King Temple

King Temple stands beside the North River at the West Pass of the county seat. First constructed in the Jin Dynasty, it underwent repeated renovations in the Ming and Qing dynasties yet still retains its original Jin architectural style. The temple originally consisted of two courtyards. The remaining structures, including the mountain gate, opera stage, main hall and rear hall, are largely intact.

The main hall is a wooden building with upturned eaves and golden glazed tiles. Adopting a single-eave gable and hip roof, it features intricate tiered brackets with far-reaching eaves, magnificent in momentum and exquisite in design. Beams and pillars inside are carved with dragons and phoenixes. Colour murals on the red walls depict historical tales, while pottery sculptures of flowers and plants add to the resplendent interior.

The rear hall is simple yet elegant. Built with large timber, it boasts a hanging roof and distinctive bracket systems.

Two Chinese scholar-trees dating back to the Tang Dynasty grow in front of the temple. They boast enormous crowns with trunks over two metres in circumference. Though gnarled with age, the ancient trees still flourish luxuriantly.

Dozens of stone steles inside the temple feature delicate, masterful engraving with bold, powerful calligraphy that remains clearly legible to this day.

As the oldest and best-preserved ancient building in Yu County, the temple is listed as a Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.