South Sea Temple

South Sea Temple

The South Sea Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

South Sea Temple

The South Sea Temple in southern Guide City is one of the "Eight Ancient Scenic Spots." The mountain resembles a coiling dragon, with the South Sea Guanyin Hall, Sanqing Palace, and Taoist Wangmu Palace in front of it, and the Wenfeng Pavilion at the summit. Arches and pagodas are nestled among weeping willows and pine trees, while halls and palace walls are interspersed along streams and rocky cliffs. A small bridge slants across the mountainside where a stream murmurs, ancient trees tower overhead casting deep shade, and on auspicious days, the temple attracts throngs of visitors.

Historical Legends

It was first built in the late Ming Dynasty, constructed from west to east along the mountain’s contours. The mountain is said to be shaped like a dragon and is believed to be the site of a dragon vein. The story of the Ming Dynasty official Liu Bowen sending men to sever the dragon vein is widely circulated locally.

This ancient mountain holds a magical legend: at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Prime Minister Liu Bowen discovered nine migrating dragon veins across the country. Among them, the one on Meizi Mountain was the largest. As the mountain is shaped like a dragon, it is said to be the location of a dragon vein. This mountain was moving downward, and if its head reached the banks of the Yellow River and drank its waters, the spiritually rich land of Guide would surely give birth to a “true dragon emperor.” When Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang heard of this, he was both shocked and alarmed. Since his empire was hard-won through the efforts of countless soldiers, he constantly feared losing his throne and urgently dispatched his trusted minister and then-prime minister Liu Bowen to Guide to sever the dragon vein. The person sent was from Qingtian, which later gave rise to the tale of the “Qingtian Dragon Vein Severing.” As the group dug at the dragon vein, strange things occurred: the spot excavated during the day would quietly close up again at night, repeating for several days, leaving everyone at a loss. Later, following advice from a wise person, a Guanyin Hall was built halfway up Meizi Mountain, enshrining the Goddess of Mercy to suppress the dragon’s head, allowing the vein to be successfully severed. During the excavation, red soil—still damp—was unearthed, which locals believed to be the dragon’s blood from the severed vein. Looking down, you can see the mountain pass where the vein was cut, as deep as a three-story building.

Since then, this ancient mountain has attracted countless visitors from all over, drawn by this magical legend to examine the remnants of the severed vein and listen to the wondrous tale of the “Qingtian Dragon Vein Severing.”

Cultural Background

During the “Great Leap Forward” in 1958, under the slogan of “eliminating superstition,” not a single structure among the South Sea Temple, Huangmiao (City God Temple), Confucian Temple, and Wenchang Temple in Guide was spared from demolition. Treating ancient relics as “superstition” was a tragedy of that unique era. In 1985, the public raised funds to rebuild the Guanyin Hall, Wenfeng Pavilion, and other structures including pavilions, terraces, towers, and gazebos. Behind the pavilion, a stone tablet was erected inscribed with the four characters “人文蔚起” (Cultural Prosperity Rises), reflecting the cultural aspirations of the people of Guide. Mr. Zhang Yinxi wrote a poem: “Ornate palaces and halls stand unevenly, a belt of misty smoke sets off the evening glow. Utter serenity knows no obstruction, as murmuring streams accompany forest crows.”

The South Sea Temple scenic area is known as “The Sound of Streams at South Sea” among the “Eight Ancient Scenic Spots” of Guide. Ascending Meizi Mountain allows you to enjoy the sweeping views of Guide’s beautiful pastoral scenery and witness the remnants of the “Qingtian Dragon Vein Severing.” It is a tourist destination where Taoism, Han Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism coexist harmoniously.