Master Hu’s Night View

Fangyan Scenic Area is the only scenic area open to the public for 24 hours a day in China. Why is it open to the public for 24 hours a day? The answer lies in the special religious and cultural customs prevailing here. The spot attracting most extensive attention in this scenic area is the Master Hu’s Memorial Temple on the hill top, which is also known as the Temple of the God Mater Hu. Master Hu is not a god or an immortal. He was a human being with official named Hu Ze, and courtesy name Zizheng, born in Huku Village of Yongkang and a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination in the second Duangong Year (A.D. 989) of the Northern Song Dynasty. He worked in the official circles for over 40 years and gone through the periods of three emperors, including Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong, and Emperor Zhenzong. He “served three emperors, acted the prefecture governor for ten times and the envoy for six times and other critical government positions” until quitted at the senior age of 71 years old. During his service time, Master Hu was easy at both punishment and levies, acted clean and clear, and made great achievements on his position, which gained him very good reputation from the people. Master Hu was highly respected by later generations after his death and temples in memory of him were set up in both the former Longjing of Hangzhou City where he was buried and his hometown Yongkang City. Master Hu was so respected by the people that the temples in memory of him were all famous and flourishing since the establishment in some one thousand of years ago.