Houtu Temple

Houtu Temple is a widely worshipped deity in Chinese folk religion, known as the supreme god of the land. Located 40 kilometers southwest of Wanrong County in Shanxi Province, on the banks of the Yellow River near Miaoqian Village to the north, it is the oldest temple in China dedicated to the worship of Houtu (Earth Mother). In 1996, the State Council designated the Wanrong Houtu Temple as a national key cultural relics protection unit. The existing Houtu Temple, although not as magnificent as it was during the Tang and Song dynasties, still has a rigorous and complete layout, and remains the most prominent Houtu temple in the country. People from all walks of life within the country, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese, come to seek their roots and pay homage to Houtu in an endless stream. They pray to the Holy Mother of Houtu for the Nine Provinces to have abundant harvests, national peace and prosperity, social harmony, and wealth among the people; and for the blessing of health, safety, and prosperity for the whole family, wishing everything to go well. Especially on the birthday of the Holy Mother of Houtu (the 18th day of the third lunar month) and during the temple fair on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, devout men and women, merchants, and tourists rub shoulders with each other, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.