Visit old houses, temples, and streets in Shanghai - the City God Temple

The City God Temple of Shanghai is a Taoist temple located at No. 249 Fangbang Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, originally known as Jinshan Temple, dedicated to the Han dynasty general and Marquis of Bolu, Huo Guang, hence also known as Huo Guang Xingci. The temple was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty (1403-1424), and by the Daoguang era of the Qing dynasty, the temple complex gradually expanded, with continuous additions to its buildings. Since the Daoguang era, the City God Temple has been repeatedly damaged by wars. In the 22nd year of Daoguang (1842), British troops captured Wusong, and used the City God Temple as their base, resulting in the destruction of the halls; subsequently, due to war damage, there are records of renovations in the 4th year of Tongzhi (1865), the 7th year (1868), and the 11th year of the Republic of China (1922); after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, all halls except the main hall of the City God Temple were closed, preserving the statues, but in April 1966, some statues in the Shanghai City God Temple were destroyed during the 'Cultural Revolution'; after 1994, the Shanghai City God Temple Restoration Committee was established, and the temple has been gradually restored and opened to the public. The architectural style of the City God Temple's halls belongs to the southern grand style, but still retains the layout of the Ming dynasty. Overall, the City God Temple has three main halls: the first hall is dedicated to Huo Guang; the second to Qin Yubo; and the third to the wife of the City God. The complex faces south and is arranged along a central axis, with structures including the main gate, the second gate, the opera tower, and the main hall. The temple's main buildings include the main hall, Yuan Chen Hall, and the Parents' Hall, among a total of twelve halls, covering an area of over 3,000 square meters. The main religious activities of the City God Temple include the 'Three Patrols Meeting' on Qingming Festival, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, and the first day of the tenth lunar month every year. Various cultural activities are also held at different times of the year, including sacrifices, incense offerings, and scripture writing.