Huaibei Bao Gong Ancestral Hall

　　    Commonly known as the "Old Bao Temple," Bao Gong Ancestral Hall is located in the northwest corner of the city and was built in honor of Bao Zheng. This site was originally a government grain storage area, and the people of Chenzhou built the ancestral hall and erected a statue here to express their gratitude to this benefactor who had relieved their suffering during times of famine.

　　    Bao Zheng, a renowned statesman of the Song Dynasty, was known for suppressing evil and promoting good, as well as being upright and incorruptible. It is said that he personally visited Chenzhou incognito, executed the Fourth Imperial Uncle with his executioner’s blade, and eliminated a scourge for the people. He also submitted memorials to the emperor, frankly reporting the disaster situation in Chenzhou, and did many good deeds for the local people. The *Huaibei County Annals* record Bao Zheng’s memorial titled “Petition to Exempt Chenzhou from Additional Currency Exchange Surcharges.” According to historical records, the ancestral hall was first built during the Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua era by Magistrate Dai Xin. In the 12th year of the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing reign (1807 AD), Prefect Bao Min and County Magistrate Zhang Shilian renovated it. On the pillars on both sides of the main hall’s entrance are couplets that read: “In adjudicating wrongful cases, no under-the-table deals are tolerated—this is the demeanor of the King of Hell; in relieving the disaster-stricken, boundless compassion prevails—this remains the heart of a bodhisattva,” which voices the people’s praise for Bao Gong. The existing ruins are currently planned for restoration and reconstruction by the county government.

　　    Information source: Huaibei Government Affairs Website