Huaiyuan Yuwang Palace

Huaiyuan Yu Wang Palace is a famous Taoist temple. It is located on the summit of Mount Tu in Huaiyuan County, south of Bengbu City, Anhui Province. It is also known as Yu Wang Temple and Mount Tu Shrine. According to historical records, it was the place where Yu the Great met with the feudal lords to discuss flood control. Later generations built a temple here to commemorate Yu the Great’s achievements in flood control and to worship his image.

The temple was originally built before the Tang Dynasty, with the exact date unknown. It was known as Tianqing Temple during the late Song Dynasty, and was renamed Yuanmiao Temple after repairs during the Dade era (1297–1307) of the Yuan Dynasty. It underwent repairs in the ninth year of the Zhengde era (1514) and the 24th year of the Wanli era (1596) of the Ming Dynasty, During the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795), it underwent two major renovations. Originally consisting of three courtyards, some of the buildings were later demolished, leaving only two courtyards.

The main structures include the Mountain Gate, Mountain God Hall, Earth God Hall, Three Pure Ones Hall, Lu Zu Hall, Yu Wang Hall, Qiu Zu Hall, Ci Hang Hall, Xuan Wu Hall, Qi Mu Hall, Tai Shan Hall, Dao She, and Zhai Tang. The main building is Yu Wang Hall, which houses a statue of Yu Wang. The side rooms of the hall display stone steles recording the history of the temple’s construction and stone carvings of poems and inscriptions by literati and scholars about Mount Tu.

Within the temple grounds stand two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, each so large they can be encircled by several people. One of these trees, struck by lightning, later sprouted two uniquely shaped peach trees from its trunk, earning it the name “Tree Within a Tree,” a major scenic attraction of Mount Tu.

To the northwest of the palace is an observation platform, and to the southwest is the Qimu Stone (also known as the Wangmu Stone), said to be the transformed form of Yu’s wife. To the west are the Holy Spring and the Spirit Spring, both clear and turquoise, never drying up throughout the seasons.

On the 28th day of the third lunar month, the birthday of Yu the Great, people from near and far gather here to perform flower drum opera, commemorating Yu’s virtues. It is one of the most famous Daoist temples in Anhui Province.

《Daoist Encyclopedia》