Wuhou Temple (Memorial Temple of Marquis Wu)

Main Gate of the Temple is located in the west of Mianxian County, about 28 miles (45 km) to Hanzhong and nearly 196 miles (316 km) south of Xi’an, Wuhou Temple of Hanzhong (Memorial Temple of Marquis Wu) is said to be the first of the many memorial temples built to commemorate Zhuge Liang (Kongming) - the most intelligent and successful strategist in the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280AD). He devoted his life to the Kingdom of Shu (221 - 263AD). The Shu Emperor, Liu Shan, conferred on Zhuge Liang the title of Zhong Wu Hou (Wuhou or Marquis Wu), and in 236 the emperor ordered to build this memorial temple in Hanzhong, even 50 years earlier than Wuhou Temple in Chengdu. Compared with the popular and crowded shrine in Chengdu, Wuhou Temple of Hanzhong is a little solemn and silent.

Covering an area of 287,000 square yards (240,000 square meters), the temple is a large ancient building complex. It has been repaired and restored many times. The present Wuhou Temple almost retains much of the architecture styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911AD) with the main buildings including Worship Hall, Main Hall, Guanjiang Building and so on. It is recommended to tour along the central axis to see the major buildings.

Must-See: Saucer Magnolia

Entering the main gate, an ancient opera stage of the Ming and Qing Dynasties first comes into view. Passing through a magnificent archway, a Bell Tower and a Drum Tower stand symmetrically beside the path. Remember not to miss the courtyard on the left, which contains a 400-year-old saucer magnolia tree, which is the oldest in the world. The gorgeous white and pink flowers blooming in March resemble elegant lotuses, gaining the reputation of ‘Lotus on Land’. Being the city flower of Hanzhong, the saucer magnolia attracts many visitors every spring.

Worship Hall & Main Hall

Keeping the beauty of the ‘Lotus on Land’ in mind and continuing to explore, you will pass through the Weaponry Gate, both sides of which are surrounded by railings where ancient officials deposited their weapons or put their clothes and hats in order before worshipping Zhuge Liang. Moving forward, you come to the Worship Hall and Main Hall. On both sides of the Main Hall stand many stone tablets, on which the poetry of men of literature in successive dynasties is engraved. For example, the traces of famous poets Li Shangyin in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907AD) and Lu You in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279AD) can be found there. The solemn lifelike statue of Zhuge Liang, having a scholarly bearing, is worshipped on the altar of the Main Hall. You can imagine, by his graceful bearing, how he had the situation well in hand.

Guanjiang Building

Guanjiang Building is a good place for a panoramic view of the beautiful countryside. The small bridge and flowing stream in the backyard is a good place to rest. Many rare trees flourish in the temple. With some rare flowers blooming all the year round, this is a beautiful environment.

Transportation:

1. Take highway bus Hanzhong – Mianxian / Lueyang from Hanzhong Bus Station and get off at Wuhou Temple station.

2. Take bus line 3 at Sanguo Square of Mianxian County and get off at Wuhou Temple station.

3. A taxi from Mianxian Railway Station to Wuhou Temple costs CNY 15 to 20.

Wuhou Tomb (Tomb of Zhuge Liang)

Tomb of Zhuge LiangNot far south of the Wuhou Temple at the foot of Mt. Dingjun lies the Tomb of Zhuge Liang. The tomb area with luxuriant vegetation is praised as the ‘Natural Park in Southern Shaanxi’. The tomb is surrounded by white marble guardrails. There are 35 rilievos on those guardrails, which vividly show all Zhuge Liang’s life stories.

Besides, being the base of the Kingdom of Shu in early times, Hanzhong boasts many other historical relics of the Three Kingdom Period, such as the Tomb of Ma Chao (a famous general of the Kingdom of Shu), Ancient Battlefield in Mt. Dingjun, Ancient Battlefield in Mt. Tiandang, and Ancient Yangping Pass.