Xiyue Temple

Xiyue Temple, also known as Huayue Temple, is consecrated to emperors of the past and sacrificed to the Xiyue emperor Shao Hao, having been rebuilt multiple times throughout the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. The main buildings of Xiyue Temple are distributed on the central axis in a north-south alignment. The outer city is a Ming Dynasty building with a turret. The mountain gate is a grand, imposing city wall of brick and stone. Because there are three doorways, commonly known as the Sanlian Gate, its shape and structure is very similar to Beijing’s Tiananmen. Within the grand hall there are original large wooden pillars that remain from the time of its initial construction. Suspended here are three horizontal inscribed plaques, proposed by Emperor Tongzhi, Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi.