, people visit Fuxi Temple to “pay homage to the Human Ancestor,” marking the Fuxi Temple Fair—a grand and magnificent event. On this day each year, the people of Tianshui worship Fuxi, the cultural ancestor, gaze upon the simple, kind, and benevolent face of the “Ancestor of Humanity,” reflect on the glorious and distant history of the Chinese nation, remember the great achievements of the Human Ancestor in initiating Chinese civilization, cherish the blessings of the Ancestor, promote Fuxi culture, and foster social unity and progress. People touch and study the ancient inscriptions on stelae, admire exquisitely written calligraphy and paintings, and receive an excellent traditional cultural education.

Address: No. 110, Fuxi Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City

Type: Historical Site

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0938-8230242

Official Website: http://www.tssbwg.com.cn/html/fuximao/

Opening Hours: 8:00–18:00

Transportation

Take bus routes 1, 13, or 14 to the Urban Traffic Police Brigade stop; routes 21 or 22 to the Fuxi Temple stop; outer ring route 18 to the Qinzhou District Hospital stop; or route 24 to the Qinghua Factory stop. Alternatively, walk westward from the southern side of Tianshui Central Square for about 20 minutes, or take a taxi within the city for around 10 yuan.

Ticket Price

Ticket: 40 yuan per person. Children under 1.2 meters, seniors with a Gansu-issued senior citizen card, active-duty military personnel with military ID, and people with disabilities holding a disability certificate can enter free of charge. Seniors over 60 with valid ID, and students (over 1.2 meters) with a student ID can purchase discounted tickets.

Information Source: Qinzhou Government Portal Website

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Key National Cultural Relic Protection Units