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Wong Tai Sin Temples (simplified Chinese:黄大仙祠; traditional Chinese:黃大仙祠; pinyin:Huáng Dà Xiān) is a well known shrine and major tourist attraction. It can be found in different parts of the world, including China, Southeast Asia, and the United States, etc. Among them, the oldest one is located in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, China. It is dedicated to the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" (有求必应)via a practice called kau cim. This link talks about Wong Tai Sin Temple in Guangzhou. The old site of Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple is situated in Huadi County, Fangcun District.

Wong Tai Sin
Wong Tai Sin, who’s original name was Wong Chuping, was born in Zhejiang Province in A.D.328. From the age of 8 to 15, he herded sheep. Then he began to follow Taoism. It is said that he became immortal 40 years later, and that when he shouted at some white stones, they turned into sheep in front of his brother. When he came to Guangzhou, his name became known by people around Hong Kong, Macao and the Pearl River Delta.

History Review


1899 (Qing Dynasty): Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple was established.

1904: Enthusiasts from all walks of life donated money to renovate the temple. Although the temple was located in a remote area, it exerted a great influence on the people from Guangzhou City and Pearl River Delta Region. Wong Tai Sin Temple became one of the holy lands of religion in Guangzhou.

1910: The temple endured varied degrees of damage.

1940s: It was destroyed in The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

1997: Guangzhou Jiayou Tourism Development Co, LTD sponsored to reconstruct the temple. In November, it began the construction project.

From 1999: The temple was formally open for the public to visit. The reconstructed Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple is located in No.1 Guci Road, Fangcun District, right near Huadiwan Station of Guangzhou Metro. It covers an area of about 13,000 m2. It has received more than millions of people so far.

Main Sites
Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple a well known shrine and major tourist attraction. The temple still preserves valuable cultural relics from the original temple. Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple is built in a modern style which gives people the impression of space. More specifically, the main body of the building, Wong Tai Sin Hall, is located on an invisible central axis, while the other halls and rest of the building spread out on either side of the axis. In the temple, there is a main shrine, Guandi Temple, Dou basking Temple, Temple Fortuna, Confuscius Temple, Lv Zu Hall, Punna Hall, and Guan Yin Hall. The whole design makes the temple appear to be more grand.

Traditions


Annually, from January 1 to 15, the temple receives numerous visitors, such as those whose prayers were answered returning to thank the immortal. Wong Tai Sin's birthday on the 23rd day of the 8th lunar month, and the Chinese New Year holidays are the busiest times for the temple. On the Chinese New Year's Eve, thousands of worshippers wait outside the temple before midnight and rush in to the main altar to offer Wong Tai Sin their glowing incense sticks when the year comes. As the tradition goes, the earlier they offer the incense, the better luck they will have that year. Most of the visitors come to the temple in search for a spiritual answer via a practice called kau cim. They light incense sticks, kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and shake a bamboo cylinder containing fortune sticks until a stick falls out. This stick is exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number, and then the soothsayer will interpret the fortune on the paper for the worshiper. Often the same piece of fortune is taken to multiple booths for verification purposes. Some booths offer palm reading service. Recently, Taoist weddings have been performed here.

World's Oldest Wood
The plagues from the main shrine, the Guan Yin Hall, the Lvzu Hall have a history of more than 2200 years. They are precious antiques preserved in the temple. They are also the oldest wood preserved all around the world.



Mango Trees
The former abbot has planted many mango trees in the temple. Up till now, those trees have an age of more than 100 years old. Even nowadays, those trees grow mango every June.

Breakthrough in Architectonics
A dragon pearl, weighing over 1000kilogram, sits at the top roof of the main shrine. Only twelve giant pillars hold the main shrine, without any inside the temple. The shrine has a height of 22 metres. It can accommodate 3000 people at the same time. It is a breakthrough in modern architectonics.



Stone-carved Couple
This stone-carved couple is from Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, written by Chin-Shih (进士) Lu Weiqin from Panyu. It reads "洞中别有乾坤四围烟雨云山尤增胜概 祠里自成天地两岸桔林橘井永着仙踪". The couple mainly decribes the splendid scenery in the temple. It has a rather high value in historical and literary study.

Other Cultual Relics
Guangzhou Wong Tai Sin Temple has preserved many precious cultural relics from the old temple, including stone lions, stone-carved couples, pillars of relief, and plagues. It is open for exhibition.

Tourists Guidance
Price: 5 RMB/person

Opening time: 9:00- 16:30

Transport:

1) Guangzhou Metro: Line1, D exit of Fangcun Station 2) Guangzhou Bus: Dace Station: 193, 202, 207, 69, 277, 411, 414, 552, 74, 75, 812, 91; Wong Tai Sin Station: 222, 81, 193

External Link
互动百科：广州黄大仙祠

广州黄大仙祠——“叱羊传晋代，骑鹤到南天”

广州黄大仙祠大众点评