Located on the banks of the Qiantang River in Yanguan Town, Haining City, Jiaxing, the Sea God Temple (海神庙), also known as the Haishen Temple, is a grand palace-style structure dedicated to the “God of the Zhejiang Sea.” Constructed in the eighth year of the Qing Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1729 AD), it consumed 100,000 taels of silver and covers an area of 40 mu (approximately 2.67 hectares). The architectural design of the temple is modeled after the Forbidden City’s Taihe Hall, earning it the nickname “Silver Luan Palace.”
The architectural style of the Sea God Temple is dignified and elegant, comprising nine courtyards, all built in the palace style of the Qing Dynasty. Along the central axis, there are the Song and Dance Pavilion, Qingcheng Bridge, Shanmen Hall, Yimen Hall, Main Hall, Imperial Hall, Imperial Tablet Pavilion, and the Bedroom. To the east lies the Temple of the Heavenly Queen, with a fasting hall in front and a Taoist academy behind. To the west stands the Thunder God Temple, with a pond behind it. A platform is built on the pond, and beyond the bridge lies a high pavilion. To the west of the pavilion is the dwelling place for Taoist priests, followed by a stage, a Water Immortal Pavilion, an open hall, and side rooms.
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Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 0.5 – 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 15 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0573-87611871 |
Location and Transportation
The Sea God Temple is located approximately 130 meters east of the intersection of Chunxi Road and Zhongshan Road in Haining City, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. To get there, you can take bus Haining 332 and get off at Tidal Bore Viewing Park Stop (观潮胜地公园站).
Highlights of Sea God Temple
Main Hall
The Main Hall is the centerpiece of the Sea God Temple, majestic in its architecture, imitating the structure of the Forbidden City’s Taihe Hall. It is a double-eaved gable-roofed palace building, with five bays in width and four bays in depth, and seven steps leading up. The ridge is adorned with double dragons playing with a pearl, bearing inscriptions of “保厘东海 (Protecting the Eastern Sea)” and “永庆安澜 (Eternal Peace and Calm).” On both sides of the ridge are tall chimeras, and the ridge, cornice, and hip ridge are all adorned with sculptures of Vajra figures and auspicious motifs related to feng shui. In the Main Hall, there is an unnamed sea god, believed to be the deity worshipped in various places in Jiangnan during the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, known as King Zhongzheng, Li Lu, Qian Liu, and Wu Zixu.
Imperial Tablet Pavilion
Inside the Sea God Temple, visitors can also find an octagonal double-eaved pavilion with a pointed roof, called the Imperial Tablet Pavilion. The tablet inside the pavilion is about five meters high and made of white marble. The relief on the tablet depicts flying dragons and vermilion birds, with double dragons playing with a pearl. The body and base of the tablet are adorned with flying dragons, ruyi motifs, Chinese characters for “万,” and ocean motifs, all exquisitely carved. On one side of the tablet is the Yongzheng Emperor’s “Sea God Temple Inscription,” while the other side features the Qianlong Emperor’s “Viewing Sea Dyke Inscription.”