Rare Ming dynasty Taoist temple found in Guangdong

Zhaoqing (CNS) -- Local archeological experts have declared an old house at the entrance of a village of Zhaoqing city, Guangdong Province to be the site of a Taoist temple built in the late Ming Dynasty.

Proof of their findings comes from the construction material and style, and the discovery is generating some excitement as few local people followed Taoism at the time. The stone inscription on one of the walls indicates the Taoist temple was built between 1573 and 1620, and repaired in the years between 1654 and 1722.

It is also uncommon to see such a well-preserved ancient Taoist temple in this area. The structure is a courtyard of three rooms covering an area of 800 square meters. Two stone beams carved with flowers and grasses are stationed at the front gate.

Several Taoists used to live here before 1949, and then the temple was adapted for use as a primary school, a senior villager surnamed Zhang remembers. The primary school stopped operation over two decades ago.