The temple covers an area of 21,500 square meters, of which 6,000 square meters are covered by ancient buildings. The whole complex faces south. The main buildings–the screen wall, the gate of the temple, Jingde Gate, Jingde Chongsheng Hall, the warehouse of ritual vessels–are situated along a central axis. These are flanked by the east and west wing halls, the stele pavilions, the sacrificial burners, and the bell tower. In the southeast are the bell tower, the Divine kitchen, the Divine Depot, the Slaughter pavilion, and the well pavilion; in the southwest are the Music Official Rooms, the Guard Official Rooms, the Fasting Rooms, and the GuandiTemple, a temple within a temple. With a majestic layout, the complex is a classic example of Chinese traditional architecture.
Jingde Chongsheng Hall, the main hall, has been refurnished the way it was in Emperor Qianlongs reign. Prominently displayed in its center are the spiritual tablets of the Three Sovereigns–Fuxi, Emperor Yan, Emperor Huangdi, and the Five Emperors– Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Diku, Tangyao, and Yushun. They are flanked by those of the emperors of successive dynasties. Visitors may feel the solemnity and worship in the hall. In the east wing hall is an exhibition on the historical evolution of the temple; in the west wing hall, an exhibition of the major worshiped figures. These two may help visitors learn more about the temple and the founding, development and consummation of the sacrificial system.
In the Divine Depot is held the exhibition on Family Names and the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors, showing how the 100 major Chinese family names originated from the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors and evolved, and stories of emperors of successive dynasties. This may help visitors learn more about the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors who were the common ancestors of Chinese people.
In Guandi Temple is held the Guan Yu Cultural Exhibition on the life of Guan Yu, Guan Yus Tomb in Dangyang, the Cemetery of Guan Yu in Luoyang, and Guandi Temple in Xiezhou. The exhibition tells the story of "his body lies in Dangyang, his head rests in Luoyang, his soul is back in his hometown, and his statue is worshipped in Temples", and A Life of Heroic Tragedy, A Sage of Eternal Sanctity.
