Yue E Wang Temple is located on Gua Island, southeast of Mozhiyan. A small island resembling a watermelon floats on the surface of Dongqian Lake and is also known as Gua Island. On Gua Island stands an ancient temple, surrounded by greenery and adorned with red walls. It was once known as the Watermelon Temple. The main deity in the Watermelon Temple is the majestic and heroic Yue Fei, a national hero.
The Yue E Wang Temple has experienced periods of rise and fall through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The current Yue Wang Temple, built during the Qing Dynasty in the Qianlong era (1784), is a well-preserved Jiangnan temple architecture. The temple’s central axis is divided into three parts: the front hall, the main hall, and the rear hall. All stone carvings, couplets, and hangings here are original Qing Dynasty artifacts, including the four characters ‘Zan Xiang Qin Hua,’ written by Jin Nong, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou.
The Yue E Wang Temple scenic area now also includes the lakeside park and Wang Anshi Park, among others. It is open from January 1st to December 31st, from 08:00 to 16:30.
