In the small town of Zhijin, Guizhou, there lies a universe of heaven and earth

A flash of gold, a town woven from dreams, Zhijin, a beautiful ancient city name. What does it feel like when a tranquil ancient town is home to numerous historical buildings? Before coming to Guizhou, I never imagined that the ingenious craftsmanship of the ancients could so quietly blend into the daily folk life. Accompanying the historical 'change of soil and allegiance', the Zhijin ancient architectural complex has provided spiritual and material carriers for different groups of people throughout the torrents of history. The Wenwu Temple provided a place for scholars of the imperial examination to showcase their talents, temples and ancestral halls offered solace for the devout believers, stone bridges built over waterways facilitated the convenience of merchants, and the pavilions and palaces reflected the romantic charm of the four seasons. The Zhijin ancient architectural complex is positioned according to the 'I Ching's' Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. Inside the city, springs cascade, and wells and ponds intersect, surrounded by mountains. The ancient buildings are simple yet have a strong regional character, cleverly integrated with the local karst topography. Historically grand in scale, there are still many remnants today, including ancient temples, ancient halls, ancient pagodas, ancient bridges, and ancient pavilions. The visits are as follows: Bao'an Temple, the only ancient building far from the town gate, is a typical southwestern building style leaning against a cliff and cave. Inside the gate, one sees a different world formed by the karst landscape. Heishen Temple, built on top of Fish Mountain, is usually not open to the public. It was only by chance, when staff were maintaining the plants, that I was able to enter and glimpse its true face, with courtyards from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Wenmiao Ruins, only the ceremonial gate and the stone path seem to be remnants, with nothing else remaining. Dongshan Temple, built on Dongshan Mountain, is currently inaccessible due to construction sites blocking the road, and the temple itself is not open to the public, allowing only distant views. General Yangsi Temple, located within the bustling market, next to the lake. Wenchang Pavilion, located next to General Yangsi Temple, is well-preserved and open as usual. Longxing Temple, only the main hall remains, located within the Pingyuan Ancient Town construction site that Zhijin is currently developing, and is not easily accessible. Fengxi Academy + Kuige, appears to be reconstructed. Doumu Pavilion, hidden among residential buildings, is difficult to find. It is located by the small entrance next to the Agricultural Bank of China on the middle section of Jiang Road, not open to the public, allowing only distant views. Caishen Temple, the most imposing and grand building in the Zhijin ancient architectural complex, presents a different number of eaves layers when viewed from different sides, with a unique architecture and remarkable structure. De Yue Tower, the only remaining building of the Hui Long An ruins, is located by the riverside, where the spring breeze brushes the willows, exuding an ancient charm. Xiao Jie Longwang Temple/Zizhu An, small temples hidden in residential areas, still maintained by lay believers, providing a pure land.