The site of an ancient county government in Zhaohua Ancient Town in Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo by Huang Leran for China Daily]

The Huangze (meaning "Imperial Bounties" in Chinese) Temple on the bank of the Jialing River and at the foot of the Wulong Hill in Guangyuan is dedicated to the empress.

There, a 1.8-meter high stone statue of the empress sitting in a gilded dress is the only statue in China modeled on her true appearance, says Du Juan, a guide at the temple.

In ancient times, women were considered inferior to men and were confined to doing housework around the home.

Wu permitted women to take imperial examinations and assigned government posts to those who passed.