Shanghai Cihang Immortal Temple: The Ups and Downs of History
Shanghai, a city steeped in legend, boasts numerous buildings that bear witness to history and culture. Cihang Immortal Temple is one such place. It has witnessed the shifting tides of time and left behind a unique imprint of Taoist culture.
I. Founding and Early Development
Located at No. 16, Lane 81, Hainan Road, Cihang Immortal Temple was established in 1934 (the 23rd year of the Republic of China). Chen Bai Ruo, a Quanzhen Daoist priest from Guangdong, arrived in Shanghai that year. Noticing the large community of Guangdong merchants in the city—many of whom revered the Yellow Emperor—he conceived the idea of founding a Daoist temple. After considerable effort, Chen Bai Ruo raised 18,000 yuan to purchase a property from the Shenda Company, which he subsequently renovated. By the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), Cihang Xian Guan was formally completed and opened to the public.
The temple occupies 430 square meters of land with a building area of 874 square meters. A pair of stone lions stands before the entrance, adding an air of solemnity and dignity. Entering the compound reveals a garden, with a three-story building featuring five bays on the north side. The ground floor was converted into the main hall dedicated to the worship of Huang Daxian, flanked by shrines for the Eighteen Heavenly Generals. The second and third floors served as guest rooms and dormitories, creating a compact and well-organized layout.
II. Relocation Amidst War and Post-War Reconstruction
When the War of Resistance Against Japan erupted, Shanghai descended into war, and Cihang Xian Temple was not spared. To escape the turmoil, the temple relocated to Gujia Lane on Ningbo Road within the British Concession. Throughout those turbulent years, the temple’s Taoist priests steadfastly upheld their faith, continuing to perform simple religious rituals.
After the victory in the War of Resistance, Cihang Xian Temple seized a new opportunity and returned to its original site. Though the temple buildings suffered some damage during the war, the Taoists worked together to repair and restore them, gradually returning the temple to its former appearance. In 1949, Chen Bai Ruo left Shanghai, entrusting the temple’s affairs to his disciples.
III. Decline and Disappearance
However, with the changing times, the fate of Cihang Xian Temple also shifted. By 1956, with dwindling religious offerings, the second and third floors were leased out as residential units, while only the ground floor remained in use as a temple hall. In 1958, the main hall was rented to a neighborhood workshop, and the deity statues and ritual implements were relocated to Baiyun Temple. This marked the official cessation of religious activities at Cihang Immortal Temple.
Thereafter, the temple gradually faded from public memory, and its structures received inadequate preservation. The once-bustling Taoist temple grew desolate, with only the pair of stone lions remaining to silently recount tales of the past. Later, Cihang Xian Temple was designated an “immovable cultural relic.” However, around 2015, it was demolished. According to reports at the time, relevant authorities planned to relocate and rebuild it at Lane 84, Hainan Road, hoping to reopen it to the public.
Shanghai’s Cihang Xian Temple—from its founding splendor, through wartime relocations, post-war reconstruction, and eventual decline and disappearance—each chapter of its journey was inextricably linked to the tides of history. Though its former grandeur is now lost to time, the historical and cultural significance it embodied will forever remain in the collective memory.
