Located on the western tip of West Lake, the Temple and Tomb of Yue Fei is one of Hangzhou's biggest tourist attractions. 


Yue Fei is one of two Chinese generals ever to be deified. Beginning in 1125 AD, the Manchus invaded northeast China. Yue Fei led his troops against the Manchus and successfully repelled the invasion. However, Emperor Gaozong and the jealous Prime Minister Qin Hui surrendered to the Manchus and falsely accused Yue Fei of treachery. At the age of 39, Yue Fei was poisoned to death in present day Hangzhou. 




While Emperor Gaozong was alive, no one dared to give him a proper burial, but Gaozong's successor annulled all charges against Yue Fei and reburied him at Yuefei Tomb with full honors. 



Across from Yue Fei's tomb are cast-iron statues Prime Minister Qin Hui, Emperor Gaozong and two other co-conspirators kneeling in shame, with their hands tied behind their backs. In 1221, a temple was built next to Yue's tomb in his memory. The temple has been renovated several times over the centuries. In 1961, the State Council declared it as a major national protected monument.