Yue Fei Temple (岳王庙) Travel Guide

Yue Fei Temple Travel Guide for Foreigners

General Introduction

Location: Yue Fei Temple is located at the southern foot of Qixia Hill near the West Lake in Hangzhou. The specific address is No. 80 Beishan Road, Xihu District.
History: The temple was first built in 1221 in the Southern Song Dynasty to commemorate the great hero Yue Fei. Yue Fei was a famous general who fought against the Jin Dynasty. However, he was falsely accused and secretly killed in prison. Later, the tomb was built in his memory. The existing temple was rebuilt in 1715 in the Qing Dynasty and comprehensively repaired in 197923.
Significance: Yue Fei is regarded as a national hero in China. The temple is an important historical and cultural site that reflects people's respect and admiration for him. It is also a place for people to remember and learn about his patriotic spirit2.

Highlights

Main Hall (Loyalty Shrine): This is the main building in the temple. In the middle of the hall, there is a statue of Yue Fei in martial attire. He holds a sword in his hand, looking solemn and mighty. Above the statue is a plaque inscribed with "Return Our Lost Territories", which was said to be Yue Fei's aspiration3.
Tomb Area: To the west of the main hall is the tomb area. There are the tombs of Yue Fei and his son Yue Yun. The tombs are built with rocks in a round shape. Stone horses, stone tigers, stone sheep and stone figures dating from the Ming Dynasty decorate both sides of the enclosure.
Iron Statues of Traitors: Facing the tomb are four iron statues of the traitors who were responsible for Yue Fei's death, including Qin Hui (the chief plotter), his wife Wang Shi, Moqi Xie (a court official), and Zhang Jun (a general). They kneel down in pairs with their hands tied behind their back. This is a vivid reminder of the unjust treatment Yue Fei suffered.
Tablet Corridors: In the southern and northern tablet corridors of the courtyard, there are 127 carvings or steles, including some poems by prominent personages throughout history to express their respect for the national hero and some of Yue Fei's calligraphy.

Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening Hours: The temple is open from 07:30 to 17:304.
Ticket Prices: The ticket price is reasonable. However, there may be different ticket prices for different groups such as students, seniors, and children. It is advisable to check the official information or the ticket office for specific details.

How to Get There

By Public Transportation: You can take buses such as No. 7, No. 27, or other buses that pass by the Yue Fei Temple stop.
By Taxi or Self-Driving: If you take a taxi or drive by yourself, you can follow the navigation to the temple. But be aware of the traffic conditions and parking availability.

Tips

Show respect when visiting the temple. Do not make any disrespectful behaviors towards the statues and historical relics.
It is advisable to allocate about 1 to 2 hours for the visit to fully appreciate the historical and cultural connotations of the temple3.
You can hire a professional guide or use an audio guide to better understand the history and stories behind Yue Fei and the temple.