Aside from bringing families together, ancestral temples also play an important role in educating Chinese society about history and culture. (Photo : Getty Images)

Aside from being iconic attractions, ancestral temples spread across modern day China remain relevant by bringing families together, China Daily reported.



It's not only immediate family members such structures bring together, but distant relatives as well.




"A visitor from Southwest China's Yunnan Province shared our surname. He took a look at our family tree record, which is kept at the temple, and found out that his ancestors moved from Wuxi to Yunnan during the Ming Dynastry (1368-1644)," shared Guo Zurong in an interview with China Daily.



"He was very excited to discover his roots. That's one of the reasons why we maintain the ancestral temple so well, to provide a spiritual home for our clan," added Guo, who is also a part of the Wuxi Ancestral Temples Research Association.



Four generations of the Guo family regularly go on temple visits. In 2015, over 200 family members gathered at the ancestral temple for the centennial birthday of Guo Pugen, one of the family's most respected senior members.



The Guo ancestral temple is just one of the 118 temples that dot the landscape in Huishan. Since the ancient times, it's been considered a valuable feng shui site. Locals believe those who are buried at the foothills of the mountain achieve peace and grant their descendants good fortune.



Huishan's ancestral temples vary in size, date of construction, and architectural style, with the largest covering a total area of 9,000 square meters. Meanwhile, the oldest temples date back to the Han Dynasty.



Aside from bringing families together, ancestral temples also play an important role in educating Chinese society about history and culture.



"Visitors can learn Chinese history and get a glimpse of traditional Chinese culture at these ancient halls," said Li Wenyang, a cultural studies specialist.



"We have more than 20 types of ancestral temples here in Wuxi. They cover almost all temple types except for the imperial one. We have temples to remember ancestors, commemorate ancient people known for their merit, and even one to worship the god of flowers for bumper harvests," Li said.



There are currently over 10 temples in Huishan that have been placed under state protection as key cultural sites.

