Changchun Temple Xuanwu Culture Museum

　　In the 20th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1592 AD), Empress Dowager Li, the birth mother of Emperor Wanli (Zhu Yijun), commissioned the construction of this grand temple, once hailed as the “Foremost Temple in the Capital,” for the eminent monk Shuizhai who had come to the capital. Emperor Wanli bestowed the name “Changchun,” meaning “longevity,” upon the temple. Thanks to imperial patronage, it flourished for a time but was destroyed in an earthquake in Beijing in the 18th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1679). It was rebuilt in the 21st year of the Qianlong era (1756) and underwent subsequent renovations. The structure faces east and currently consists of two groups of buildings along its north–south axis, with the main axis located in the southern courtyard, featuring a three-courtyard layout, while the northern courtyard houses several smaller-style buildings. After Li Dazhao was executed by warlords on April 28, 1927, his remains were temporarily laid in state here.

　　In 2002, the Xuanwu District government funded the relocation of 145 resident households from the temple and renovated the surrounding environment. After restoration was completed in 2004, it was opened to the public as the Xuanwu Culture Museum.

　　The museum focuses on the long history and rich cultural heritage of Xuanwu, presenting exhibits in a centralized and vivid manner that allows visitors to learn about and take an interest in the distinctive regional culture of Xuanwu in Beijing.