Yangsimiao Temple

　　Yangsimiao Temple is situated on the rock face of the ancient Shuhe Wharf, at the southernmost end of the ancient town of Shuhe. It faces east with its back to the west, backed by the rear hillside and fronted by the Han River, with its main gate directly facing the confluence of the Shuhe and Han Rivers. The temple served as the guild hall for the “boatmen’s guild” of Shuhe during the Qing Dynasty. Based on surviving fragmentary inscriptions, it is believed to have been established in the mid-Qing period. According to an adjacent broken stele, it was built in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign (1754).

　　Upon entering the main gate of Yangsimiao Temple and ascending a dozen or so stone steps, you will find a large “courtyard” that could accommodate nearly two thousand people. During the 1950s and 60s, this space served as the “Shuhe Han Opera Troupe” and the “Shuhe Cinema,” functioning as a cultural and entertainment venue for the local residents.

　　The extant structures mainly include the upper hall, worship hall, music tower, and gate tower. Their layout is largely similar to that of the Huangzhou Guild Hall, though they cannot compare in terms of scale or refinement. The worship hall is 11.1 meters wide and 7.45 meters deep, with eave columns standing 4.6 meters high, featuring a flush-gable roof. In front of the upper hall lies the worship hall, which has the same width as the main hall and is 8.3 meters deep, with eave columns 4.7 meters high, also sporting a flush-gable roof. Directly opposite the worship hall is the music tower, a raised-platform structure measuring 10.15 meters in width and 4.79 meters in depth, with columns 7.86 meters tall and a hip-and-gable roof. On either side of the music tower were originally symmetrical wing rooms, two stories high, with corridors on the upper floor that likely served as viewing stands. However, these wing rooms no longer exist. The current northern wing room was built spontaneously by locals, and its style is quite discordant with the other buildings, leading the government to halt further construction. Adjacent to the music tower is the gate tower, which matches the width of the upper and worship halls and is 4.5 meters deep, with eave columns 6.5 meters high. Its façade features decorative archway styling, with firewalls on both sides shaped like reclining dragons, exhibiting distinct southern Chinese architectural characteristics. The main gate is flanked by a couplet inlaid with blue porcelain tiles: “Blessings guard Xunzhou, behold the towering temple amid clouds and rain; divine power shines over the Han River, rejoicing in smooth voyages with calm waves.”

　　The left side of the main gate was originally the main entrance to Chaoyang Cave, where a stone stele once stood. However, severe weathering has rendered the inscriptions on the stele illegible. The temple once housed two steles of significant historical value: one from the 6th year of the Tongzhi reign (1867) and another from the 8th year of the Guangxu reign (1882), both dedicated to protecting the interests of boatmen.

　　At the northern end of the entrance courtyard are two grottoes, with the inscription “Southeast’s Number One Cave” above their entrance. The outer wall of the grottoes features a stele from the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign (1872) commemorating the restoration of Chaoyang Ancient Cave. Local legend says that Chaoyang Ancient Cave connects directly to Sichuan. In previous years, some explorers ventured inside, but due to cave-ins, the entrance was sealed off by the government for safety reasons. In the 1st year of the Daoguang reign (1821), the renowned physician Wang Haixianqiao compiled the medical text *Chang Yi Ya Yan* (Elegant Words on Medicine) within Chaoyang Ancient Cave, which has been passed down through generations.

　　After the liberation, Yangsimiao Temple was repurposed as a grain storage facility and a movie screening venue. Today, everyone in Shuhe over the age of 45 has either sold grain and oil here or watched a film. The door sill was even cut down to make it easier for the grain management office to move oil barrels—a rather regrettable loss. Due to long-term neglect, the temple fell into disrepair, with the wing rooms gone and the main hall, worship hall, and music tower nearly collapsing. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been a renewed recognition of the importance of preserving ancient streets, alleys, temples, and guildhalls. The protective restoration of Yangsimiao Temple has been included in the government’s agenda, preventing this centuries-old structure from being lost forever.