Beiding Niangniangmiao Temple in Beijing

Beiding Niangniangmiao Temple (北顶娘娘庙, Beiding Goddess Temple), also known as Beiding Temple (北顶庙) and Bixia Yuankun Temple (碧霞元君庙), is located at No. 11 Tianchen East Road, Beijing Olympic Park, Chaoyang District, Beijing. It was established during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty (1426–1435) and is one of the historical "Five Top Temples" in Beijing. It officially opened to the public in 2008 and now serves as a branch of the Beijing Folk Museum.

Beiding Niangniangmiao covers an area of approximately 10,000 square meters. The main buildings, aligned along the central axis, include the Mountain Gate Hall (山门殿), Heavenly King Hall (天王殿), Goddess Hall (娘娘殿), East岳 Hall (东岳殿), and Jade Emperor Hall (玉皇殿), with a total of four courtyard sections. It serves as a significant reference point on the extended northern axis of Beijing, holding important cultural heritage value and contributing to the historical fabric of the city's urban planning.

In 1986, Beiding Niangniangmiao was designated as a district-level cultural heritage site by the People's Government of Chaoyang District, Beijing. On December 11, 2003, it was announced as a city-level cultural heritage site by the Beijing Municipal Government.

Historical Evolution

Timeline of Key Events

• Ming Dynasty (Xuande Period): Beiding Niangniangmiao was established.
• Qing Dynasty (Qianlong Period): The temple was officially restored.
• Late Qing to Republican Era: The temple suffered severe damage, retaining only the Mountain Gate Hall, second courtyard hall, and bell tower.
• Post-1949: The original site of Beiding Niangniangmiao was occupied by Beiding Foundry.
• 1976: The back hall collapsed due to an earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt as Beiding Primary School.
• 1986: The Cultural Relics Bureau of Chaoyang District took over the temple, employing staff to manage it.
• 1998: Emergency repairs were conducted on the remaining structures of the temple.
• 2002: The temple's site was cleared of occupying units and residents.
• 2004: The Cultural Committee of Chaoyang District cooperated with the Beijing Institute of Cultural Relics for archaeological explorations.
• 2006: A restoration plan was finalized, focusing on partially reconstructing the first and second courtyards, including the drum tower, second hall, and east-west side halls; foundations and walls were preserved for heritage protection.
• 2007: The main restoration project was completed. The Beijing Folk Museum, as the managing entity, undertook statue installations, mural painting, and exhibition setup.
• 2008: Beiding Niangniangmiao officially opened to the public.
• 2019: Repairs and restorations of the third and fourth courtyards and the Mountain Gate were completed.

Architectural Layout

Beiding Niangniangmiao covers an area of about 10,000 square meters, with key buildings arranged along the central axis, including the Mountain Gate Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Goddess Hall, East岳 Hall, and Jade Emperor Hall, featuring four courtyard sections. The temple is dedicated to various deities, including Bixia Yuankun (碧霞元君), Heavenly Fairy Mother (天仙娘娘), Goddess of Childbirth (送子娘娘), East岳 Emperor (东岳大帝), Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝), Guan Di (关帝), and Medicine King (药王).

Main Buildings

• Mountain Gate: The three-sectioned gate features a hip roof and a simple tiled roof, decorated with colorful painting under the eaves. It has a fire door in the center, with stone plaques inscribed with "Built by Imperial Decree Beiding Niangniangmiao," flanked by intricately carved lattice windows. The entrance is marked by stone steps leading up to the gate.
• Bell and Drum Tower: Beyond the Mountain Gate is the first courtyard, housing the bell and drum towers with a hip roof and tiled roof, featuring a fire door on the ground level and stairs leading up to the upper floor with arched windows.
• Heavenly King Hall: This hall has three sections wide, with a hip roof and a simple tiled roof, featuring five wooden doors and windows on both the front and back sides. Inside are the four heavenly kings: Zhang Zeng Tian Wang (增长天王), Guangmu Tian Wang (广目天王), Duowen Tian Wang (多文天王), and Huguo Tian Wang (护国天王).
• Goddess Hall: This hall is five sections wide, featuring a three-sectioned gabled roof with green glazed tiles. The side halls each have three sections and a simple tiled roof. It enshrines Bixia Yuankun (碧霞元君) and Mingmu Yuankun (明目元君).

Archaeological Remains

Behind the Goddess Hall, there are two additional courtyard sections, though no structures remain, only the foundations.

Cultural Relics

Beiding Niangniangmiao houses several cultural relics, including a stone stele inscribed with the "Inscription of the Restoration of Beiding Niangniangmiao" written by Qing Prince Yi Chuan (庆亲王奕劻) in the 29th year of the Guangxu era (1903), as well as ancient cypress trees (the oldest over 500 years old) and ancient locust trees (approximately 300 years old).

Legends and Anecdotes

It is said that Beiding Niangniangmiao was originally a land temple, later transformed into a goddess temple to express gratitude for the birth of a royal son, thanks to a vow made by the mother of Ming Shizong (明世宗).

Temple Market

The temple market at Beiding Niangniangmiao operates from the first to the fifteenth of the fourth lunar month, primarily selling daily agricultural tools. Farmers from the Changping and Shahe areas come here to exchange goods. To attract visitors, performances are organized at the temple during market days, featuring locally crafted products like straw hats and flower baskets, which are popular among nearby farmers.

Heritage Value

Prior to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the area, including Beiding Village, underwent relocation. Initially, the site of Beiding Niangniangmiao was planned for the National Swimming Center. After thorough archaeological evaluation, the center was relocated 100 meters north, preserving the integrity of Beiding Niangniangmiao.

As one of the "Five Tops and Eight Temples" in Beijing's history, Beiding Niangniangmiao is a landmark on the northern extension of the city's central axis, serving as a physical testament to Beijing's urban development and folk culture. Located within the Olympic main venue area, it neighbors the National Stadium (国家体育场) and the National Swimming Center (国家游泳中心), creating a striking juxtaposition of ancient and modern elements, embodying the spirit of cultural Olympism.

Heritage Protection

In 1986, Beiding Niangniangmiao was designated as a cultural heritage site by the People's Government of Chaoyang District, Beijing. On December 11, 2003, it was included in the seventh batch of city-level cultural heritage sites by the Beijing Municipal Government.

Tourist Information

Location

Beiding Niangniangmiao is located at No. 11 Tianchen East Road, Beijing Olympic Park, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Opening Hours

• 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM)
• Closed on Mondays.

Transportation

• Public Transit: Take bus lines 81, 82, 510, 607, or sightseeing line 3, and get off at Beichen Xiqiao North Station (北辰西桥北).
• Subway: Take Line 8 of the subway and get off at Aoti Center Station (奥体中心站).
• Driving: The People's Government of Chaoyang District is approximately one kilometer from Beiding Niangniangmiao, a drive of about 5 minutes.