Pangu King Cultural Park

Pangu King Cultural Park

Pangu King Cultural Park is located at the foot of the mountain northwest of the county town, covering an area of 10 hectares. Construction began in January 2001, and it opened to the public during the Spring Festival in 2004. The park consists of four main parts. The first is the Pangu King Temple, which spans an area of 2,000 square meters. It is designed in the architectural style of Buddhist temples, built with concrete and topped with glazed tiles, featuring crimson-painted walls and golden-yellow roofs, exuding magnificence and grandeur. Inside the main hall, the central shrine houses a statue of Pangu King, holding a mountain-splitting axe, majestic and solemn, and remarkably lifelike. Behind the statue of Pangu King are statues of Guanyin, the Golden Boy, and the Jade Girl, with 14 additional deities on either side, all solemn yet vibrant. Two main pillars in the hall feature a long couplet in clerical script: “Learning from Huang-Lao and Lao-Zhuang, Confucianism and Buddhism, recognizing one’s roots under the Pangu King Hall—Taoism, Buddhism, or Confucianism? For thousands of years its radiance shines brighter than the sun and moon; inspired by the snow of Kunlun, the rain of Tai Mountain, and the mists of Longmen, nourishing spirits in the Mirror of the Universe—with snow, clouds, rain, and the mighty energy of ten thousand years shaking wind and thunder.” At the temple gate, there is another couplet: “Creating heaven and earth, not called emperor yet revered as the ancestral emperor; traversing the sun and moon, not deified yet honored as the origin of gods,” unique in style and deeply spiritual. In front of the Pangu King Hall, there is a front hall, in the center of which stands a marble stele inscribed in running script with the words “Pangu King, the Progenitor of Heaven and Earth.” On either side stand the deities Guang Gong and Zhao Gong, guardians of the mountain gate—civil wealth and martial valor—adding to the solemnity and reverence. The gate couplet reads: “Admire the landscapes, here the scenery is uniquely splendid; worship the gods and honor the ancestors, this is the most revered shrine.” It sets the tone and provides a fitting prelude for visitors to pay homage at the Pangu King Temple.

The second part is the bonfire party entertainment hall. This is a circular hall with a conical roof and tiered seating built along the surrounding slopes, capable of accommodating several thousand spectators. It serves as a performance venue for interactive entertainment with visitors. After visiting the Pangu King Temple and paying respects to the deities, guests can attend the bonfire party. The party showcases a grand display of Yao ethnic culture and folk art. A furnace in the center of the hall burns brightly, illuminating the space like daylight. The program features various Yao ethnic songs and dances, inviting visitors to wear Yao costumes and sing and dance with Yao performers, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere.

The third part is the Yao Ethnic History and Folk Customs Exhibition Hall, which includes an introduction to Yao history, images of Yao culture, displays of traditional Yao clothing, household items, various cultural relics, and unique rockery and potted plants, offering insights into the history and lifestyle of the Pao Yao people.

The fourth part is the Yao Ethnic Village, a replica of Pao Yao residential architecture that encapsulates the characteristics of a Yao village.

Location: Panlong Street, Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province