Xiuzhenguan (Cultivating Immortality Temple)

Xiuzhenguan located in the center of Wuzhen Town was built in 998 by a Taoist named Zhang Dongming who got the truth of Taoism here. It was said that on its completion day, many sacred phoenixes flies around the newly-built temple. The civilians felt quite surprised and thought it was blessed by heaven. Since then Xiuzhenguan together with Xuanmiaoguan of Suzhou and Xiangyunguan of Puyuan was deemed to be top-three Taoist temples in Jiangnan area or Southeast China. It has a high status in Chinese Taoism temples.

Currently Xiuzhenguan is comprised of three parts of houses; the first part is the main gate. Generally, man has the different entrance form from woman’s, and usually man start his entrance with his right foot, and woman is in reverse. The second part is the Hall of Dongyue, and this was named after an immortal and authoritative god of Taoism. In this hall, people can see 12 gods representing 12 Chinese zodiacs (or Chinese year of animal), and you can worship your own god who dominates the year when you are born. The third part is named Yuhuang Pavilion used for setting Ten-Hall Ghost Kings of Hell, Marshal of Pestilence, and Treasure God and so on. What more interesting is in the backyard of Xiuzhenguan, there is a special room for Taoist to work, and these Taoists mostly are the fortunetellers who can tell you your future and destiny in this year or next year in accordance with Taoism theory. Many Taoism believers and Taoism culture lovers are willing to get their information about their life and future.

The temple of Xiuzhenguan is strongly featured by traditional architecture. And also it is mainly themed with the architectural custom in Jiangnan area. Visiting this temple, you can learn more about Chinese culture of Taoism as well as your future and life. By the way, photographing is forbidden and visitors should be serious and prayerful in the temple.