Jiexiu Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Jiexiu Houtu Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Jiexiu Houtu Temple: A unique primitive worship in Shanxi
Jiexiu Houtu Temple
This is a deity that is related to everyone. Simply because it is called Houtu; simply because the birth and growth of every life are connected to the earth that it venerates.
Houtu is said to be a descendant of the ancient Emperor Yan, she governs yin and yang, nurtures all things, and thus is known as the Mother of the Earth. Glazed tiles, typically used in imperial buildings and the mansions of the nobility, are exceptionally employed in the ancient architectural complex of the Jiexiu Houtu Temple in Shanxi.
Before the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Jiexiu Houtu Temple already existed, with a history of about 1,600 years. The existing buildings were mostly repaired during the Ming Hongwu to Qing Daoguang periods.
In front of the main hall hangs a horizontal plaque with the inscription 'Thick Virtue Carries Things', penned by the famous ancient Chinese epigrapher Mr. Zhang Han in 1998. The dougong brackets under the eaves, replacing the use of sparrows, are also very distinctive, with exquisite carvings.
All the glazed products in the temple are of pure and bright colors, with accurate and vivid shapes, and are the best-preserved treasures among Chinese temple glazed art. They are recognized by the architectural community as a 'treasure house of glazed architectural art'.
It reflects the simple beliefs of the ancestors of the Chinese Han nationality and their understanding of strength and beauty, permeating the aesthetic view that combines ancient Chinese philosophy and art.
NIA MALONE
Houtu Temple | The City of Colored Glaze is a female temple that governs the mountains and all things within
After being overwhelmed by the aesthetic of colored glaze in Jie Xiu's City of Colored Glaze, one can't help but feel a bit 'fatigued', but Houtu Temple is still among the finest of the fine.
🫶🏻Houtu, also known as the Earth Mother, is the mother of all things that presides over the land and rivers, and also governs the fertility of yin and yang. The worship of the Earth Mother can be traced back to matriarchal societies, but it has also evolved through different dynasties. The southern part of Shanxi, where this temple is located, was originally an area where Houtu worship was quite prosperous. The scale and sequence of the Houtu Temple also reflect its significant status. The original construction date is unknown, but most of the existing buildings are relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Houtu Temple has a longitudinal double-axis structure, with a graceful entrance sequence that is narrow and long. After the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the space suddenly opens up, and the five-bay-wide Houtu Hall makes one look up in admiration, feeling the warmth, grandeur, and inclusiveness of Houtu as a female deity.
Inside Houtu Temple, the colored glaze artifacts are gorgeous and rich, full of innovative changes. My favorite is still the wind boards on the back-to-back stage of the Hall of the Three Pure Ones and the hanging fish decorated with grapes 🍇, which break away from the traditional colored glaze patterns and have a sense of life, perfectly combining with the location of these ancient architectural components.
Although counted as a Taoist temple and absorbed into Taoist beliefs, Houtu worship should still be considered more as a category of folk belief. I also really like the meaning pointed to by Houtu belief, which can match the discourse of women's awakening today. I hope it will be understood and known by more people
massdramatic
Houtu Temple, a stunning ancient architectural complex
Located in Jiexiu County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, it is an hour's drive from Taiyuan by high-speed rail. The area has a deep cultural heritage, not only passing down the legend of the Cold Food Festival, but also boasting a stunning ancient Taoist architectural complex - Houtu Temple.
The exact time of the temple's establishment is unknown, but its current scale was expanded during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a Quanzhen Sect temple, dedicated to the Goddess Houtu.
There are many angles in the architectural complex that are very photogenic, but the simplicity and heaviness unique to Shanxi's ancient architecture cannot be perfectly interpreted by photos. Only by being in the temple can you feel the shock that ancient architectural art brings to us.
The entire architectural style is rough, but it does not lose the beauty of the details. The white and purple grape sculptures on the side of the stage are lifelike, making people drool. The Ming Dynasty colored sculptures in the Sanqing Hall are also exquisite, but unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside the hall. In addition, you can see a brick and stone structure building that looks like a kiln - the Beamless Hall.
Houtu Temple is located in Jiexiu City, and can be reached by bus. The visit takes 2-3 hours.
Br00klyn N3ls0n
The Hou Tu Temple in Jiezhou, Shanxi, is a masterpiece of glazed art, with its peacock blue color being particularly vibrant
The Hou Tu Temple is located on Miaodi Street in Jiezhou City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and is a Taoist Quanzhen Sect temple building. The main buildings include the Three Purities Tower, Hou Tu Temple, Lu Zu Temple, Guan Di Temple, and Tu Shen Hall. Among the existing buildings, the Three Purities Tower was built in the Yuan Dynasty, and the rest are Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings.
The Three Purities Temple houses a collection of thousands of colored statues from the Ming Dynasty, known as 'All Saints Chao Yuan', which are a combination of standing and wall sculptures of Taoist deities. The temple worships the 'Mother Earth Goddess' from ancient Chinese mythology, who is in charge of yin and yang reproduction, the beauty of all things and the beauty of mountains and rivers, and is known as 'Hou Tu Niangniang' among the people.
The Hou Tu Temple is famous for its intricate glazed decorations found throughout the building, and is known as the 'Chinese Glazed Art Architectural Museum'. Various glazed decorations can be seen throughout the temple, such as the glazed kirin on the shadow wall in front of the temple, the yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles on the roof, and the dragon-shaped beasts on the eaves, all of which shine together. In particular, the 'peacock blue' glaze, which has remained vibrant after hundreds of years, is rare in China.
The architectural style of the Three Purities Tower is very special. It is a double-storey building formed by connecting two buildings. The latter half is a reverse theater, with distinctive architectural features. The shadow walls on both sides of the theater are decorated with dragon and lion glazes, which are symmetrical.
At the hanging points of the building, you can see exquisite colorful phoenixes playing with peonies, and there are huge and lifelike deep purple grapes on the Bo Feng board. Despite years of wind and rain, they are still rich in color. This makes the overall building a colorful and radiant three-dimensional glazed painting.
📍Detailed address:
Hou Tu Temple: No. 99 Miaodi Street, Jiezhou City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
Tickets: Free admission
Ph03n1x_@rc@n3
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Mianshan Scenic Area Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Exploring Mianshan, Jiexiu, Shanxi 🏞️
Located in the southeast of Jiexiu, Mianshan is a thousand-year-old mountain that stands as a silent guardian over the region.
The mountain air is crisp, as if wrapped in a delicate veil, enhancing the mystique of the winding Panshan Road.
Pavilions dot the mountainside, their simple and elegant structures standing as bright pearls in the river of history. These ancient buildings have witnessed the changes of Mianshan and the creativity of countless literati and poets.
The clouds hang like white silk above the cliffs, contrasting beautifully with the green mountains, resembling a natural ink painting.
From the mountaintop, the view of the pine forests, cypress trees, and drifting clouds is enchanting, creating an atmosphere akin to a fairyland. Mianshan, with its ancient allure, not only boasts stunning natural scenery but also holds a rich historical and cultural significance.
Whether it's the meandering Panshan Road or the quaint pavilions, Mianshan captivates the heart, leaving visitors longing for more. #HistoricalMountain #NatureBeauty
historicalmountain
naturebeauty
King Raph
An underrated 5A scenic spot is here, and you definitely won't regret it!
Mian Mountain originated in the Spring and Autumn period when Jie Zitui of the state of Jin carried his mother into hiding and was burned on the mountain, hence Mian Mountain is also known as Jie Mountain. Mian Mountain combines mountain scenery, water colors, cultural relics, Buddhist temples, and revolutionary sites all in one. It is also the birthplace of China's Qingming Festival (Cold Food Festival), home to the China Cold Food Qingming Culture Research Center, and the China Cold Food Qingming Culture Museum.
📍Detailed address:
Yijiazhuang Village, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
🎫Ticket strategy:
Peak season 110💰 per person, scenic area shuttle 50 per person
Off-season 80💰 per person, scenic area shuttle 50 per person, half price for students, free for the elderly, children, military personnel, and disabled persons
🚗Transportation strategy:
🚞Take the train to Jiexiu West Station, take bus 302 to the 'Mian Mountain Station' stop, walk 332 meters and you're there. Only the West Station has a direct bus, it's recommended to take a taxi from other stations,
or you can take the 'Mian Mountain Scenic Area Express Bus' to reach the scenic area, which takes about 30 minutes.
🚗Self-driving: There are many scenic spots in Shanxi, and it's more convenient to drive yourself, you can directly navigate to 'Mian Mountain Scenic Area'
Opening hours:
08:00-19:00 (entry stops at 6:30 pm)
🌟Must-visit spots:
1⃣️Longtou Temple
This is an important place to watch the sea of clouds in the morning and the sunset in the evening
2⃣️Daluogong
Each level is different, you can climb to the top for a bird's-eye view, and the scenery should be even better when the weather is good.
3⃣️Shuitaogou
Known as the 'Jiuzhaigou of the North', the slope is not steep. The whole journey is relatively flat, and the endpoint's Shuilian Cave is super cool
4⃣️Qixian Valley
The legendary internet-famous bridge is here, don't miss it if you like outdoor adventures! It's a bit difficult to walk and tests your courage, it's not recommended to take this route with children.
5⃣️Yunfeng Temple
The largest Buddhist site in Mian Mountain, with a zigzagging suspension ladder built on a vertical cliff, it's really shocking, highly recommended for everyone to visit!
6⃣️Zhengguo Temple
Has more than a dozen flesh-and-blood Bodhisattvas, called a 'world miracle' by experts, not seen elsewhere
7⃣️Jie Gongci
China's largest stone cave temple, also the hiding place of Jie Zitui, with the site of his cremation and worship
📝Note tips:
1⃣️Bring some cash, as some spots have no signal and it will be inconvenient to buy things
2⃣️Wear a pair of comfortable non-slip shoes, as there will be a lot of walking
3⃣️After finishing the first stop, you can directly take the scenic area bus to the last stop, then play in reverse order
4⃣️Mian Mountain is large, it is recommended to play for two days, but the ticket can only be used once, you can choose to stay in a hotel inside the scenic area, it's a bit expensive... it's up to you to decide.
ediewagner02
A 5A-level scenic spot that 99% of people don't know about - Mian Mountain
Mian Mountain in Jiexiu, Shanxi, a severely underestimated 5A scenic spot❗ If you come to Shanxi for a tour, please be sure to leave some time for Mian Mountain, because it is really worth your visit🥰.
1️⃣ Scenic spot ticket: 110 yuan, shuttle bus 50 yuan. If you stay in the scenic spot, you can drive up the mountain without buying a shuttle bus🚗. There are also cable cars and elevators at some scenic spots in the scenic area, which need to be purchased separately. The elevator is 15 yuan and the cable car is 35 yuan.
2️⃣ Scenic spot transportation: The shuttle bus in the scenic spot is very convenient, and it will stop at the main scenic spots, and you can get on and off at any time🚌. The tourist center is about ten kilometers away from the farthest scenic spot, Shuitao Gully, on the top of the mountain.
3️⃣ Scenic spot accommodation: I stayed at the Cliff Hotel under Yunfeng Temple, with a standard room of 330 yuan, where you can eat and park🅿.
The altitude of Mian Mountain Scenic Area is about 1500 meters, which is very cool and suitable for summer vacation🏞.
4️⃣ Play suggestions
The Mian Mountain Scenic Area is very large, and it is recommended to play for two days. If you only have one day and want to save money, it is recommended to stay near the tourist center at the foot of the mountain, and take the bus up the mountain early the next morning, and you can take the last bus down in the afternoon🚍.
There are many inns and farmhouses next to the tourist center, most of which are priced within 100 yuan, which is very affordable✅.
5️⃣ Recommended scenic spot route: Longtou Temple-Daluo Palace-Tianqiao Scenic Area-Yunfeng Temple-Zhengguo Temple-Qixian Valley-Jiegong Ridge-Shuitao Gully. Shuitao Gully is the last stop of the scenic spot shuttle bus🌊.
Mian Mountain has 14 major scenic spots and more than 360 minor scenic spots. What I recommend is just the main scenic spots, and other minor scenic spots can go if you have more time🎈.
Note: Qixian Valley, generally not recommended for tourists, parents with children, and the elderly should not go. This place is only suitable for friends who like outdoor adventure challenges. The road inside is very difficult to walk, and there are many suspended steps and wooden suspension bridges built on the steep cliffs on both sides of the stream in the canyon, which are frightening😱.
Longtou Temple: The place where Li Shimin came in the past, this is also the first scenic spot to enter the Mian Mountain Scenic Area. This place is very suitable for taking pictures, and the view is very good! 📸
Daluo Palace: The crown of Chinese Taoist architecture, built on the cliff of Lion Mountain, is very shocking! The entire building is stacked layer by layer, a total of 13 layers, the shape is quite like the Potala Palace, so it is also called the "Little Potala Palace"🙏.
Tianqiao Scenic Area: There is a suspended plank road above, built on the straight cliff, you must go up and experience it, it is very thrilling! 🧗♂️
Yunfeng Temple: Mainly look at the Buddhist temples under the cliff and cliff grottoes, as well as Tiesuoling, and a section of zigzag suspended plank road, built on the vertical cliff and cliff, especially thrilling. This is also a landmark landscape of Mian Mountain, which is very suitable for aerial photography and very shocking! 🚁
Zhengguo Temple: There are more than a dozen flesh Buddhas, which cannot be seen elsewhere, and are called "world miracles" by experts. Lingying Tower can go up, aerial photography is very shocking! 🛫
Jiegong Ridge: Jie Zitui's seclusion, self-immolation and worship place, the Jie Shen Temple on the mountain is located in a huge grotto, which is the largest grotto temple in our country🙇.
Shuitao Gully: "The Jiuzhaigou in the north". The mountains and waters are very beautiful, and it is very cool inside, suitable for summer vacation and water play. The Shuitao Gully Scenic Area is very large, and it is about 8 kilometers to the end. The end point is the Water Curtain Cave🧊.
In general, Mian Mountain Scenic Area is a combination of strangeness, danger, and beauty. It has both cultural and natural landscapes. It is also an excellent summer resort in summer. I personally think it is worth a visit! 👍
MACKENZIE SHELTON
6-day tour from Xi'an to Shanxi (from south to north)
🚗🚗🚗Travel route:
Day1: Tongguan Yellow River Ancient Ferry→Guoquelou→Yongle Palace→Yuncheng Salt Lake
Day2: Hongtong Dahaitu Root-seeking Ancestor Worship Park→Shanxi Wang's Grand Courtyard→Zhangbi Ancient Castle→Mianshan Scenic Area
Day3: Pingyao Ancient City→Qiao's Grand Courtyard
Day4: Yungang Grottoes→Hanging Temple
Day5: Mengshan Giant Buddha→Shanxi Museum
Day6: Dangjia Village→Hancheng Ancient City
ValerianVoxen123~
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Xianshen Tower Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Ancient architecture in the Eastern Lustrous World!
China's only remaining Zoroastrian building - the Jiezhou Auspicious God Tower in Shanxi, commonly known as the Xuan God Tower, was built during the Northern Song Dynasty.
It combines a mountain gate, a music tower, and a street-crossing tower into one structure, featuring a three-layered eave and cross-hipped roof structure. The building style is unique, with a rigorous structure, harmonious proportions, and a roof adorned with exquisite glazed tiles. The wood carvings under the eaves are distinctive, making it a living fossil for the study of Chinese Zoroastrian culture.
On November 20, 1996, the Auspicious God Tower was listed by the State Council as part of the fourth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.
Location: Shuncheng Street, Beiguan, Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province
NIKOLAS HORN
A Ceiling of Ancient Architecture—The Xian God Tower
This is the ceiling of ancient architecture | The only existing Xian God building in the world! One of the four famous towers in Shanxi, the 'Xian God Tower', locally known as the 'Xuan God Tower', offers a deeper understanding with each visit to Jiexiu, about what it means to see Shanxi's cultural relics on the ground. This place is known as the capital of glazed tiles, and the Xian God Tower dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Artisans in the Tang Dynasty already used glazed tiles extensively in construction. The building of the Xian God Tower was meticulously crafted, with an exquisite architectural style, towering eaves, and the sound of wind chimes that intoxicate visitors. This building has been preserved through many twists and turns. According to investigations by scholars, this building is the only existing Xian God structure in China and even in the world, and is acclaimed by many as a must-see tower when visiting Shanxi.
DeliciousDishes
One of the rare Zoroastrian buildings - Zoroastrian Tower
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion, also known as fire worship because of its worship of holy fire (sounds familiar, right? The Ming religion in 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber' worships fire worship.) It was popular in our country during the Sui and Tang dynasties. And the Zoroastrian Tower is a Zoroastrian building, and it is currently the only Zoroastrian building in China.
🍁Zoroastrian Tower
It is said to have been built during the Northern Song Dynasty, rebuilt during the Ming Wanli period, and renovated during the Qing Kangxi and Qianlong periods. The Zoroastrian Tower is also known as the Xuan Shen Tower, with a beautiful and unique shape, it is a multifunctional building that combines a street building, a mountain gate, a music building, and a stage. It is known as one of the three famous buildings in Shanxi along with the Wanrong Feiyun Building and the Autumn Wind Building.
The Zoroastrian Tower is tall, the plane is 'convex' shaped, and the eaves structure is also very complex, it is a triple-eave Xieshan top rotating top.
The most beautiful is the protruding front part, five rooms wide and four rooms deep, with a corridor around it, a temple door below, a shrine in the middle, and a theater building above.
The wooden brackets and sparrow braces have many mythical creature patterns that cannot be seen in traditional Chinese architecture, and the most characteristic is the camel-like beast head with large nostrils.
🍁Zoroastrian Tower
Address: No. 581, Shuncheng Road, Jiexiu City
Opening hours: 9:00-12:00, 14:30-17:00 (Tuesday-Sunday)
Tickets: Free, register at the door
⚠️There is a lunch break at noon, be sure to arrange the order of sightseeing in Jiexiu.
The entrance to the Zoroastrian Tower is a public square, and there are many local residents who take leisurely walks and chat in the afternoon. The surrounding area is a residential area with small alleys, there are not many places to park, so the overall environment is a bit messy.
But the afternoon light is the best, especially when there is a sunset, the Zoroastrian Tower is very beautiful.
Natalie Martin
Shuitao Groove Scenic Spot Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Mianshan Scenic Area spans the boundaries of Jiexiu, Lingshi, and Qinyuan three cities and counties, also known as Jieshan, Mianshan Scenic Area mainly includes Yunfeng Temple, Zhengguo Temple, Jiegong Ridge; Natural landscapes: Qixiangu, Shuitaogou, etc.
MICHAELA COLE
Liuli Paifang Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Five thousand years seem so distant, yet Shanxi is so close! Welcome to travel to Shanxi
Shanxi is simply a paradise of history! 😁📚
Stepping on this ancient land, what you see is not just a tree, a house🏡. Everything you see is actually a mark left by history in the frost and wind... I hope you can, like me, slow down, and listen to these silent stories. ✍️🎶
As you stroll leisurely in the Foguang Temple, the hustle and bustle around you may gradually fade away at this moment. Seeing the full wishes of people when they leave, it's as if you can understand the longing of the ancestors for this sacred land. 🌙🔔
Here, at the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, you can face a thousand years of history. This ancient pagoda has withstood the test of time and still stands tall. 💪🏛️
However, time is eroding its body on one side, reminding me of Liang Sicheng's words, 'I really can't bear to leave, fearing that once we part, it may be forever,' leaving my heart filled with mixed emotions. 😔⏳
Entering Jinci, those little houses that seem to come straight out of 'Journey to the West' always remind me of the footprints of Sun Wukong. Perhaps he once played here, otherwise, how could he conjure up such similar 'little houses'? 🤔🐒
Whether it's under the Feiyun Tower or in front of the Xixian Xiaoxitian Gate in Xixian County, Shanxi will bring you surprises everywhere, as long as you are willing. 😊🌈
But honestly, the charm of 'Shanxi' is far more than what my simple words can describe. So, my treasures, you have to come and experience the historical charm here for yourself. 💪🧡