Guandi Temple in Zhoukou, Henan | The most beautiful Guandi Temple in China

| The most beautiful Guandi Temple in China. Guandi Temple in Zhoukou, Henan | The most beautiful Guandi Temple in China The Zhoukou Guandi Temple is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is the best-preserved ancient building complex with high architectural and artistic value so far. Its original name was "Shanxi and Shaanxi Guild Hall". It is said that the Zhoukou Guandi Temple is the most beautiful Guandi Temple, with a large number of wood carvings, stone carvings and brick carvings with rich content and exquisite craftsmanship. It is the most complete and most valuable ancient Qing Dynasty building complex in terms of stone and wood carvings among all Guandi Temple buildings in the country. It is the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2019, it was listed in the list of eight heritage sites in four provinces and six places for application for the "Guan Sheng Cultural Historical Sites" World Cultural Heritage. The Zhoukou Guandi Temple was founded in the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1693). It was funded by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces and was a gathering place for fellow townsmen. It is also known as the "Shanxi and Shaanxi Guild Hall." It was expanded and renovated several times during the reigns of Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Jiaqing, and was fully completed in 1832 during the reign of Emperor Daoguang, a total of 145 years. The entire building complex is arranged along the north-south central axis with three courtyards in depth, imitating the palace style. The screen wall, mountain gate, second bell and drum tower, left and right iron flagpoles, stone stele room, stele pavilion, Medicine King Hall, Kitchen God Hall, east and west corridors, God of Wealth Hall, Drunken Immortal Hall, east and west watchtowers, east and west veranda halls, Laojun Hall, Horse King Hall, Wenshen Hall as well as guest houses and workrooms are arranged on both sides of the central axis and correspond to each other. The temple has towering ancient cypresses, a quiet environment, numerous steles and beautiful halls. It is the largest Guandi Temple in Henan Province. The layout is rigorous and exquisite, the halls are magnificent, the carvings are exquisite and gorgeous, the red, blue and green colors complement each other, and the decorations are rich and gorgeous. It is famous for its ingenious artistic carvings. Standing in it and gazing at this silent ancient building, it seems as if a piece of solidified history is diffusing outward from its mottled brick joints from time to time, telling the story of Zhoujiakou's prosperous business and economic prosperity in the past, and the intriguing vicissitudes of life behind it. Play time: 30 minutes. 🎫Tickets: Adult ticket: 13 yuan; Student ticket: 6 yuan 🚗Transportation: (1) Take a taxi or bus No. 4 from Zhoukou Railway Station to Guandi Temple. (2) Take bus No. 1, 9, 4 or 5 from Zhoukou Bus Station. (3) If you are driving, you can use navigation to Guandi Old Street or Guandi Temple Cultural Square, or take a taxi directly to Guandi Temple. 📍Location: Guandi Temple, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. Free roadside parking is available at the door.