Shanghai City God Temple 🇨🇳

#September2025 History of Shanghai City God Temple The Shanghai City God Temple dates back to the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. Since its founding, it has been deeply revered by the people of Shanghai. Through continuous expansion during the Ming and Qing dynasties, its total area reached 49.9 mu. However, due to social unrest, the temple was damaged and used for other purposes, ultimately closing in 1996. With the liberalization of religious belief, the Shanghai City God Temple reopened in 1994 and remains worshipped today. The City God deity has become the city's guardian deity, worshipped by the people of Shanghai. Later, Yu Garden was sold to the City God Temple as the West Garden. Following its reconstruction, the area surrounding the City God Temple has become a bustling, unpretentious area filled with unique products, making it once again a renowned Taoist temple in Shanghai. Features of Shanghai City God Temple The current Shanghai City God Temple covers an area of ​​approximately 1,000 square meters and comprises six halls: Huo Guang Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Yuanchen Hall, Cihang Hall, Niangniang Hall, and City God Hall. Above the main entrance of the City God Temple hangs a plaque inscribed with "City God Temple." Couplets in gold on a black background read: "Be a good person with an upright heart, and your soul will sleep peacefully; do good deeds, and heaven and earth will witness, and the gods and ghosts will admire." Within the temple, a statue of General Huo Guang, the deity of Jinshan, is enshrined, flanked by the civil and military judges. Two couplets hang on the pillars: "His mighty spirit protects the country, secures the nation, and supports the people; his sagely teachings bring down sweet dew to save the people," praising the City God's achievements; and "A mean-spirited man's marriage will inevitably lead to extravagant descendants; adulterers and sinners will not keep their wives and daughters chaste." The plaque above reads: "Shepherd the people," serving as a warning to the world. The God of Wealth Hall within the City God Temple enshrines Wenchang Emperor, Guandi Emperor, and the God of Wealth, where people come to pray for academic success, safety, and financial prosperity. The Yuanchen Hall, also known as the Jiazi Hall, is where believers pray for peace and good fortune. The Cihang Hall enshrines Cihang Dashi and the Queen of Heaven. Many people who visit the Shanghai City God Temple not only worship the City God and seek safety, but also visit to contemplate the couplets lining the various halls, seeking to untie the shackles of their hearts.