Jiyuan Jidu Temple

　　Officially known as Jidu Beihai Temple, it is a national key cultural relics protection unit, located at the source of the Ji River in the northwest of Jiyuan City. It is the only most completely preserved and grandest historical cultural heritage site among the ancient “Four Sacred Rivers,” as well as the largest existing ancient architectural complex in Henan Province, hailed as the “museum” of ancient Central Plains architecture.

　　Jidu Temple was first built in the second year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (582 AD) to worship the Jidu God, one of the “Four Sacred Rivers.” The tradition of worshipping deities dates back to ancient times. In the agriculture-based society of antiquity, where productivity was low and science underdeveloped, people could not explain many natural phenomena and thus imagined various river and mountain deities who controlled rain and influenced harvests. As a result, enshrining and worshiping these deities became a ritual of emperors throughout the dynasties, involving elaborate procedures and numerous ceremonies. The Ji River was originally called the Northern Sacred River’s Great Ji God. In the third year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (744 AD), it was elevated to the title of Qingyuan Duke. In the twelfth year of the Zhenyuan era (796 AD), since the Beihai (Northern Sea) was far north in the desert and difficult to access for worship, the Beihai Shrine was added behind Jidu Temple. In the seventh year of the Xuanhe era of Emperor Huizong of Song (1125 AD), the Jidu God was titled Qingyuan Zhonghu Wang, and the Beihai God was titled Beiguangze Wang. From the Sui Dynasty onward, emperors sent envoys to conduct grand sacrificial ceremonies here, a tradition that continued until the Qing Dynasty.

　　Jidu Temple faces south and has an overall layout in the shape of the Chinese character “甲” (jiǎ), covering a total area of over 80,000 square meters. The main structures are arranged along three longitudinal axes: Jidu Temple in the front, Beihai Shrine at the back, the Imperial Incense Courtyard to the east, and the Tianqing Palace to the west. With its red gates, deep courtyards, towering ancient cypresses, dense stone tablets, surrounding green waters, winding paths, and pavilions and terraces that complement each other, it is not only an ancient site of worship but also a typical classical northern Chinese garden.

　　

　　Address: No. 1396 Jidu Street, Jiyuan City

　　Type: Historical Architecture

　　Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

　　Phone: 0391-2591817

　　Opening Hours:

　　Summer: 8:00–18:30; Winter: 8:00–17:30.

　　Ticket Information:

　　Children under 1.1 meters, seniors over 70, people with disabilities, and active-duty military personnel with valid ID can enter free of charge. Seniors aged 60–69 can purchase senior tickets for 15 RMB with ID; students can enjoy half-price tickets (15 RMB) with a student ID.