Haikou Tianhou Palace: The largest Mazu temple in Hainan
Haikou Tianhou Palace, located at No. 87 Zhongshan Road (also known as Tianhou Temple or Mazu Temple), was founded in the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of over 700 years.
The earliest Tianhou Palace in Hainan, originally named Huanhai Fang, is revered as the guardian deity of old Haikou. Haikou Tianhou Palace is the largest Mazu temple in Hainan and is also an important cultural carrier of Haikou, a national historical and cultural city. As an integral part of Chinese Mazu culture, the Tianhou Palace carries the inseparable cultural context of Haikou's old city district.
Wanderlust@Eva 2376
Tianhou Palace
While strolling through the arcade old streets, I came across a Tianhou Palace built in the bustling city center, which was also quite magnificent, so I decided to explore it.
Haikou Tianhou Palace is located on Zhongshan Road in Longhua District, and is the earliest Tianhou Palace in Hainan, originally named Huanhai Fang, also known as Tianhou Temple or Mazu Temple. It was built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of over 700 years, and is known as the guardian deity of old Haikou.
According to the 'Qiongtai Records' of the Ming Dynasty, temples dedicated to the 'Heavenly Consort' had already appeared in Qiongshan, Wanzhou, Yazhou, and Gan'en by the Yuan Dynasty at the latest. However, the 'Heavenly Consort Temples' in Wanning, Sanya, and Dongfang have left no traces, only the one in Haikou remains, and its site is located on Zhongshan Road and Baishamen Shangcun in the old streets of Haikou, now called 'Tianhou Palace'.
In addition to the Mazu statue for worship, Haikou Tianhou Palace also exhibits many ancient relics, including inscriptions and brick carvings that have been preserved. In the side hall on the left side of the main hall, there is also a special introduction to Mazu culture, like a small museum.