Baidicheng 白帝城

About Baidicheng

The temple complex brings together the area’s association with poetry and Three Kingdoms history, while its outlook places the buildings in the river landscape. The modern visitor site should not be confused with every ancient place carrying the Baidi name. Begin with the bridge approach, then visit the temple spaces and take in the water around the hill.

Gongsun Shu (公孙述) built a city on the site after gaining control of Shu; because a well there was said to emit a white vapour resembling a white dragon, he called himself the White Emperor, giving the city its name. After his death, local people built the White Emperor Temple (白帝庙) in his memory. In the second month of 223, Liu Bei entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang at Baidicheng before his death.

The temple's dedication changed repeatedly under later administrations, becoming a Yizheng Shrine (义正祠) to Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang in 1533 and, after Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were added in 1557, the Mingliang Hall (明良殿); it was rebuilt again in 1871. Baidicheng was designated a Fengjie county-level protected site (奉节县重点文物保护单位) in 1999 and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in its sixth batch on 25 May 2006; the separate Baidicheng ruins (白帝城遗址) received the same national designation in 2019.

Baidi hill adjoins Kuimen within the old walled town of Fengjie; after the Three Gorges Dam began impounding water in 2003 the hill and the old town were submerged below the 135-metre water level, leaving Baidicheng an island in the river. The entrance gate carries the characters '白帝城' written by Guo Moruo, beside a couplet from Du Fu's poetry.

What to look for

• The bridge approach shows how the hill has become an island within the reservoir.
• The temple complex and river outlook connect the cultural site with the Yangtze landscape.

Location & getting there

Getting to Baidicheng

Arrange a road arrival at the north-bank Baidicheng approach east of Fengjie, then use the visitor bridge to the hill. Cruise visitors should confirm the included landing and transfer with their sailing operator.