One City, One Sight: Anzou Grand Temple in Renqiu, Hebei
📍 Anzou, one of the "Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun," is located in present-day Renqiu City, Hebei Province. Historically, Anzou flourished because it was situated on the "Imperial Road" to Beijing. There was a saying: "Beijing has all the people, Anzou has all the goods, and among the world's grand temples, Anzou's is counted."
This "Grand Temple" refers to the Anzou Grand Temple.
🏯 The Anzou Grand Temple, also known as the Medicine King Temple or Bian Que Shrine, was first built during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, the temple was rebuilt by imperial decree. After its completion, Emperor Wanli ordered the establishment of the Anzou Temple Fair. This prosperity continued into the Qing Dynasty, reaching its peak during the Kangxi era.
🏯 The historical Anzou Grand Temple once covered a building area of 157,000 square meters (today's Forbidden City has a building area of about 150,000 square meters) and was known as the "World's Greatest Temple" during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
🏯 Throughout history, the Anzou Grand Temple suffered multiple damages. It experienced several major fires during the Qing Dynasty. By 1947, only three entrance gates remained, but even these were not preserved. Today, only one stone tablet and the temple site remain.
🏯 Today's Anzou Grand Temple was rebuilt in the 1990s and is located west of Guzhou Village in Anzou Town, very close to Baiyangdian Lake. The temple complex includes the main hall (Bian Que Shrine), east and west side halls, Grandmother Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Venus Hall, mountain gate, palace gate, and Bian Que's cenotaph. Although newly built, the architecture retains its ancient charm with impressive craftsmanship.
🏯 The most important structure, the main hall, features a double-eaved xieshan roof style and has a magnificent presence. Inside, it enshrines the divine physician Bian Que. (Bian Que, surname Qin, given name Yueren, was from Anzou in Bohai Commandery, which is present-day Renqiu, Hebei.)
🏯 The side halls on both sides of the main hall enshrine ten famous physicians throughout history—Hua Tuo, Sun Simiao, Wang Shuhe, Zhang Zhongjing, Lei Taiyi, Chunyu Yi, Huangfu Mi, Han Puji, Ge Zhichuan, and Liu Shouzhen. Their statues were created by descendants of the famous "Clay Figure Zhang" from Tianjin.
🏯 The Anzou Temple Stele, also known as the "Imperial Decree for Rebuilding the Anzou Medicine King Temple Stele," was relocated from the original temple site. Written by the famous Ming Dynasty official Wang Xiju, it now stands quietly in the stele pavilion. It is the only original artifact from the Grand Temple that can be seen here.
🏯 Local people have deep feelings for the Grand Temple. It is said that whenever people fall ill, they come to the temple to pray for blessings, and they believe it to be highly efficacious. This is evident from the countless red prayer ribbons and the lingering incense smoke that fills the air.
💕 Tips
[One] Navigate to Anzou Grand Temple in Renqiu City, Hebei Province. It's about a 2-hour drive from Shijiazhuang or about 1.5 hours from Beijing.
[Two] The full-price admission ticket is 25 yuan, and parking is free. One hour is sufficient for a visit.
[Three] The ruins of ancient Anzou City are near the Grand Temple. History enthusiasts may want to visit there as well.