The Hai Rui Shrine, often regarded as the quintessence of Longshan Island, offers visitors four remarkable experiences:
1. **Architectural Splendor**: The shrine’s architecture is a feast for the eyes, with its painted beams and intricately carved pillars. The ‘three carvings’—wood, brick, and stone—are exceptionally exquisite and astonishing, showcasing the craftsmanship of the artisans.
2. **Stele Forest**: The corridor of the hall houses an impressive stele forest. Among them, the ‘Longevity Character Stele’, handwritten by Hai Rui, stands out for its elegant and unrestrained calligraphy. The profound content invites contemplation and admiration.
3. **Historical Presence**: The statue of Hai Rui, along with the wood carvings and murals that flank it, and the poetic couplets on the corridor columns, all reflect his indomitable and upright character. These elements draw parallels from the past to the present, offering timeless lessons.
4. **Garden Elegance**: The garden ornaments in the courtyard, themed around ‘lofty integrity’ and ‘noble character’, are designed with a transparent and open style. The well-proportioned layout and the judicious arrangement of flora make the space a place where visitors naturally linger.
The Hai Rui Shrine is a complex composed of five distinct parts: the Lake Viewing Platform, the gate tower, the main hall, the central hall, and the Si Xian Courtyard. The entire structure maintains the charm of Chun’an folk houses while also incorporating elements of Huizhou architecture, creating a unique blend of styles.The exterior is adorned with painted beams and carved pillars, and the eaves are upturned. Especially when standing on the Lake Viewing Platform, looking closely at the architectural style of the Hai Rui Shrine and looking afar at the city’s mountain scenery of Qiandao Lake Town, it is extremely beautiful and pleasing to the eye.
