The temple was built in 1076 during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and underwent many renovations and expansions in past dynasties. The current Jade Emperor Hall was built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279); the Tangdi Hall, during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234); while the side halls in the backyard were constructions of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Over 300 statues from the Song, Yuan and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties are kept at the temple -- all of them considered magnificent works of Chinese Taoist temples.

Sitting at the center of the Jade Emperor Hall is a Jade Emperor statue in a splendid seat with two rows of imperial concubines and maids standing alongside the front desk; statues of officials also line the hall in front of the desk. Altogether there are 51 statues. The east hall contains statues of the gods of the heaven, earth and sea; in the west hall are statues of the 12 stars. The central hall in the middle yard once contained a statue of Tangdi with the god in charge of the prison at both sides of the rooms. Located in the backyards of the eight west halls are the gods of the 28 constellations, each around 1.8 meters high. These lifelike statues of men and women, old and young, all have various facial expressions and are accompanied by 12 animals that are remarkably true to life. A number of stone tablets from different dynasties stand in the winding stele corridor outside the Jade Emperor Temple providing precious cultural materials for the study of Chinese Taoist history and art.