Temple of the Town God (Chénghuáng Miào), Shanghai
The Temple of the Town God in Shanghai. Photo © Brian Basner.
Traditionally, every Chinese city once has a Temple of the Town God (Chénghuáng Miào), the central shrine for Taoist worship. Shanghai's version was founded in 1403 but the current temple dates from the early 1990s.
History
The Temple of the Town God in Shanghai was founded in 1403 to honor local official Qín Yùbó, who had been designated Shanghai's patron god by the Míng Hóngwu emperor (1328-98). It didn't take on its present name until 1929.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), the temple, which had grown to become more of a marketplace, was destroyed. In the early 1990s, the temple and surrounding bazaar area, which encircled part of Yù Yuán, were extensively restored to become one large market/temple complex.
What to See
The temple's main courtyard is usually jammed with worshippers praying before the statues of Huò Guang (a local military hero) in the front hall, and the town god in the back. The smell of incense is overpowered only by the smell of money wafting from the nearby shops.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Nánshì (Old Town Bazaar, north side of Fangbang Zhong Lù near Anrén Lù), Shanghai, China |
| Contact: | 021/6386-5700 |
| URL: | www.shchm.org |
| Hours: | Daily 8:30am-4pm |
| Cost: | ¥5 (60¢) |
Sources
- Frommer's Shanghai, 3rd edition
