Can You Burn Incense at the Tianfei Palace in Shanghai? Introduction to the Tianfei Palace Scenic Area

You may be wondering if you can burn incense at the Tianfei Palace in Fangta Garden. The answer is yes! During the Spring Festival, many people go to the Tianfei Palace to pray for good fortune. In fact, many foreigners also go to the Tianfei Palace to burn incense every year. For more information, please read on.

Can You Burn Incense at the Tianfei Palace?

The answer is definitely yes.
The Tianfei Palace in Fangta Park is the only Mazu Temple in Shanghai. During the Spring Festival, it is filled with incense. Devotees come and go in an endless stream. It costs 5 yuan to ring the bell three times. The drum on the other side is free. Mazu, also known as Tianfei, Tianhou, Tian Shang Sheng Mu, and Niang Ma, is a deity worshipped by generations of boatmen, sailors, travelers, merchants, and fishermen. According to the “World Mazu Temple Directory”, there are now nearly 5,000 Mazu temples worldwide, with nearly 200 million believers.

Introduction to the Tianfei Palace Scenic Area

The Tianfei Palace is located at the foot of Lion Mountain in Xiaguan, Gulou District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. It was built by Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty to thank the goddess Mazu and other deities for protecting Zheng He’s voyages. It is adjacent to Jinghai Temple and is an important historical relic of the Maritime Silk Road and Zheng He’s voyages. The Tianfei Palace was first built in the fifth year of Yongle (1407) in the Ming Dynasty and was historically known as the Longjiang Tianfei Palace. After Zheng He returned from his first voyage, he attributed the safe journey to the grace of the Tianfei goddess and requested that the imperial court build a temple. Before and after each of his six voyages, Zheng He would go to the Longjiang Tianfei Palace to worship Mazu. The Tianfei Palace has been destroyed by wars many times and repaired throughout the ages. It has also been renovated many times since liberation. It covers an area of 5,000 square meters and consists of two courtyards on the east-west axis. Every year on the anniversary of Mazu’s birthday (the 23rd day of the third lunar month), people in Nanjing will go to the Tianfei Palace to attend the temple fair. This tradition has continued to this day. In November 2012, the Nanjing Tianfei Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate as part of the Maritime Silk Road project.

Legend of the Mazu Temple

There are many legends about Mazu. I have visited the Mazu Temple in Macau. Mazu’s original surname was Lin and her given name was Mo, but she was nicknamed Mo Niang. She was born into a prestigious family known as “Jiumu Lin” in Putian, Fujian Province. Her great-grandfather, Lin Yu, served as the prefect during the Five Dynasties period. In 966 AD, he resigned from his post and returned to his hometown, moving his family from Xitianwei, Putian, to the shores of Meizhou Bay. Her great-great-grandfather, Lin Baoji, served as the Minister of Military Affairs during the Later Zhou dynasty. In 954, during the first year of the Xiande reign, he resigned due to his age and retired. Her grandfather, Lin Fu, served as the governor of Fujian during the early Song dynasty. Her father, Lin Weique, and her mother, Wang, “lived in Meizhouyu” and served as the Song Dynasty’s Chief Inspector, which was equivalent to a maritime official.

Related Information:

Tianfei Palace Transportation Guide: http://www.k1u.com/tour/115921.html

Nearby Attractions of the Tianfei Palace: http://www.k1u.com/tour/115918.html

Fangta Garden Ticket Price: http://www.k1u.com/trip/96517.html