Ancestral Temple of Zu Dashou　

Attraction Introduction

　　The Ancestral Temple of Zu Dashou is situated at No. 3 Fuguo Street (formerly Zu Family Street) in Xicheng District. Zu Dashou, a native of Liaodong, was a general of the Ming dynasty who surrendered to the Qing, and he passed away in the 13th year of the Shunzhi era (1656) under Qing rule. Originally, this site was Zu Dashou’s residence, which was later converted into a memorial temple. In the 8th year of the Yongzheng era (1730), the Eight Banners Official School, specifically the Plain Yellow Banner School, was established here and was renovated in the 34th year of the Qianlong era (1769). It was later transformed into the Third Public Middle School of the capital.

　　The temple faces south and features a pair of mounting stones outside its gate. Many grand temples and luxurious mansions in Beijing have been destroyed, demolished, lost without a trace, or altered beyond recognition. Fortunately, the Ancestral Temple of Zu Dashou has been very well preserved and maintained. It is now located at No. 3 Fuguo Street, facing south, with a central axis that includes a three-bay main gate, a three-bay corridor hall, a five-bay front hall in the front courtyard, and one wing room on each side. The rear courtyard contains a five-bay bedroom, two wing rooms on each side, and three side rooms on each side. There is also a west-side courtyard and a garden, following the typical layout of an official residence from the Qing dynasty. Between the front and rear courtyards, there is a large and exquisitely crafted decorative screen gate—rare among Beijing residences—which is a classic feature of Qing-era bureaucratic homes. It is a key cultural relic protected by Xicheng District.

During the construction of Ping’an Avenue and the expansion of Zhaodengyu Road, special care was taken to avoid the Ancestral Temple of Zu Dashou. Beijing No. 3 Middle School has also shown great care for historical architecture. During its expansion, the new teaching building was constructed to the west, leaving the old buildings untouched. Today, the school features traditional ancestral halls standing side by side with modern teaching facilities, each in its rightful place. In 1995, the school opened the Lao She Exhibition Room in the very classroom where the famous writer Lao She once studied, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by Lao She’s wife, Madam Hu Jieqing.

　　　　Location: Situated at No. 3 Fuguo Street (formerly Zu Family Street) in Xicheng District.

Ticket: For specific details, please consult the attraction directly.

Opening Hours: 08:00–16:00 (all day); Last admission: 16:00 (January 1 – December 31, Monday–Sunday)

Xicheng District, Beijing