Haikou Tin Hau Temple

　　   Haikou Tin Hau Temple, located at No. 87 Zhongshan Road in Haikou (also known as Tin Hau Temple or Mazu Temple), was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, boasting a history of over 700 years. After the liberation, the Haikou Finance Bureau took over the temple as public property, which was later transferred to the management of the Haikou Housing Authority. The Housing Authority treated it as directly managed public housing and leased it long-term to the Zhongshan Overseas Chinese Market, operated by the Haikou Special Supply Corporation under the Haikou Commerce and Trade Bureau. In June 2000, the Haikou Municipal Government officially designated the Tin Hau Temple as a municipal-level cultural relic protection site. In May 2009, the Hainan Provincial Government listed it as part of the second batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units.

　　   According to the "Qiongtai Zhi" (Chronicles of Qiong Prefecture) from the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengde era, “Tianfei Temples” (Temples of the Heavenly Queen) had already appeared in places such as Qiongshan (now part of Haikou), Wanzhou (now Wanning), Yazhou (now Sanya), and Engan (now Dongfang) by the Yuan Dynasty at the latest. However, no traces remain of the Tianfei Temples in Wanning, Sanya, or Dongfang, except for the one in Haikou, whose ruins are found in the old streets of Haikou on Zhongshan Road and Baishamen Shang Village. It is now called “Tin Hau Temple.” Japanese scholar Kobayashi Jun’s “History of Hainan Island” also mentions: “The earliest Tin Hau Temple on Hainan Island was built during the Yuan Dynasty in Baishajin and Haikou.”

　　   The Tin Hau Temple on Zhongshan Road in Haikou was last renovated in the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1860). On June 15, 2000, the Haikou Municipal Government listed its ruins as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit, and it was soon also designated as a provincial-level protected site. In November of the same year, during the restructuring of Haikou’s commercial enterprises, the Tin Hau Temple was used as directly managed public housing to offset employee resettlement compensation, and was sold to former employees of the Zhongshan Overseas Chinese Market. For a time, it became a warehouse for private shops. The current main structure of the Tin Hau Temple still reflects the grandeur of its original architecture. Architectural experts have praised its style, identifying it as a typical example of traditional Chinese post-and-lintel construction, finely crafted with exquisite carvings. It also reflects the long-standing presence of Mazu culture in Hainan.

　　   Location: No. 87 Zhongshan Road, Longhua District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

　　   Transportation: Take bus routes 3, 5, 6, 14, 17, 20, 21, 30, 37, Tourist Line 1, or Tourist Line 3 within Haikou City to get there