Monday, September 2, 2013

City God's Temple - Shanghai

This is a late post of my recent trip to Shanghai in April 2013 which I had decided not to post for some reasons. When I heard that bloggers SK and Bananaz missed visiting this temple, I thought I should share some photos of this auspicious temple and dedicate to bloggers SK/0617 and Bananaz.



Photo 1: The City God's Temple was built over 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. It is located right in the middle of the older sections of Shanghai city, right next to the Yu Yuan Gardens and the Tea House. This temple was built and dedicated to  God Cheng Huang Qin Yubo (Year 1295 - 1373) who was being elated by the Ming's Emperor to become the City God after he passed away. He has contributed greatly during his reign as Mongol's Yuan Dynasty Jinshi and Ming Dynasty's Imperial Academy Scholar.

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Photo 2:  I always love to see the colourful drawings of the Door Deities who guard the temples.





 Photo 3: The Lion Statue smiled!
The wooden plaque says the opening hours is 8.30am to 4.30pm and the entrance fee is 10 Yuan (RM5.00) per visitor.




Photo 4: It was early Spring that day and was very cold! The huge crowds thronged inside the walled temple as it was a public holiday for "Tomb Clearing" week. Look at this cute boy sitting on his father's shoulder. He was restless and tossed the bundle of Joss Sticks anxiously.




Photo 5: It was so packed with China's folks and I had to wait for the right moments to snap "visible" photos!




 Photo 6: Look at the boy's father!!! He was still texting messages on his phone!




 Photo 7: This walled temple consists of the main building with 3 other separate complexes which are smaller.



 Photo 8: Everyone had to wait for their turns to kneel down and offer their respects & wishes.




 Photo 9: The City God's statue.




 Photo 10: There were so many different statues adorned the walls of the entire lengths of this Main Temple's building.



 Photo 11: The statues located on the opposite side of the walls.





Photo 12: Honestly, that was the first time I had seen any temple that housed the most statues. It was a pity that I could not read Chinese words, so I missed out the explanations.




Photo 13: As a regular traveler overseas, we would always try to pay our respects to the deities in the local temples so that our holidays would be a safe, pleasant and happy one. This is important for me.




Photo 14: I was attracted to this antique staircase inside the main temple. I guessed that it must be over 600 years old.



 
 Photo 15: This is the inner courtyard of the Main Temple which connected to another building there.




 Photo 16: The complex building at the left wing inside the courtyard area.





 Photo 17: This is the chamber of another deity in the other building at the courtyard.




Photo 18: OMG! The boy's father was still texting! Now his father has lighted up the joss sticks which have burnt till VERY SHORT, thinking that the Gods Can Wait.



127 comments:

  1. Photo #1: oh, i didn't know they have another more proper and official gate outside, when i was brought there i just stood outside of the iron gate and looked inside.. it surely is crowded all the time huh??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I went inside the side gate which looked not impressive. I had same thought like you.

      I got off at the main entrance instead which faced the big main road elsewhere!

      Delete
    2. Si many people. Mostly tourust or iwn people?

      Delete
    3. Nearly all the people were local folks from all over China.

      Delete
    4. Meow,
      Mainland CHinese tourists also is still tourists what! LOL

      Delete
  2. Photo #3: oh, need to pay entrance fees!! i thought it's a public temple for everyone to go in to pray.. hmmm, i am not agreeable to that entrance fees actually, it's funny that a temple would want to collect entrance fees!! and hey, look, Letchumi was happily chit-chatting with that stone lion, what were they talking about??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So far in Malaysia, we do not have to pay to enter the temples but we might start doing it in future. Even in Japan, we have to pay to visit the temples, parks and castles!

      Delete
    2. Letchumy never told me what all the stone lions talked to her about.

      Delete
    3. i think contributing to temples is rather voluntary, compulsory entrance fees really is not what i would like to see.. errr, yeah, our cinemas are starting to play national anthem before the movies start right?? :D

      Delete
    4. Hmm...me same opinion as sk. Payment must be from own heart. Nit charge fees

      Last time I used to b scared see the fierce face of deity. That was smsll time la. Now ok jor

      Delete
    5. This is a difficult question whether to pay or not to pay. It is the intentions that need to be judged. They didn't say that you have to pay the fees to pray. If you don't want to pay, you are free to stand outside the temple's walls and pray.

      Delete
    6. well, why not? If its for the upkeep of the temples?

      Parks and temples in Japan are not subsidized by the government and they are still immaculately maintained. Funds has to come from somewhere...

      Delete
  3. Photo #5: hmmm, it would be quite impossible to wait till the spot you wanted to snap some photos to be clear of people right?? so crowded and i think better get them all at the background, that would probably work better to get you stand out of the locals..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really could not snap photos when the crowds were glued together like fishes inside sardine cans!

      Delete
    2. then just ignore them, stand in front of the crowd and make yourself stand out of the locals dei~~

      Delete
    3. You orang pandai cakap dei. If the crowd was so big with no breathing space, how to stand in front and snap photos??

      Delete
  4. Photo #7: when i glazed afar from that iron gate and during the dark, i thought this Temple of City God is just a small rundown temple.. and now reading this post only i know i was so wrong!! it's so huge and so well maintained!! impressively unexpected..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was Letchumy who dragged me inside and insisted that it is a famous temple! The gate near that Xiao Long Bao stall looked like backlanes of someone's house!!

      Delete
    2. very true!! it really looked like the backlanes, that is why i am impressed to see the majestic temples inside.. oh, i just missed this!!

      Delete
  5. Photo #8: i heard this Temple of City God is the most famous temple and many wishes from the devotees were realized.. that explains why this temple is always packed with crowds, and queuing up to pray?? hmmm, at least that's better than everyone fighting to pray without any discipline, well you know that in mainland China?? :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I am sure it was very powerful as the way the young crowds prayed, really opened my eyes!!

      Delete
  6. Photos #9-#13: really a lot of deities housed inside this temple!! wow, i really thought it was just a tiny rundown temple, that was why i didn't bother to return.. ah, i have missed such an impressive temple to visit.. oh, those deities look familiar to me yet i am not very certain who they are.. and there is something interesting that i noticed, some of them were covered with red cloth, what does that actually mean??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not know about the red cloths as it was the first time I saw such cloths over the statues! I will visit that temple again if I visit Shanghai next year!

      Delete
    2. ah, i thought you would know why they were covered with red cloth.. it would be interesting to find out why..

      Delete
    3. I have no idea but will check it out. Normally I heard that red cloths are like "activation" purposes.

      Delete
  7. Photo #14: over 600 years old?? but this staircase looks quite new, most probably they have been restoring it and keep it under very good maintenance.. so where does this stairs lead to?? seems like visitors are not allowed to go up?? else, sure Anay will posts more photos of what is in there..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looked at the wood and cracks which convinced me that it was an old staircase being repainted with fresh gold leafs inlaid.

      Delete
  8. Photo #15-#16: wow, very nice architecture, imagine it was built more than 600 years ago and is still standing strong today!! the olden architecture and skills-men were really 1000 times better huh??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you and I can visit China! Most of my friends are not even interested to see old buildings! Funny people.

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    2. yeah, i think we can go to the Forbidden City together, i missed gazing at every beams and every doors and every walls of the place..

      Delete
    3. I have no intentions to visit Beijing again as my last trip was like 8 days!!! Enough for time being. There are other new places to visit. My problem is no money and time.

      Delete
  9. Photo #17: the chamber looks solemn and i think this deity must be the more prominent one among the others?? i am also admiring the craftsmanship of that chamber, the carvings and sculpture look impressive and majestic..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I need you to visit Shanghai again and tell me about it.

      Delete
    2. i probably would be more interested to go Beijing again~~ :p

      Delete
  10. Photo #4, #6, #18: hahaha, i bet most probably that boy is the only son of that man, that is why he was so pampered.. it seemed like that man is so used to his son sitting on his shoulders, and he can carry on with whatever he is doing with him on top, haha!! father and son, what a sweet set of photos.. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The boy was so sweet and good looking with rosy cheeks. The father looked like a fish, so I guess the boy's mother must be pretty!

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. God can wait but the joss-stick won't!

      Delete
    2. LOL... If you look at the size difference of the same joss sticks being carried by the son before the father took over. It has burnt so short!! Wakakakaka

      Delete
  12. Wahhhhhh!!!! So many devotees! Did you pray? What did you ask for?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I made so many wishes coz got so many deities to bless me!!!

      Delete
  13. I've been to a temple in China (Guilin) that has *a lot* of people going there too.

    I did the fortune shaking stick thing and got my reading and lit some incense sticks even though I'm not Bud dist coz I wanted to experience it.

    Shanghai looks fun, would love to go back to China, used to have a multiple entry/exit 6 month visa but expired dy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have yet to visit Guilin and I hope to see its mountains by river cruise. Everyone said it was the most beautiful in China until painters had to go there to get inspirations.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, it's a beautiful cruise!

      You can also see the EXACT scene in the RMB 20 note, it's a scene by the Li River, on that cruise too.

      I got a brand new 20 Yuan note and took a photo with it there and soon everyone wanted to borrow my brand new RMB 20 note for a photo op too. -_-

      Haha!

      Delete
  14. Hahaha You're sure fixated at the dad texting away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was walking all over the place and came back to same spot to wait for Letchumy. I was more attracted to the cute boy...

      Delete
  15. Interesting.

    I've never ventured into any parts in China, for one reason; I don't speak Chinese. But don't get me wrong, if I have enough financial resource and time, I would definitely love to go there one day.

    To tell you the truth, the Chinese architecture, paintings and writing amazed me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Life is so short and time flies so fast. I hope you can visit the various historical parts of China too. I do not speak or read Mandarin but that does not stop me from visiting their country. Their historical sites often raised my eye brows.

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. Good afternoon Sharon.... no comments?

      Delete
    2. that's her Touch & Go style lah, no surprising!! haha~~

      Delete
    3. We have T&G of Male and Female versions!!

      Delete
    4. That's a comment also... what! LOL

      Hi & bye!

      Delete
  17. Hahaha, the last picture is represent how people attach to the phone nowadays!!! =]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sama sama lah. You and I are also addicted to our phones in the classroom!

      Delete
    2. Nope, never in the classroom, hahaha!!! I always pay fully attention in class!!! =]

      Delete
  18. TM, you are very observant... or were you following them? :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must admit that I am a busy body and was stalking the boy! LOL

      Delete
  19. I love the dragons on the roof!

    That phone guy is silly. Forget about your stupid phone and look up! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes their dragons are nice! They bigger ones elsewhere! Have you ever visited China? It is so near to Japan....

      Delete
  20. Hahaha...so you were tailing the father and son?

    Actually, I never like to go temple. I got goosebumps seeing the statue with different facial expression. That really sends a chill down my spine. Okay...I know I must have committed lots of sins..ahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh what did you do to commit so much sins? Just kidding okay.

      When i was small I would cry when I saw them. I grew up and loved to look at the statues like Art now.

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. They collected so much entrance fees to upkeep the place like new!

      Delete
  22. So many people visited this temple and I guess most likely most of them are China tourists(from what I seen from the photos).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are absolutely correct. Everywhere I visited in China was crowded with their own folks who swore and pushed each other to the edges. Oh yes, they still spit and have open toilets concept. Amazing China!

      Delete
    2. That is so disgusting. Makes me wanna vomit now. I went China twice and I saw quite of them doing so. It's really embarrassing leh. I plan to go China again like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guilin but when thinking of China peoples' attitude, oh my goodness!

      Delete
    3. The Chinese folks taught me a lot from observing their attitude and thinking. I learnt to close one eye besides analyzing our own country and culture.


      Why are we so shy when comes to bathing and doing toilet business?? They do find us weird in many ways too!

      Delete
  23. Thanks for the link however no one takes notice of it as it leads to Holland haha. Not that bad after all as a consolation Bananaz blog's at 25 out of 215,000 search.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nice smiling and lovely stone lion. Oh man the stone lion was probably smiling and saying 'hi there sweetie, good day' to wifey. No kidding heard of stories about the two guardian lions from Penang QuanYin temple in Pitt Street would often roam the streets so they are much 'alive' . Your wifey may have 'communicated' just by touch. Bananaz Beleaf It Or Not? haha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I have heard of that Lions in Penang since i was small. I believe them of course.

      Delete
  25. Seems like got lots of ideas to blog but don't seem to flow out. Have prepared some articles to blog about an idiom of the Door Deities may seek your permission to use the two nice pixz of Door g~ds. Kop khun kup

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please use them by all means! I think I have several others somewhere!

      Delete
  26. You simply cannot tahan that guy texting while praying. To him heaven can wait but that is bad no respect at all to the g~ds. Seen people talking while lighting incense and some talking as they pray while placing them in incense urns, not a good & respectful way of praying. Very simply analogy like shaking hands with someone when being introduced but not looking at the person or talking to someone else while shaking hands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was no right and wrong but he simply attracted my attention. He could be having some life and death matters to settle. Perhaps his wife told him never to return home again as the kid is not her DNA...

      Delete
  27. Bananaz's gut feeling and wild guess is the deities the 18 Immortals or Sap Pat Loh Hon (in Cantonese)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you are right somewhere as there were so many sets of them.

      Delete
  28. Is the City God noted for fulfilling our wishers :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I heard that the temple is very powerful with many good testimonials.

      Delete
  29. Will be going to Shanghai for a second time since the 90's this coming Oct for a biz Convention. Just as usual like other group tours they will not take us to places like where you have been but focus more towards tourist spots and full day seminars etc. Glad and thankful you blog about this place despite your reluctance of not doing it initially until SK & yours truly requested 'TM on Demand'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should extend your stay by many days! Just hop onto the High Speed Trains to visit everywhere!

      Delete
  30. Great awesome first pixz of the magnificent roof top decorated with lovely dragons.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the dragons in China are very lovely, big and comes with various awesome designs! A real dragon in the spiritual world is plain like a flying snake.

      Delete
  31. Oh! Nice temple! But why did not want to blog about it earlier?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not like you who could be ranked a World Class Long Winded blogger! I thought I have blogged enough of Shanghai. Normally I could blog a one week travels into just 1 post!

      Delete
  32. Got entrance fees? I guess they need it to maintain the temple?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also felt that it is justified to have gate collections with the huge crowds daily. They need manpower to sweep and keep the place clean.

      Delete
  33. So crowded!! I don't like crowded places cos so difficult to move around and hard to take photos!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobody likes crowded places. I arrived on the wrong date! It was their public holiday!

      Delete
  34. Wah! The boy's father so busy texting with the boy sitting on his shoulder? Not bad eh? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The father is good at multi tasking! That's life buddy! We may need to have 3 jobs sometimes to survive. In China it is common.

      Delete
    2. A lot of us are great at mukti-tasking too. Driving and texting. A serious problem :(

      Delete
  35. Huh? You could not read Chinese words? All this while, I thought you can!! So how you travel in China like this? But you know how to converse in Mandarin right? : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a banana man having grown up in Penang, Thailand and America.

      Delete
  36. Wow!!! Holding joss sticks still can text? Amazing feat!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was easy unless he used the joss stick to type!!!

      Hey I cannot speak Mandarin so well.

      Delete
  37. well, got a bit Penang de temple feelings~ XD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't see any temple in Penang that is so big.

      Delete
    2. urm, i remember i see before... urm, if you don't mind can see through this post http://www.lonelyreload.com/2011/09/penang-hill-bukit-bendera.html

      Delete
  38. Last photo multi tasking nah...kid won't fall punya..like ride horse :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. China has the most young acrobatics in the world. They start from their father's shoulders!

      Delete
  39. Never been to China before. Looks like hv to wait fir j to grow up before go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unless someone like uncle sp qanna bbsit...good exercise. Csn slim down much lol

      Delete
  40. Your son is big enough now to travel with you all. Better be safe than sorry to ask SP to baby sit. Your son will turn hamsap in 2 days!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh wow, are we transported back to Shanghai again?? I'm still mesmerising in those fruit carvings......

    ReplyDelete
  42. Bahahaha.. I thought the little boy accidentally burn his dad's hair at the end lol

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your're right! The staircase is so unique. I like that picture so much!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Offer prayer also need to queue up, hehe :P

    ReplyDelete
  45. Nice photos and nice temple, I love visiting temples.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Who is the touch and go male version?

    ReplyDelete
  47. In Singapore, the most famous temple is the Guanyin Temple at Queen Street near Bugis.

    ReplyDelete
  48. You are very well travelled, TM.

    ReplyDelete
  49. So rare to have to pay to get into a temple

    ReplyDelete
  50. its so beautiful....rarely in india, it is allowed to click photographs inside temples...

    and the father is such a texter no!!!!


    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. The temple was really crowded, guess it's becoming a tourist attractions.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Those temples are so nice, and very crowded too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you prayed a lot there? Wishes come true? :p

      Delete
  53. Anay, so sorry that I only visited you blog now. I hope you can forgive me. I know you will, because you are my anay.

    ReplyDelete
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