Finally, I made my way to the thousand-year-old Huode Zhenjun Temple by the Shichahai Lake to uncover its secrets

📜🔍 The Huode Zhenjun Temple is located at No. 77 Dianmen Outer Street on the east bank of Shichahai, originally established in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (632 AD), nearly 1400 years ago, which is 13 years earlier than the famous Fayuan Temple, also known as the Tang Minzhong Temple, and was initially the Western Medicine King Temple; 📜🔍 🕰🔨 In the Yuan Dynasty's Zhi Zheng sixth year (1346 AD), the Western Medicine King Temple was renovated; 🕰🔨 🏛🔧 In the 38th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1610 AD), the Huode Zhenjun Temple was rebuilt on the site of the Yuan Dynasty's Western Medicine King Temple, with glazed tiles bestowed to suppress fire, and a double-eaved roof with green tiles was added; 🏛🔧 👑📜 In the first year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1621 AD), the emperor ordered officials from the Ministry of Rites to worship Huode Zhenjun on the 22nd day of the sixth lunar month every year; 📜👑 🐲🔨 In the 24th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1759 AD), the Huode Zhenjun Temple was renovated again, changing the buildings such as the Jade Emperor Pavilion to yellow tiles; 🐲🔨 💼🏠 After liberation, the Huode Zhenjun Temple was classified as public property, used as a guesthouse and dormitory; it was not until 2002 that the temple started the relocation and restoration project; 🏠💼 🎉🔑 On December 12, 2010, the Huode Zhenjun Temple was officially opened to the public as a direct temple under the Chinese Taoist Association. 🔑🎉 🚶‍♀👀 Every time I passed by Dianmen Outer Street, I would notice this ancient complex with red walls and green tiles. After learning about its history online, my curiosity grew, and today, after visiting the lotus market to see the giant dragon lanterns and passing by the lake, I finally couldn't resist entering the famous Taoist temple through the mountain gate to explore. 👀🚶‍♀ 🧭🏯 The Huode Zhenjun Temple faces south with its mountain gate facing east. Inside the gate, there is a colored archway, with 'Shouguo Shanlin' written on the east side and 'Dantian Shengjing' on the west. 🏯🧭 👳‍♂🏛 In the temple, the southern hall is the Lingguan Hall, which enshrines the Taoist protective deity Lingguan; the central hall is the Yinghuo Treasure Hall, with a plaque written by Emperor Qianlong himself, dedicated to the Fire Virtue Star Lord; to the north is the two-story Zhenwu Hall and the Wansui Jingming Treasure Pavilion, which enshrine the Emperor Zhenwu and the Jade Emperor respectively; the back courtyard to the north is not open to the public and houses the Doumu Pavilion. 🏛👳‍♂ 👀🏯 Additionally, there are side halls such as the Three Officials Hall, the God of Wealth Hall, the Tai Sui Hall, the Compassionate Ferry Hall, the Fox Fairy Hall, and the Old Man under the Moon Hall on the east and west sides, which means there are indeed many deities enshrined here. 🏯👀 🔥🙏 The incense burning in the Fire God Temple is very prosperous. Although the Spring Festival holiday has passed, the temple is still crowded with people, and each hall has devout worshippers. The area for religious items is also packed with people. Perhaps nowadays, most people have many dreams and wishes, and they seek help from the deities, or at least for inner peace. 🙏🔥 ☁🌞 The weather today is superb, with the red walls and green tiles under the blue sky and white clouds being particularly refreshing. The rising incense smoke adds to the sense of tranquility. 🌞☁