James Baquet

    AT the southeast corner of Nanxin and Xuefu roads in central Nanshan, there’s a lovely little plaza with a large old tree, standing just in front of a temple dedicated to Huaguang (华光), who, among other things, is considered the patron of Guangdong opera.

    He is also a protector against fire and demons, and the patron of goldsmiths, silversmiths, scaffolding workers, and makers and sellers of incense and paper grave goods. A busy god!

    Often mistaken for another god, Erlang, he is generally identified by the pyramid-shaped block of gold in his left hand. Like Erlang, he has a “third eye” in the middle of his forehead; additionally, Erlang has a dog, and Huaguang does not.

    In addition to this figure, the temple features several other popular gods, including Tudi (the Earth God), Caishen (God of Wealth), and four attendants to Huaguang. There is also a fine statue of Jinhua Niangniang; she is the patron of expectant and new mothers, and also brings fertility to those who need it.

    The afore-mentioned tree is noteworthy for the incense sticks placed under it, a rare but not unheard-of practice in modern Shenzhen, harking back to the time when ancient trees were venerated for their power.

    And don’t miss the sidewalk area on the north side of the temple; there is an “old well” right in the middle of the sidewalk, which, along with the tree, attests to the age of the site, even though the temple building itself is quite new and shiny.