Located in Zaohe Ancient Town, some twenty kilometers northwest of Suyu District, Emperor Qian Long Temporary Palace is an AAA national tourism attraction and a cultural and historical site under the state protection. It was named as Emperor Qian Long Temporary Palace because Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty once stopped for rest here for several times. The Palace was constructed in 1684 (the 23^rd year of Emperor Kang Xi’s reign in Qing Dynasity) and was restored and expanded by generations of emperors such as Yong Zheng, Qian Long and Jia Qing. It is also called Imperial Anlan Dragon King Temple for it was where imperial worships were conducted for the nation’s peace. Facing south, the Palace covers an area of 36 mu in which three yards with nine chambers were arranged and more than 20 pavilions were built.

The architecture style within the Palace is simple and elegant for its symmetrical layout and distinct axis. Fifteen small palaces, magnificent and elegant, are well arranged. The building area can be divided into six parts. At the south end is the Old Opera Tower with its foot stone of 1.4 meters high, a place for performance of the annual temple fair on the 9^th day of the first lunar month and a theatre for emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Old Opera Tower faces north and in front of it there is a broad square laid by black bricks, where two sacred poles with a six-zhang (1zhang≈3.33 meters) height stand on both sides (commonly known as flag poles). Aside each pole there is an archway, respectively called “He Qing(peaceful river)” and “Hai Yan(calm sea)”. North to the square is a temple guarded by two royal stone lions of the early Qing Dynasty. The lions are carved with delicate craft and fine materials, which is unparalleled in Jiangsu Province. Above the front gate, there hangs a large piece of black brick with seven golden Chinese characters inscribed by Emperor Qian Long -- “Chi Jian An Lan Long Wang Miao(Emperor Qian Long Temporary Palace)” and his imperial imprint. Beside the gate, on each side there is a bright corner gate and a dark one from which the emperor and officials went in and out of the palace. Entering the gate, you will be in the first yard in whose center there stands an imperial stele pavilion built under the command of Emperor Qian Long. The stele is 5 meters high and its stele head is engraved with “Sheng Zhi(imperial edict)”. The main body is engraved with the content of the imperial edict, describing the reason for building this temple, the whole construction process and some poems left by Emperor Qian Long when he stayed here. There is a bell tower to the east of the pavilion and a drum tower to the west. The two towers are in same shape, layout and size, each covering an area of 103 square meters. North to the pavilion is Yi Palace with an area of 66 square meters, which lies in the aisle between the first and the second yards. The second yard is the center of the whole complex. Within it, the main building is named “Dragon King Palace” or “Green Tile Palace”. Side halls stand respectively on each side. Dragon King Palace is one of the most typical buildings in the temple, taking up an area of 435 square meters. The palace, magnificent and splendid, is characterized with carved beams, painted rafters, cornices brackets and rigorous structure. Gold statues of King Da Yu and Dragon King of East China Sea for worship sit here in the middle of the palace where Emperor Qian Long could deal with state business and offer sacrifice to the god and ancestors. The third yard is the Emperor Qian Long’s resting palace. On the horizontal axis of the aisle between the second and third yards, there lies Lingguan Palace and Hip Roof Palace. Hip Roof Palace was for monks to read books, sing poems and study Buddhism, and it was also a temporary place for officials to discuss state business at the arrival of Emperor Qian Long. Above the front gate of Lingguan Palace, there hangs a horizontal board inscribed with “Fu Jing Ling Bo(God bless us peace)”. When Emperor Qian Long came, it was also called “Fen Gong Palace” where officials were forbidden if Emperor Qian Long and his concubine were in the palace. Since the Qing Dynasty, the temple fair have been held here annually on the 8th, 9th and 13th day of the lunar first month. People all crowd in the temple to worship Dragon King, which has been regarded as the biggest temple fair among the 36 worship activities of Northern Jiangsu.

Add: No.10, Tongsheng Street, Zaohe Town, Suyu District

Tel: 80701308

Entrance Fee: 30 RMB/per head

Visiting Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. in summer, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in winter