This chapter explores the decline of the temple as a focus of folk religion. Yet it also emphasizes the resilience of the temple as the symbolic centre of the ‘sacred village’ and the temple god as protector and benefactor of the community. It examines different types of temple and discusses how the conversion and destruction of temples that began in the first half of the twentieth century accelerated after 1949. It shows that, initially, the CCP was aware of the ‘soft power’ value of the great temples as cultural heritage. It goes on to recount the widespread and spontaneous efforts of ordinary people to revive temples as a response to the Great Famine (1958–60). The final section examines temple fairs, which were celebrations of the birthday of the temple god. Unable to suppress them completely, the CCP sought to use them as occasions to promote rural commerce, advanced farming, and political propaganda. Popular determination to maintain the fairs as ‘hot and noisy’ celebrations was strong but ultimately unable to withstand the power of the party-state.