Yue Fei Temple (Yuewang Miao), Hangzhou
The Yue Fei Temple (岳王庙) is the tomb and memorial temple of Yue Fei, the Southern Song general who fought the Jurchen Jin and was executed in 1142 on trumped-up charges. It stands at 80 Beishan Road on the north-west shore of West Lake, opposite the Quyuan Fenghe lotus garden. Tickets cost 25 yuan for adults, and visitors under 18 go free. It opens 07:30 to 17:30 every day. Book through the 「西湖旅游」 WeChat account up to three days ahead, or buy at the gate on an ordinary day. An hour is enough, which makes it an easy stop after a morning at Lingyin or on a walk along the north shore.
The wider trip is in the Hangzhou travel guide.
Why Yue Fei matters
For Chinese visitors, Yue Fei is the model of loyalty, taught from childhood. He led the Song armies against the Jin after the north was lost and won a series of victories, then was recalled, imprisoned and put to death on the orders of the chancellor Qin Hui, who favoured peace with the Jin. The charge against him was famously summed up as mo xu you, "perhaps there was something". About twenty years later he was rehabilitated, and in 1221 a temple was built beside his grave. It has been rebuilt many times, was heavily damaged in the Cultural Revolution and was restored in 1979. It has been under national protection since 1961.
The patriotic poem Man Jiang Hong ("The River All Red"), traditionally said to be his, is still learned by heart in Chinese schools, though scholars have long argued over whether he actually wrote it. Lines from it appear on steles inside the temple.
You don't need to know any of this to enjoy the place, but it explains why Chinese families stand so long in front of the tomb.
A one-hour route
- The main hall (忠烈祠, Hall of Loyalty). A courtyard leads to the main hall, with the board 心昭天日 ("his heart shines like the sun") over the door. Inside is a large statue of Yue Fei in armour, and above it the four characters 还我河山, "Give me back my rivers and mountains", in his own calligraphy as tradition has it. Murals around the hall tell his life story. The best known shows his mother tattooing 精忠报国, "serve the country with utmost loyalty", on his back. Statues of two of his generals, Niu Gao and Zhang Xian, stand at the sides.
- The stele corridor. West of the hall, a covered walk holds inscribed stones, including poems and memorials by and about Yue Fei.
- The tombs. Cross the small Jingzhong Bridge into the tomb garden. The larger mound is Yue Fei's, and the smaller one his son Yue Yun's, executed with him.
- The kneeling figures. Facing the tombs, behind railings, kneel four iron figures with their hands bound: Qin Hui, his wife Lady Wang, and two officials who helped condemn Yue Fei. For centuries visitors spat on them. Signs now ask you not to, and most people just stare.
The site isn't large, and the old trees keep it shady. Exhibition rooms explain Yue Fei's campaigns, mostly in Chinese.
Visiting tips
The halls are quietest at opening and in the last hour before closing. Most labels are in Chinese, so read the background above before you go in. The calligraphy and murals then make much more sense. Photography is allowed in the courtyards and the tomb garden. Be quiet around the tombs, where many Chinese visitors stop to bow.
Tickets
| Ticket | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adult | 25 yuan |
| Ages 60 to 69, full-time students | Half price |
| Under 18, ages 70 and over | Free |
| Hours | 07:30 to 17:30 |
Other free groups include serving military and people with disability certificates. If you qualify for a free or half-price ticket, buy it at the window with ID.
Getting there and pairing
Buses 7, 15, 27 and 28 and the West Lake tourist lines stop at Yuemiao (岳庙) and Quyuan Fenghe. Some West Lake boats also land at the Yue Lake pier opposite. The Broken Bridge is about 2.5 km away along Beishan Road, a pleasant shaded walk.
- After Lingyin: a short bus or taxi ride from Lingyin Temple after a morning slot, then a walk east along the north shore of West Lake.
- On a lake day: combine it with the Su Causeway, whose north end is close by.
Leifeng Pagoda and Liuhe Pagoda are on the south side, so save them for the afternoon or another day.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Yue Fei Temple?
25 yuan for adults in 2026. Visitors under 18 and over 70 go free, and students and ages 60 to 69 pay half price.
How long do you need at the Yue Fei Temple?
About an hour for the main hall, the stele corridor and the tombs.
Who are the kneeling statues at the Yue Fei Temple?
Qin Hui, his wife Lady Wang, and two officials, Moqi Xie and Zhang Jun, who are blamed for Yue Fei's execution. They have knelt before his tomb for centuries.