Temple of Immortal Maiden He

Temple of Immortal Maiden He

The Temple of Immortal Maiden He is a cultural relic protection unit in Guangzhou.

The Temple of Immortal Maiden He is a key cultural relic protection unit in Guangzhou, located within the He Xiangu Tourist Scenic Area in Xiaolou Market, Xiaolou Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, it has endured through times of turmoil and warfare, undergoing multiple renovations. Major repairs were carried out during the Ming Dynasty, and it was rebuilt in the eighth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1858).

The temple has a brick-and-stone bracket-and-beam structure. The first and third sections feature 13-rafter front porches with fireproof gables, while the second section includes a five-rafter worship pavilion supported by four pillars and one bay, topped with a flush-gable roof. Its main ridge and hip ridges are adorned with upturned decorations. The interior and exterior of the temple are decorated mainly with wood carvings, lime carvings, and brick carvings. The flying eaves are covered with intricate carvings of flowers, birds, and opera figures, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. Please note that the lintel of the stone mountain gate at the front of the temple is inscribed with the official script plaque “Temple of Immortal Maiden He,” written in the eighth year of the Xianfeng reign (1858) by Huang Peifang. The mountain gate also bears a running script stone couplet: “A thousand years of shoes left by the crimson well, generations of worshippers paying homage at the ancient shrine.” This couplet was penned by the then-official Wang Yingdou. In the upper line, the characters “shoes” and “clogs” both refer to embroidered footwear, alluding to the story of Immortal Maiden He throwing her embroidered shoes into a well a thousand years ago, where they remained beside the well. The lower line reflects the long history of the temple and the reverence people hold for Immortal Maiden He.

Within the temple grounds are attractions such as the Immortal Maiden Hall, the Peach on the Temple Roof, the Immortal Maiden Well, the Three Loyalists Temple, and the Eight Immortals Hall. The temple celebrates two major festivals each year: the birthday of Immortal Maiden He on the seventh day of the third lunar month, and the day she attained immortality on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month. Devotees spontaneously hold grand commemorative events, drawing huge crowds and creating spectacular scenes. In response to worshippers' requests, the Temple of Immortal Maiden He has been rebuilt on a site covering 14,000 square meters, with additional constructions including the Immortal Source Archway, the Temple Square, the Eight Immortals Guildhall, [a missing name], the Mica Stream, and the Immortal Maiden Stele Forest, among other supporting attractions. The temple and the temple square have currently been renovated.

Address: Within the He Xiangu Tourist Scenic Area in Xiaolou Market, Xiaolou Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou

Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 020-82849116

Opening hours:

8:00–17:30, sometimes closing earlier at 17:00.

Xiaolou Community: Xiaolou Community…… More details about Xiaolou Community++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangzhou Cultural Relic Protection Units