Xinzhong Street Temple Fair

📍 Location: 20 meters west of the intersection of Xinzhong Street and Yuquan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing
🕰️ Historical Background:
The Xinzhong Street Temple Fair originated in the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of the best-preserved traditional folk temple fairs in Beijing. Its roots trace back to the Ming Dynasty's grand religious festival at Yiquan Temple. Officially named "Xinzhong Street Temple Fair" during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, it developed near the foothills of Yiquan Mountain, combining religious rituals with urban commerce, becoming a vital center for folk culture in the northwestern part of the city.

🏛️ Architecture and Layout:
The core area of the fair centers on a three-aisle courtyard-style temple built in the Qing architectural style. The main hall, known as the Tianhou Palace, spans three bays with a hip-roof covered in glazed tiles, featuring a carved plaque above the eaves inscribed “Cihang Pudu” (Merciful Salvation for All). Stone lions stand on either side of the temple gate, their craftsmanship simple and ancient, bearing inscriptions indicating they were made during the Daoguang era. The front plaza, originally a bustling market, retains its original layout of brick paving, now hosting colorful canopy stalls, the remains of a performance stage, and a grove of ancient Chinese parasol trees—preserving the spatial pattern of Qing-era urban temple fairs.

📜 Cultural Relics and Remnants:

• A stone stele inscribed with the “Record of the Restoration of the Tianhou Palace,” dated the 23rd year of Daoguang’s reign (now housed under the eastern corridor of the temple)
• Fragments of ceremonial banners from the “Ritual Procession to Honor the Gods” held at the beginning of the Republic of China era (preserved at the Xicheng District Archives)
• A bronze bell once housed within the temple, now placed in a small pavilion in front of the temple, its surface inscribed with the seal script characters “Wanshou Wujiang” (Endless Longevity)

🎨 Cultural Significance:
The Xinzhong Street Temple Fair embodies a rich blend of Beijing local customs, folk beliefs, and street art, serving as a crucial physical example for studying Beijing’s urban social structure and grassroots community organization. Traditional activities such as “Gods’ Procession through the Streets,” “Lion and Dragon Dance,” and “Old Beijing Street Vendors’ Calls” have been included in Beijing’s list of municipal intangible cultural heritage.

🎫 Visitor Information:

• Opening Hours: 9:00–18:00 daily, from the first to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year (during the Spring Festival Temple Fair season)
• Admission: Free of charge
• Transportation: Exit from B exit of Xinjiekou Station on Line 4 of the subway, then walk approximately 600 meters; take bus lines 330, 534, or 626 to the Yuquan Road stop
• Tips: Expect high visitor volume during the fair—recommended to visit outside peak hours; please do not touch cultural relics and respect all traditional rituals

✨ A vibrant echo from the past, a profound encounter with Beijing’s soul—Xinzhong Street Temple Fair awaits your arrival.