Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple

Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple

The Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou.

The Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple was first built in the year of Ji Hai during the Qing Dynasty, which corresponds to 1899 AD, and was renovated in 1904 with donations from enthusiastic individuals from all walks of life. Although the location was remote at the time, it was once one of the religious sanctuaries in Guangzhou, enjoying great popularity with flourishing incense offerings, exerting significant influence over downtown Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta region. Although the temple was damaged in 1910, the relics left from the old temple, such as stone-carved couplets, relief-carved stone pillars, plaques, door ornaments, and stone lions, were all adorned with exquisite carvings, giving us a glimpse of the grand scale and refined architectural artistry of the temple in its heyday.

In 1915, the then abbot of the Wong Tai Sin Temple, Taoist priest Leung Yan-on, brought the image of Wong Tai Sin, the divination sticks, and herbal prescription sticks to Hong Kong, where he built a new temple in 1921. Similarly, Wong Tai Sin is deeply revered and worshipped by people both in China and abroad. Since the reform and opening-up, many enthusiastic individuals from home and overseas have called for the restoration of the Fangcun Wong Tai Sin Temple on its original site. After approval by relevant departments, (Hong Kong) Canada Land Limited and Fangcun New Litchi Bay Industrial Development Co., Ltd. collaborated to form Guangzhou Jiayou Tourism Scenic Area Development Co., Ltd., responsible for the reconstruction project of the Wong Tai Sin Temple. After two years of planning and design, construction began in November 1997, and the first phase of the project was completed on February 6, 1999, opening to visitors for sightseeing.

The reconstructed Wong Tai Sin Temple is located at No. 1 Guci Road, Fangcun District, close to the Fangcun and Huadiwan subway stations. The entire temple complex covers an area of approximately 13,000 square meters, shaped like a rectangle, with a south main gate and an east side gate for visitors to enter and exit.

The Wong Tai Sin Temple is a tourist religious attraction that integrates traditional customs, culture, art, and tourism. The temple currently features: the main Wong Tai Sin Hall, which stands tall on a raised platform at the center; the Guan Di Temple and Dou Mu Temple on the left upon entering; the God of Wealth Hall and Confucius Hall on the right upon entering; the Lu Zu Hall and Merit Hall on the left of the main hall; the Guanyin Hall on the right of the main hall; as well as one each of the East and West “Add Fortune” and “Add Longevity” corridors. The overall design employs an elevated main structure to make the main hall appear even more majestic. This religious landmark has regained its fame, adding a new tourist attraction to Guangzhou, providing a place for worshippers to pray, give alms, and honor ancestors, while also preserving the relics of the original Wong Tai Sin Temple. It is truly a worthwhile destination for visitors.

Architectural Structure

The stone lions on the left and right sides of the Wong Tai Sin Temple are relics from the Qing Dynasty, offering a glimpse into the many historical changes the temple has undergone.

Passing through the “Add Fortune” and “Add Longevity” corridors and ascending the stone steps, you will see the towering “Chisong Wong Tai Sin Hall.” The hall is 18 meters high, featuring an internal hollow structure without columns, making it one of the tallest hollow halls among temples in Guangzhou. The bronze statue of Wong Tai Sin inside the hall stands 3.2 meters tall, with a diameter of 2.5 meters and weighs 3 tons. Legend has it that Wong Tai Sin in folklore is helpful, responsive to prayers, compassionate, and promotes goodness, making him highly beloved by the public. The couplet on both sides of the hall reads: “Herding sheep in the Jin Dynasty, riding a crane to the southern skies.”

To the west of the main hall is the Lu Zu Hall, and to the east is the Guanyin Hall. The Guanyin statue is 2.1 meters tall and weighs 2 tons, carved from a single piece of white marble. The integration of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, a tradition in China since ancient times, is particularly evident in this temple. Both the Lu Zu Hall and Guanyin Hall are two-story structures.

The Guan Di Temple and Dou Mu Temple are located on the west side. Guan Di, also known as Guan Yu or Lord Guan, whose given name was Yu, was from Xieliang in Shanxi and was born in 160 AD. During the Three Kingdoms period, he formed a brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei in the Peach Garden. He later achieved remarkable military feats by slaying six generals and crossing five passes. Due to his loyalty and righteousness, Guan Yu has been revered by emperors, commoners, and followers of all three religions throughout history. Buddhism regards him as the God of Monasteries, Confucianism honors him as the Martial Sage, and Taoism venerates him as the Emperor Guan. The 30th day of the fifth lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of Emperor Guan in Taoism.

Dou Mu, also known as Dou Mu or Dou Mu, is the mother of the stars of the Big Dipper. She has a unique appearance with a kind expression. Legend says she has nine sons, among whom, apart from the Jade Emperor and the Purple Star Northern Emperor, the other seven are the seven stars of the Big Dipper. As she governs so many deities, those who have offended the Tai Sui star are believed to be able to absolve their sins by worshipping Dou Mu.

The God of Wealth Hall and Confucius Hall are located on the east side. Zhao Gongming was a figure from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. After attaining immortality, the Jade Emperor appointed him as the God of Wealth, in charge of all worldly wealth matters. Among the many deities, the God of Wealth is the most popular among the people. It is a folk custom that the fifth day of the first lunar month is the day to welcome the God of Wealth.

Confucius is revered as a sage, having lived from 551 BC to 479 BC, over 2,500 years ago. A native of the State of Lu, Confucius was a renowned thinker, politician, and educator in the late Spring and Autumn Period, and the founder of the Confucian school. He had 3,000 disciples, including 72 notable ones. As a result, Confucian teachings became the foundation of China’s feudal education system for over 2,000 years, and Confucius is honored by emperors and commoners alike as the originator of education and a model teacher for all generations.

Introduction to Treasures

The temple also houses two other treasures: one is the plaques of the Wong Tai Sin Main Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Lu Zu Hall, which were donated by the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture. They are all made from ancient pine wood sleepers (ancient pine logs) excavated from the ruins of the royal garden of the Nanyue Kingdom. As the saying goes, “Pine lasts a thousand years, cypress ten thousand,” the temple’s ancient wooden plaques were buried five meters underground for over 2,200 years, weighing 500 kilograms, and are remarkably well-preserved. They have been identified as one of the oldest preserved ancient woods in the world today, making them extremely valuable historical relics. The other treasure is two small lychee trees planted from cuttings of the original lychee trees from the Zengcheng Guailv Orchard, located in the east and west gardens. These two Zengcheng Guailv lychee trees are precious trees approved for gifting by relevant government departments and have now grown to over one meter tall.

Address: No. 1 Guci Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Type: Temple

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 020-81499626

Opening Hours:

7:00–17:30, Xinxin Garden: 9:00–16:30

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 5.0 RMB

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangzhou Protected Cultural Heritage Sites