Travel tips for Xitian Temple in Haikou

Scenic spot introduction:

Haikou Xitian Temple is a temple dedicated to Wang Zuo, one of the "South China Talents" in the Ming Dynasty and a famous scholar in Hainan. It was formerly known as Xitian Dashi Temple. The ancient temple is located at No. 75 Yixing Street, Longhua District, Haikou City. It was first built during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty and was destroyed and rebuilt no less than ten times. It is a rare ancient building preserved in Hainan Province to this day. It has historical, artistic and scientific research value. In 1985, the Haikou Municipal People's Government announced it as a key cultural relic protection unit.

Attractions distribution:

Wang Zuo, Qiu Jun, Hai Rui, Zhang Yuesong and others were collectively called the "Four Wonders of Hainan" by later generations. They were especially famous for their poems and essays. People called them "the best poets". Although Wang Zuo was not appreciated for his talent, he was an honest official and served the people. Therefore, merchants and people in the area of Qiongzhou Prefecture and Haihai built the Xitian Temple in Guanchangfang (now Yongxing Street) in the west of Haikou City to worship Wang Zuo. The entire Xitian Temple is a brick and wood structure with a total area of 1,193 square meters. The original building area was more than 900 square meters. There are three main rooms. There is a patio between the first and second entrances. There is a worship pavilion between the second and third entrances, and the east and west corridors on both sides of the worship pavilion. There is a stone-carved horizontal plaque with convex characters "Xitian Temple" on the front door, which was written by Zhang Yuesong, a famous calligrapher and the top scholar of Qiongzhou in the Qing Dynasty. The interior is decorated with painted buildings and carved beams, with exquisite craftsmanship. There are complete sets of woodcuts and story paintings on the brackets and walls, and the characters in the stories are lifelike. The Chronicle of Qiongzhou Prefecture (edited by Zhang Yuesong and supplemented in the 16th year of the Guangxu period) records: "The Temple of the Great Bodhisattva of the West is about two miles west of Haikou City. It is dedicated to Wang Zuo, who appeared at sea and his prayers were answered immediately, so the county people worship it devoutly." Since the temple was built in the Ming Dynasty, it has been very popular and has attracted pilgrims all the time. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times and has been preserved to this day.

Scenic spot features:

Cultural tours, city sightseeing, temples, ancient buildings