Baidong Shrine in Zhongxian County

　　was first built in the third year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty and expanded in the tenth year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. It is a shrine built in honor of Bai Juyi, the celebrated poet of the Tang Dynasty and prefect of Zhongzhou (he served as prefect of Zhongzhou in 818 AD), and is one of only two shrines dedicated to Bai Juyi that are as renowned as the "Tang Shaozhuan Bai Gong Tomb Shrine" on Xiangshan Mountain in Luoyang. Bai Juyi, also known as Letian, and in his later years as Xiangshan, was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty who rose to the position of Hanlin Academician. He holds a distinguished and influential place in the history of Chinese literature, earning titles such as the "Poetry Devil" and "Poetry King." Bai had an enlightened political stance and, through his poetry and prose, sharply exposed and criticized the debauchery and corruption of bureaucrats, which led to his persecution and ostracism. In 818 AD, he was demoted and appointed prefect of Zhongzhou. During his tenure, he devoted himself to national affairs and the welfare of the people, promoting agriculture and sericulture, leading by example, simplifying governance, showing leniency in punishment, caring for the elderly and children, building roads through mountains, planting trees and flowers, and sharing the joys and hardships of the people. During his time in office, he wrote over a hundred poems and lyrics, many of which were powerful in both thought and artistry, leaving enduring masterpieces that influenced his contemporaries and later generations. Upon arriving in Zhongzhou, Bai Juyi composed a poem that same night: "Fortunate indeed is Prefect Li in this far-off land, / We meet at dusk by riverside so grand. / The clerks are rough as deer, unused to grace, / The town so sparse, it scarce a village replaces. / A single orchid boat marks the post road’s way, / A hundred stone steps climb to the prefect’s bay. / No level ground is here for travelers’ ease, / I wrong the red-wheeled chariot, horses five at least." When departing Zhongzhou, he left another poem: "Two years detained in riverside town I’ve stayed, / All grass and trees, birds, fish, seem kind and not afraid. / Where shall I turn my grateful gaze again? / The peach and plum trees planted on the eastern plain." These poems reflect his deep affection for Zhongzhou and its people. The people of Zhongzhou held him in high esteem, and together with Liu Yan, Lu Zhi, and Li Jifu, he was revered as one of the Four Sages, with the Four Sages Pavilion built during the Song Dynasty in his memory.

　　In the third year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Yicong, the prefect of Zhongzhou, held Bai Juyi in high regard. Aware of how beloved Bai was among the local people during his time as prefect, he proposed the construction of a shrine in his honor. The townspeople all supported the idea enthusiasti

　　The present-day White’s Ancestral Hall is built across two terraced levels against the mountain and beside the river, presenting a majestic sight. In front of the gate lies a stone stairway over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) wide sloping down to the river. To the left stand towering ancient trees, and to the right rises a lofty stilted building. At the top of the stairs is the main gate of White’s Ancestral Hall, a three-bay, four-pillar, three-section memorial archway. Its horizontal plaque reads “White’s Ancestral Hall,” while the couplet on the gate reads: “Boundless grace over mountains and rivers, the virtuous prefect forever remembered by the people; timeless literary masterpieces shining like the sun and moon, the great poet revered for all generations.” This expresses the heartfelt sentiments of the people. A pair of imposing stone lions on either side adds a sense of dignity to the gate. Entering the gate, one is greeted by a semi-circular lotus pond filled with emerald green water, brimming with vitality, which complements the flowers and plants in the garden. Back in the day, Bai Juyi visited this place and wrote “Lotus Pond at Longchang Temple”: “Cool azure waters in early autumn, half-bloomed lotuses tinged with crimson. Always feeling solitary and desolate, never like by this pondside.” This small lotus pond adds a touch of charm to White’s Ancestral Hall.

　　At the western end of White’s Ancestral Hall lies a grove of rare Magnolia fordiana trees. These trees grow in the valleys and are also called “yellow-heart trees” by the local Ba people. The larger ones reach a height of five zhang (approximately 16.5 meters), remain evergreen throughout winter, and have trunks resembling those of poplar trees but marked with white streaks. Their leaves are similar to osmanthus—thick, large, and veinless—while their blossoms emit a fragrant lotus-like aroma. They typically begin blooming in early April and only remain in bloom for about twenty days before withering. This was the tree species Bai Juyi cherished most during his time as an official in Zhongzhou. Through these trees, he saw reflections of his own fate, prompting him to compose three quatrains: “Like transplanting a lotus into dry land, or hanging peonies on high branches. Hidden by clouds and separated by water, unseen by anyone, except for the prefect of Nanbin.” “Red as rouge, smooth as powder, such beautiful things are fleeting. Mountain winds blow unpredictably—who knows if they’ll still be here tomorrow?” “Already sorrowful that the flowers fall into the barren valley, yet also resent that their roots grow among jagged rocks. Tried many times to transplant them but couldn’t—the heavens have cast them into these deep mountains.” Bai Juyi lamented that the Magnolia fordiana trees were both beautiful and sorrowful, much like his own fate. “Hidden by clouds and separated by water, unseen by anyone” and “the heavens have cast them into these deep mountains” expressed Bai Juyi’s mindset at the time.

　　Turning right after entering the gate leads to the “Bai Garden.” The gate couplet reads: “Floating clouds do not bind the name ‘Juyi’; nature acts without effort, thus the name ‘Letian.’” Cleverly embedding Bai’s given name and courtesy name, this couplet is taken from two lines of a mourning poem composed by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang upon Bai’s passing. Within the garden stands an Ink-Washing Pool and a bronze statue of Bai Juyi. The east and west sides are separated by flower walls, with the terrain higher in the east and lower in the west. On the southern side, buildings are constructed along the slope in the style of boat-roof architecture. Among them, the Bai Juyi Life Exhibition Room displays his genealogy, life chronology, and achievements during his time as an official in Zhongzhou. The Drunken Chant Pavilion is a four-pillar, three-story structure where visitors can lean on the railings and gaze into the distance. This is a complex pavilion supported by 16 pillars, comprising one main building and four gate towers, allowing visitors to enter, exit, and enjoy the elevated view. Directly beneath the pavilion lies the site of the Longchang Temple from the Tang Dynasty. With towering mountains, it is the first to catch the moonlight. From here, the Yangtze River below resembles a jade ribbon, while the opposite bank features lush green mountains and bamboo forests in clear view. Sitting in the corridor built along the slope, one enjoys the cool, refreshing river breeze.

　　Due to the construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the “national treasures”—Han Dynasty stone memorial archways—scattered across various locations in the region, have all been relocated to White’s Ancestral Hall. Han Dynasty stone archways are the only surviving above-ground structures from the Han Dynasty. There are only 29 such structures nationwide, and Zhong County alone has five, accounting for more than one-sixth of the total, truly making it the rightful “Hometown of Han Dynasty Stone Archways” in China.

　　Ascending the steps through the Archway Garden, one can see the Ming and Qing dynasty ancient buildings—the Guan Yu Temple, Laoguan Temple, and Taibao Shrine—which are currently under restoration and nearing completion. These three ancient buildings are part of the Zhong County Reservoir Cultural Relics Relocation and Protection Project. They are among the larger and better-preserved temple structures in Zhong County. They provide visitors with a platform to explore Zhong County’s culture of loyalty and righteousness as well as its long history.

　　Bai Juyi (772~846)　　Bai Juyi (772–846), a renowned realist poet of the Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Letian, and his pseudonym was Xiangshan Jushi. Originally of Kucha descent, his ancestral home was in Taiyuan (present-day Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province), later moving to Xiazhai (present-day Weinan City, Shaanxi Province). He was born in Xinzheng County, Henan Province. His father served as a Bieji (an official title) in Xiangzhou but passed away when Bai was young. Bai Juyi was exceptionally intelligent in his childhood, beginning to study poetry at the age of five or six. When he was ten, several regional military governors in Hebei and Huainan launched rebellions, and war suddenly broke out. To protect his son, Bai’s father sent him to what is now Zhejiang to seek refuge. Bai thus left his hometown with his mother and wandered through the regions south of the Yangtze River. In the third year of the Zhenyuan era of Emperor Dezong of Tang (787), at the age of 16... Details+