Located on the south bank of Luoma Lake in the northwest of the city, in the town of Zaohe, Emperor Qianlong stayed and offered sacrifices here five times, making it one of the better-preserved ancient architectural complexes in Jiangsu Province. Constructed around the 23rd year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign (1684), it covers an area of slightly more than 2 hectares, facing north to south, with symmetrical layout, double eaves, and bracket sets, presenting a majestic appearance with over 20 pavilions and platforms.
A pair of stone lions stands in front of the temple, leading to the offering hall upon entry, with the bell tower and drum tower still present on the left and right behind the hall; further north is the Imperial Stele Pavilion, standing at 11 meters tall, with its flying eaves and bracket sets, commonly known as the Imperial Umbrella Pavilion. It is exquisitely designed and uniquely shaped, with imperial poems inscribed on all four sides of the stele, reflecting Emperor Qianlong’s southern tours. The roof is adorned with yellow glazed tiles, radiating a dazzling and splendid golden luster.
The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is the focal point of this ancient architectural complex, with golden eaves and a stone base, exuding a grand presence, and covered with green glazed tiles. Flanking it are the eastern and western corridor rooms, with the hall serving as the altar, surrounded by towering ancient pines, indicating a once thriving incense and worship activity. In the courtyard of the Great Yu King Temple, there were originally four types of trees—cypress, persimmon, oak, and Chinese catalpa, chosen for their phonetic similarity to ‘hundred generations are the same’. Now, only one cypress remains, standing about 15 meters tall and nearly 300 years old, still vigorous and upright.
Additionally, the eaves tiles of Emperor Qianlong’s palace, rich in folk characteristics, feature over 800 different patterns, which are rarely seen in China. The palace is open all year round from 09:30 to 18:00.
Preferential policies include: Children under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters in height (inclusive) enter for free; Elderly aged 70 and above (inclusive) with a senior citizen card or ID enter for free; those aged between 60 and 70 (exclusive) with a senior citizen card or ID enjoy half-price admission; Disabled individuals with a disability certificate enter for free; Active-duty military personnel with relevant PLA identification enter for free; Retired military personnel with relevant PLA retirement certificates enter for free; Unpaid blood donors in Jiangsu Province with relevant honors and valid identification enter for free; Jiangsu Province’s preferential treatment recipients with a relief and support certificate enter for free; Labor models with a model worker certificate enter for free; Low-income and extremely poor households with valid identification enjoy half-price admission.
