God of Wealth Temple 🏯

📍 Location: No. 5, Juhua Road (Situated in the heart of the city's old district, adjacent to the ancient Ming and Qing streets)

Historical Background

The God of Wealth Temple was constructed during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1875). Originally, it was a folk belief site funded by local merchants, dedicated to the "True God of Wealth" Zhao Gongming. According to the "Brief Account of the Southern City," the temple was once the center of worship for the commercial guilds along Juhua Road during the Qing Dynasty. On the fifth day of the lunar calendar, known as the "Welcoming the God of Wealth" day, merchants gathered, the incense was burning brightly, making it an important folk cultural landmark in the Jiangnan region.

Architectural Features

The temple is a typical small temple in the style of Jiangnan folk dwellings, covering an area of approximately 30 square meters. It faces south and is built with a through-tenon wooden frame structure, covered with green tiles. The lintel of the door is carved with a stone tablet inscribed with the four characters "Attract Wealth and Treasure" in regular script. The main hall measures three bays in width, with an altar inside housing the golden statue of Zhao Gongming. The sides are accompanied by statues of the Wealth-bringing Boy and the Lucky God. The eaves are painted with themes of "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Harmony Brings Wealth," with exquisite craftsmanship that has remained well-preserved over a century.

Cultural Relics and Remains

• Qing Dynasty Copper Bell: Suspended from the back eaves of the temple, the inscriptions are clear and legible, noting "Built in Tongzhi 13th Year, Rebuilt in Guangxu Yimu."
• Republic of China Incense Burner: Made of bronze, the body is cast with the four characters "Prosperity in All Trades," a donation from the chamber of commerce at the time.
• Hand-copied Fragment of the "God of Wealth's Scripture": Stored in a secret compartment within the temple, it was recorded by a Taoist in the late Qing Dynasty and holds significant religious documentary value.

Cultural Value

As one of the few intact folk beliefs of the God of Wealth preserved in the Jiangnan region, the God of Wealth Temple witnesses the evolution of urban commercial culture in modern times and is an important physical example for studying local folk customs, belief systems, and social structures. It was listed as a city-level intangible cultural heritage protection unit in 2018.

Tourism Information

• Opening Hours: 6:00–18:00 daily (extended to 20:00 on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar calendar and during festivals)
• Admission: Free (incense donations are voluntary)
• Transportation: 5 minutes' walk from Exit D of the Juhua Station on Line 3 of the subway; buses 5 and 12 stop at the "Juhua Road Station"
• Suggested Visiting Duration: 30–45 minutes
• Notes: Please do not take photos or videos inside the hall; maintain silence and respect the customs of the believers.

✨ A stick of incense, a thousand-year-old wish; every brick and tile, a carrier of the hustle and bustle of the market.