Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang

Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang

Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Southern part of Zhaoyanzhuang Village, Huayuantun Township, Xinrong District, Datong City

Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang faces south and currently only the stage and the main hall remain, both of which are Qing Dynasty structures. The temple complex is 16.4 meters wide from east to west and 34.2 meters long from north to south, covering an area of approximately 560 square meters.

The main hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep, with a roof supported by a single-step beam paired with a five-rafter beam spanning the full depth, using three columns along the front and back. The front bay functions as an open corridor. It features a single-eave, flush-gable roof covered with tubular tiles. The interior walls on both sides and the rear wall retain Qing Dynasty murals covering an area of about 32 square meters. The current decorative partitions in the central and side bays are no longer extant.

The stage is three bays wide and three rafters deep, with a single-eave, flush-gable roof covered with tubular tiles. The front porch is also three bays wide and three rafters deep, featuring a single-eave, rolled-awning, flush-gable roof covered with tubular tiles. The stage’s beam structure consists of a front four-rafter beam paired with a rear four-rafter beam, spanning the full depth with three columns — a type of connected single-eave and rolled-awning building. The inner eave decorations are no longer present.

The buildings of Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang are remnants of the Qing Dynasty, with beam and bracket components well preserved. The interior walls on both sides and the rear wall of the main hall retain murals from the same period, characterized by soft colors and smooth lines, and are in relatively good condition.

In 2016, Longwang Temple in Zhaoyanzhuang was included in the Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shanxi Province.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shanxi Province