China restores 1,300-year-old temple

The funeral temple of Emperor Shun (File photo)

North China's Shanxi province has completed restoring the funeral temple of Emperor Shun, who is regarded as one of the ancestors of the Chinese nation, authorities said Tuesday.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage spent a total of 3.74 million yuan (607,557 U.S. dollars) on the restoration project starting in 2010, said Han Shirong, an official with the cultural relics bureau of Yanhu District, Yuncheng City.

Han said the major wooden structures of the temple, such as the main hall, the bell and drum tower and the opera stage, were damaged by weathering. The renovation project mainly focused on replacing the roof tiles, rotten purlins and rafters, and strengthening the walls, according to Han. Landscaping and roads nearby were also improved during the restoration.

According to Chinese folk legend, the monarch Shun lived more than 5,000 years ago and created the Chinese morality system.

Covering a total area of 122,500 square meters, the Funeral Temple of Emperor Shun was built in 738 AD during the Tang Dynasty in Yuncheng City. Repairs were carried out during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and today it stands as a tourist attraction featuring multiple historical styles.

Around 300,000 tourists visit the temple annually, including overseas Chinese who come to worship their ancestor.