General Yu’s Shrine

General Yu’s Shrine

General Yu’s Shrine is a cultural tourism attraction.

General Yu’s Shrine is located on a relatively open hillside, dozens of meters west of the ancient post road, midway between Qiyun Pavilion and the Meiguan Pass. It is a memorial shrine built to honor General Yu Sheng, a Han dynasty military officer, for his meritorious service in guarding Meiling. General Yu’s surname was Yu and his given name was Sheng. In the fifth year of the Yuanding era (112 BC) of Emperor Wu of Han, after he followed Admiral Yang Pu in pacifying the Southern Yue, in order to consolidate the southern border, he and his brother led troops to be stationed north of the ridge, building a city in Dayu and garrisoning Meiling. As he was the eldest, he was referred to as “Dayu” (Greater Yu). After his death, the local people built this shrine to commemorate his virtues and achievements. The original name of Dayu County was Dayu, and Meiling was called Yuling (Yu’s Ridge), both in honor of General Yu Sheng.

It is said that the shrine site was originally a military camp from the Han dynasty. In 1991, the People's Government of Dayu County selected this location to build the General’s Shrine and the ChaoHan Platform. The shrine is built in a traditional Chinese temple style with brick and wood structure, featuring three bays and covering an area of 90 square meters. A statue of General Yu is enshrined in the main hall. On the front porch pillars of the shrine hang the couplet:

No need for plum blossoms here, just to mark the general’s name;

From here one reaches Guangdong’s shores, may we never forget the statesman’s grace.

A few steps in front of the shrine stands a cement platform surrounded by stone railings on all sides, called the ChaoHan Platform. It is said to have been the flag-raising site for stationed troops during the Han dynasty. In ancient times, raising the military flag served a purpose similar to today’s—it signified the presence of a garrisoned military camp and also reflected soldiers’ loyalty to the court and the nation.