Resting on the middle-lower slopes of Mount Xiushan, the Tuzhu Temple holds the distinction of being the mountain's oldest religious sanctuary. Known historically as the Gouding Wang Temple, this site anchors the Xiushan Ancient Architectural Complex in centuries of myth and political history.

The origins of the temple reach back to the Han dynasty. Historical records trace its founding to Wubo, a descendant of the Chu state general Zhuang Qiao. Wubo cultivated the wild landscapes of Mount Xiushan and earned the title of King of Gouding from Emperor Zhao of Han. Upon his death, the local people elevated him to the status of a mountain deity, establishing the Xiushan Shrine to honor his memory.

Centuries later, during the Dali Kingdom period, the shrine played a role in a major regional conflict. King Duan Siping visited the sanctuary to seek divine guidance before launching a military campaign against the Dayining Kingdom. Following his victory, Duan Siping returned to fulfill a vow of gratitude. He ordered a grand reconstruction of the shrine, officially renaming it the Gouding Wang Temple, which locals eventually called the Tuzhu Temple.

The temple occupies a 648.5-square-meter footprint arranged in a traditional single-courtyard layout. Oriented on an east-facing axis, the complex guides visitors through a front main gate into a quiet central courtyard flanked by east and west wings. The main hall anchors the western edge of the courtyard. The current wooden structures largely reflect a major Ming dynasty reconstruction, with careful restorations added throughout the Qing dynasty.