About this place

Five Officials Temple, which is part of a much larger architectural complex of memorial structures and temples, was built in honor of (unsurprisingly) five officials who were banished to Hainan Island during the Tang and Song dynasties.  Memorials such as this one say something about Hainan’s character in that so many of its historic sites are in honor of rebels. 

 
The temple is surrounded by high walls with tranquil gardens inside.  The temple makes for a pleasant setting to bring a book and pass the afternoon on a hot day.  Some Buddhist monks, who I suspect are actually government employees in orange robes, are usually milling about one of the temples.  For the right fee they’ll burn incense and tell your fortune.  I went with a friend and we both had our fortunes told.  They  told my friend that she would have good fortune, but I was doomed to a life of bad luck unless I paid them 99 yuan. They would then light a stick of incense for me every day for nine days and my bad fortune would be reversed.  I declined.