Leizhou Jinghai Palace

　　The “Leizhou Jinghai Palace Couplet Art Stele Corridor” is situated within Jinghai Palace in Xialan North Village by the Nandu River in Leizhou, about 10 kilometers from downtown Leizhou. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, the temple was named “Jinghai Palace” (meaning “Sea-Calming Palace”) as it faces the sea and enshrines Mazu Lin Mo Niang, revered as the “Goddess of Peace on the Straits.” The temple features simple yet elegant architecture, and houses couplet calligraphy masterpieces written by notable figures such as Li Jinxi, a Hanlin academician of the Qing Dynasty, and He Dacong, a successful imperial examination candidate. It is now a cultural relic protection unit of Leizhou City.

　　The “Leizhou Jinghai Palace Couplet Art Stele Corridor” plans to engrave over 400 couplets. The first phase of the project features 100 couplets personally composed and handwritten by more than 200 renowned calligraphers from 30 provinces and municipalities across China. The front courtyard of the stele corridor displays poems and famous quotes about Leizhou and Jinghai Palace written by historical figures. Right at the front of the corridor, large stone slabs made of premium bluestone—each measuring 2.5 meters in height and 0.6 meters in width—are assembled into a massive stele wall that stands 2.5 meters tall and stretches 25 meters wide. The inscriptions on the steles are penned by prominent contemporary Chinese calligraphers.

　　The name “Leizhou Jinghai Palace Couplet Art Stele Corridor” was handwritten by Shen Peng, Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. The stele corridor boasts a rich collection of calligraphic works covering various script styles, each with its own unique flair and vibrant energy, offering an overwhelming visual feast. This undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to promoting China’s outstanding traditional culture and revitalizing the art of couplet writing. It also serves as an ideal destination for travelers to appreciate traditional Chinese culture and calligraphy art.