Nansha Tianhou Palace (southeastern of Dajiao Mountain, 4A)

Nansha Tianhou Palace was built in honor of the sea goddess Mazu whose real name is believed to be Lin Mo (960-987). There are many stories about Lin Mo helping people during shipwrecks, and that's why she was thought to be the incarnation of Mazu, the goddess of the sea. The goddess of the sea has over 100 million believers in more than twenty countries and the number is increasing every year.

A grand ceremony is held at Tianhou Palace. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located on the southeastern slope of Dajiao Mountain in Guangzhou city, the palace faces the Lingding Ocean which is the mouth of the Pearl River. It covers an area of approximately 100 hectares and combines the style of the Forbidden City in Beijing with the sublimity of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. Reputed as the "First Tianhou Palace under Heaven", Nansha Tianhou Palace is the largest palace compound of its kind in the world.

When arriving at Tianhou Palace visitors first see Tianhou Square, which is home to a huge statue of the Goddess of Tianhou. The statue is about 14.5 meters tall and made of 365 pieces of granite. It figuratively offers its blessings to fishermen throughout the year.

Nansha Tianhou Palace [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Famous scenic attractions at the Nansha Tianhou Palace include Nanling Tower and the Dajiao Mountain Forts. The eight-storey Nanling Tower is 45 meters tall, a good place from which to overlook the scenery around the palace. At Dajiao Mountain Forts, visitors can admire the relics of the Chinese soldiers' brave fight with foreign invaders during the Opium Wars in the 19th century and the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Ticket fee: 20 yuan ($3)

Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Tel: +86-20-84981223

Transportation: Take subway Line 4 and get off at Huangge Station and then take bus 361A or 361B to Tianhou Palace.