City God Temple of Shanghai

Among diversity of Taoist temple clusters in Shanghai, Shanghai City God Temple is famous for its time-honored history and magnificent building complex at home and abroad. Shanghai City God Temple is located in the busiest and landmark-style tourist area of Chenghuang Miao. Initially, it is an important Taoist temple firstly built during the reign of Emperor Chengzu, specifically during his dominating period (1403-1424).

Up to today, it has more than 600 years of history. Since its establishment, the scale of Shanghai City God Temple gradually expanded till the age ranging from 1821 to 1850. At its peak time, the total area is over 49.9 mu, roughly 33,000 square meters. As an important Taoist temple of Shanghai, Shanghai City God Temple suffered a serious destruction during the period of Cultural Revolution. And the god statues were ruined, and the halls were used for others. In 1994, as the gradual opening of religion freedom, Shanghai City God Temple was reopened and acted as the Taoist temple under the operation of Zhengyi Branch of Taoism. In 2005, the usufruct of wing-rooms in front of the main hall is regained, and then the second reconstruction project of Shanghai City Temple started. Today's City God Temple covers more than 2000 square meters and consists of Huoguang Hall, Jiazi Hall, Caishen Hall, Cihang Hall, Chenghuang Hall, Niangniang Hall, Fumu Hall, Guansheng Hall and Wenchang Hall.

Eat
The small wares here are very colorful and the snacks are in various kinds with north and south flavors. Nanshan Crab Soup Bun is the most popular here, but the price of it in different shop is different. The shop that with long queue from 5 or 6 pm is the most affordable, authentic one, and the price is also not expensive. At the road towards the southeast exit, there is a lane which provides various breakfast snacks; of course, they are available in the evening. Soybean milk, fried dough sticks, spicy soup and so on. In a word, you can enjoy whatever you want--special snacks from Shanghai or other places, what's more, they are not expensive at all.
Shopping
The temple also provides different kinds of shops and stalls, and generally they sell some artworks. Since there are many foreign tourists, so some unique Chinese goods are welcomed, such as: cheongsam and figurines.
Play
The best time to play is during the Temple fair and the Lantern Festival, when there will hold a variety of old Shanghai folk arts, lanterns, and some performance of folk artists.

城隍庙旅游区位于市中心黄浦区东部的老城区，其北距外滩不到1公里，这里是初游上海的游客必去之处，在这里可以全面地领略到上海的历史文化和民俗风情，并可品尝到地道的上海小吃和本帮菜，而每到夜晚，仿古建筑群上缤纷的景观灯也使这里成为一道夜色风景线。

城隍庙旅游区其实就是大多数人俗称的'城隍庙'，它泛指以著名景点'豫园'为中心的集景点观光、购物、餐饮于一体的大片区域。豫园和老城隍庙是这里最主要的两个收费景点，它们象征着上海的地方文化和信仰，此外还有九曲桥和湖心亭等开放性的小景点。

城隍庙旅游区是个常年人头攒动的地方，因为这里还是个著名的商业区。这里坐落着数栋小商品批发商城和综合性商场，以及非常多的金店、珠宝店，更有众多餐饮老字号，在这里还可以购买到各种上海土特产。