Xuan Wu (The Dark Martial or The Mysterious Martial); posthumously known as The Dark or Mysterious Heavenly Upper Emperor (Xuan Tian Shang Di); as well as True Warrior Grand Emperor (Zhen Wu Da Di); and commonly known as The Northern Emperor (Bei Di) or Emperor Lord (Di Gong) is one of the higher ranking Taoist deities; and one of the more revered deities in China.

He is revered as a powerful god; able to control the elements (worshipped by those wishing to avoid fires); and capable of great magic. He is particularly revered by martial artists; and is the patron saint of Hebei; Manchuria and Mongolia. Since the third Ming Emperor; Zhu Di; claimed the help of Zhen Wu in his war to take over the Ming Empire; monasteries were built under the Imperial Decree in Wudang Mountains; in China's Hubei Province; where he allegedly attained immortality. Xuan Wu is also the patron saint of Cantonese and Min Nan speakers (particularly those of Hokkien ancestry) in southern China; whose ancestors fled south following the Song Imperial House of Zhao.

Lotus Pond or Lotus Lake (Chinese: ???; pinyin: Li醤ch?T醤; Pe?h-oe-ji: Li鈔-t?th鈓) opened in 1951; and is famous for the lotus plants on the lake and the numerous temples around the lake; including the Spring and Autumn Pavilions (???); the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (???); and the Confucian Temple (??). Pictures From Asia David Henley