Chenghuang Temple
No.48 Zhongyou Main Street, Zhongshan si Road, Guangzhou, China
Description:
The Chenghuang Temple, built in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, was erected in honor of the deity protecting the city. It is located at the intersection of Wende and Zhongshan streets.
According to Chinese custom, many cities have their own Chenghuang, a patron deity for whom temples were built in each city. The peak of temple construction came during the time of Emperor Zhu Yangzang, who used them as a tool to intimidate people in order to maintain a totalitarian regime. Chenghuang is said to reward good deeds and severely punish mistakes.
The temple is made in traditional Chinese style. The entrance to the main hall of the temple is decorated with a golden plaque with the inscription “Devotion and gratitude”. Inside you can see paintings of artisans of Guangdong and statues of deified defenders of the city: Emperor Liu Yang, who ruled in the early XX century and contributed to the prosperity of the city and to the left and right of government officials Hai Rui and Yang Zhioshan, known for their fight against corruption.