| Where
Haikou and Qiongshan border on each other, an impressive
array of ancient buildings await the arrival of tourists
who have an eye for architectural beauty. The group is
comprised of temples, gardens and the houses of five famous
ministers of the Tang and Song dynasties. Construction
of these ancient buildings began during the reign of Emperor
Wanli of the Ming Dynasty. The group takes its name from
its main building, which is also called the Memorial Temple
of Five Lords. Nine meters in height, the temple is a
two-story wooden building covering a floor-space of 560
square meters. During the Tang and Song dynasties, five
outstanding ministers were demoted and exiled to Hainan-the
bleak end of the earth at that time. And it was to them
that the temple was dedicated. With a golden-glazed board
reading “Number One Building of Hainan” hung
at the front, the temple has become the most popular site
among Hainan’s cultural relics.
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