The Quanzhang Guandi Temple in Xinjiang, Shanxi
The Quanzhang Guandi Temple covers an area of 411.6 square meters, was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, and was renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Only the main hall of the Quanzhang Guandi Temple remains. The main hall is well-preserved, facing south with the back to the north, measuring 19.6 meters in length from east to west, and 21 meters in length from south to north, covering an area of 411.6 square meters. It is built on a brick and stone base that is 0.9 meters high, with five bays in both width and depth, and has a nearly square floor plan with a double-eaved hipped roof. The main body has three bays, surrounded by subsidiary steps. The upper eaves brackets are of a five-stepped double-lowered ang type, with the main bay featuring 45-degree slanting ang. The lower eaves brackets are of a three-stepped single-tilted heart-shaped design. Under the eaves of the main hall of the Quanzhang Guandi Temple, there are 20 coiled dragon stone columns, 11 of which are relief coiled dragon columns, and the other 9 are shallow flat-carved dragon columns, with all column heads featuring inverted-basin-style volutes. Uniquely, each column is adorned with dragons' claws grasping human heads, legs, fish, turtles, etc. In front of the hall, there are 11 Ming and Qing dynasty stone lions preserved. These are masterpieces of ancient Chinese stone carving art. The temple is a national key cultural relics protection unit.