Guanlin Temple

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
08:10-17:00
40 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
08:10-17:00
40 Address & Phone Guanlin Town, Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province Transportation Take Bus NO.58, 69, 15, 39, 81. Notes

Guanlin Temple is built to worship and enshrine Guan Yu, a hero during the Three Kingdoms' period and influences people with his loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and bravery.

Located in Guanlin Town, about seven kilometers south to Luoyang, Guanlin Temple is built to worship and enshrine Guan Yu, a hero during the Three Kingdoms' period. It is said that Guan Yu’s head was buried in the quite and majestic temple after his death.

The temple was firstly built in Han Dynasty (200BC-220AD), and renovated in 1592 of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Now the temple has an area of 120,000 square meters with more than 150 Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) houses, over 70 ancient inscriptions, four stone memorial archways, 110 stone lions and 800 old cypresses.

Guan Yu

Guan Yu (160-219), also named Guan Yunchang, is a famous hero in Chinese history and a loyal general of Shu Kingdom, one of the states in the Three Kingdoms' period (220-280). He followed Liu Bei, the king of Shu, fighting battles throughout the whole country and is famous for his faith and bravery. In order to instigate the war between the Shu Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom, Gu Yu was killed and his head was sent to Cao Cao. However, with the high respect to Guan Yu, Cao Cao ordered to carve Guan Yu’s body with eaglewood and gave him an elaborate funeral.

Emperors of following dynasties spoke highly of his performance and honored him as God of War. At the same time, Guan Yu also became a legendary hero in Chinese folktales. Guan Yu’s temple, figures and pictures can be found all over the country because people believe he protects the home.

Main Scenic Spots

Based on the traditional style of Chinese architecture, Guanlin Temple was designed and built symmetrically. All the main structures stand on the axle wire, including the Main Gate, the Courtesy Gate, the First Hall, the Second Hall, the Third Gate, and the Tomb of Guan Yu. The whole complex embodies the people’s great respect of Guan Yu, and the architecture style of Ming Dynasty.

The First Hall

Built in 1596 of Ming Dynasty, the hall has a height of 26 meters. It is the most magnificent one in the temple. On the main gate of the hall, there are 12 wood carvings, telling the famous stories of Guan Yu. In the First Hall, the statue of General Guan Yu sits in the middle and flanked by two standing statues, with Guan Pin, his son, on the left and Zhou Cang, his disciple, on the right.

The octagonal pavilion

There is an octagonal pavilion in the temple set up in 1666 of Qing Dynasty (1363-1912). The top of the pavilion was covered with green-glazed imbrexes, which carved with dragons and lions. After 300 years exposed to wind and rain, the wood pavilion is still as gorgeous as a new one. In the pavilion, there is a stone tablet that reflects emperors’ high worship to Guan Yu.

The Tomb of Guan Yu

The Tomb of Guan Yu was built in late Han Dynasty, and the stone door was set up in 1707 of Qing Dynasty. There are two holes on the door, the left one is used for praying for safeness and the right one for wealth.

Guan Yu is well-known for his loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and bravery, who have become the moral princes of common people. Guanlin Temple, as the place worshiping Guan Yu, is a must-visit place when you traveling Luoyang.

>>Take a tour to get close to the great hero- Guan Yu:
4 Days Shaolin Kung Fu & Longmen & Kaifeng Tour

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