Lidai Diwang Miao (Temple of Ancient Monarchs)

The little-known Temple of Ancient Monarchs (Lidai Diwang Miao) is a hidden gem. It was built some 470 years ago by Ming-dynasty emperors to worship their ancestors, but the ceremonies came to an end with the fall of the Qing dynasty. Since then it has had various incarnations as schools before it opened to the public in 2004 after undergoing a 36-million- dollar restoration. Ask at the ticket window for the six-page computer-printed introduction to the temple that will guide you through each of its courtyards and halls.