Ji Du Temple, full name Ji Du North Sea Temple, is the most complete and the largest historic cultural relic among the ancient “Four Large Rivers” and is also the only preserved one. Nowadays it consists of 22 ancient buildings of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty and more than 40 stone inscriptions of the past dynasties, so it is honored as “Ancient Building Museum of Central China”.

    In ancient times, Ji River was called “Four Large Rivers” together with the Changjiang River, the Yellow River and Huai River, and possesses a long history. Ji River was called the God of Ji of the North River, and was granted with the title of Qingyuan Duke in the third Tianbao Year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (744 A.D.). In the seventh Xuanhe Year of Emperor Huizong of Song (1125 A.D.), Ji River was granted with the title of Qingyuan Zhonghu Lord, and in the second Hongwu Year of Ming Dynasty (1369 A.D.), its title was changed to the God of Ji of the North River. From Sui Dynasty on, the emperors of all dynasties dispatched representatives or personally took part in the grand sacrifice events.

    Ji Du Temple faces the south and was begun to build in the second Kaihuang Year of Sui Dynasty (582 A.D.). It covers 86,000m2 and the overall layout is like Chinese character “jia”, which means “unsurpassed”; or Chinese character “gui”, which means Golden Turtle Searching in the Sea. Its main body is arranged on three vertical axis with Ji Du Temple in the front, North Sea Shrine in the behind, Yuxiang Courtyard in the east and Tian Qing Palace in the west, so as to form the structure which is focusing on Ji Du Temple, extending to North Sea Shrine, harmonious with the Heaven and integrating the sacrifice of the Four Large Rivers. It is the place for imperial governments to offer sacrifices to the God of Water, and is much nobler than other three temples as Changjiang River Temple, Yellow River Temple and Huai River Temple.

    The door bracket of Qingyuan Cave consists of nine colors and interlocking layers. It is vigorous and huge, and is a rare wood gate building in Ming Dynasty. The Ji Du Sleeping Palace was begun to build in the sixth Kaibao Year of Song (937 A.D.) and has existed for more than a thousand years. It is one of the most ancient buildings in Central China, and can be regarded as a national treasury.

    Ji Du Temple is the east origin of Ji River with clean springs and countable fishes. Its pond and surrounding pavilions and buildings enhance the beauty of each other, and it is a typical classical garden in North China. Bai Juyi writes in his For Ji River: “Although Ji River is quite shallow that even boats are hard to pass, but it is listed in the large rivers ever since the ancient times on.”