# City God Temple (城隍庙)

Pingyao, Shanxi Province · North China, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/city-god-temple
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Included in the Pingyao Ancient City combo ticket
- **Opening hours:** 2026.01.01-2026.12.31 08:00-18:30
- **Time needed:** 1–2 hours
- **Address:** Middle section of City God Temple Street (城隍庙街)
- **Getting there:** Located on Chenghuang Temple Street in Pingyao Ancient City; reachable on foot from South Street
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Architecture

## About City God Temple

The surviving temple buildings date from the Ming and Qing dynasties and are among the most completely preserved City God Temples in China. Its most distinctive feature is a “temple within a temple”: the City God Temple, the Caishen (God of Wealth) Temple and the Zaojun (Kitchen God) Temple are linked together, forming a unique scene of “deities of different kinds sharing one temple and receiving incense together.” The City God sits in the centre, with the Kitchen God and the God of Wealth on either side.
The octagonal trigram caisson (藻井) above the Caishen opera stage was created by cleverly using the rear ends of the bracket arms (斗拱翘昂) as decoration. It is not only distinctive in form but also helps gather and project sound. Five large earthenware jars are buried beneath the stage floor, creating resonance and giving the stage excellent acoustics.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1807. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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