Yuncheng Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Yuncheng Tourist Annual Pass includes Ruicheng Yongle Palace, where the murals are still the Chaoyuan Map

After departing from the Yuncheng Salt Lake District to Ruicheng, it takes about 1 hour by car to get there. ☺️☺️☺️ Tickets: Free with the Yuncheng Tourist Annual Pass. The charging standard is 50/60 during off-peak/peak seasons. 💰 Parking: The parking lot is large and parking is convenient, with a fee of 10 for cars. 💰 Touring Time: About 2 hours (The flowers are blooming in spring, I spent more time taking pictures of the flowers, it wouldn't take that long just to look at the murals). 😊😊😊 ⚠️⚠️⚠️Attention: Photography is not allowed for the murals, and shoe covers must be worn before entering the halls (no need to bring your own, they are available at each hall entrance, just put them on yourself). The overall site is divided into the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Sanqing Hall, the Chunyang Hall, and the Chongyang Hall. ❤️1. Dragon and Tiger Hall: The main attraction is the 2-meter glazed Chiwen on the roof ridge, which is very exquisite. ❤️2. Sanqing Hall: The murals in this hall are the famous Chaoyuan Map! A gathering of various deities, each with a different expression, makes you feel as if you are one of them, a bit immersive. The colors of the murals are relatively well preserved, only a few are slightly faded, and the entire wall is covered with paintings, which looks quite spectacular! ❤️3. Chunyang Hall: It features a series of story illustrations revolving around Lv Dongbin, with a style reminiscent of the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' superimposed on the 'Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' painting, you can probably imagine the color scheme~ ❤️4. Chongyang Hall: It features a series of illustrations revolving around Wang Chongyang, and the murals in this hall are relatively more faded, with some of the figures appearing patchy and incomplete. 😍😍😍In addition to the exquisite and spectacular murals, there were also many flowers blooming by the lake during my visit to Yongle Palace. I went there on March 19th, and it was still a bit early, only magnolias and peach blossoms were in bloom, while the redbuds were all buds waiting to bloom. It must be particularly beautiful when everything is in full bloom, so visiting recently would definitely be great for enjoying the flowers. 😎

Jinnan Treasure Yuan Dynasty Murals | Yongle Palace, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Arriving at the most famous Taoist temple in Jinnan—Yongle Palace, it is famous for its mural art. The murals here are the treasures of existing mural art in China, comparable to Dunhuang murals. Yongle Palace is the largest existing Yuan Dynasty Taoist temple in our country, one of the three ancestral homes of Quanzhen Sect, and a palace-style Taoist architectural complex built in memory of the famous Taoist figure in the Tang Dynasty, who was later hailed as one of the Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin. The Yongle Palace was started in the second year of the Yuan Dynasty Dingzong Guiyou (1247 AD), including murals, and it was completed in the eighteenth year of the Yuan Dynasty Zhizheng (1358 AD), and the construction period lasted for more than 110 years. The "Chao Yuan Tu" mural in the Sanqing Hall of Yongle Palace is a treasure of the Yuan Dynasty, with a grand scene and many characters. Photography is prohibited, and a few pictures have been downloaded from the guide, the colors are obviously P, and the actual effect is much darker. However, it is not easy for the murals of 700 years to be preserved to this day. Tips: "Chao Yuan Tu" was completed in the second year of Yuan Taizheng (1325 AD), and was painted by Ma Junxiang and his son Ma Qi and others from Luoyang, Henan. The picture is 4.26 meters high and 94.6 meters long, depicting a grand scene of 290 Taoist gods and earth gods worshiping the highest respected god Yuan Shi Tianzun. The total area is 429.56 square meters. The mural is centered on eight 3-meter-high main gods (Nanji, Beiji, Dongji, Jade Emperor, Gou Chen, Mu Gong, Hou Tu, Jin Mu), with Qinglong and Baihu two star monarchs in front, and Tian Peng and Tian You two yuan generals behind, surrounded by immortal officials, celestial soldiers, strong men, Taiyi, servants, golden boys, jade girls, twenty-eight nights, thirty-two emperors, etc., gathering the great achievements of Tang and Song mural art, it is the peak masterpiece of the development of ancient temple murals in our country.

Shanxi Travel | Yongle Palace Murals

The Yongle Palace murals are a treasure of ancient Chinese painting art, located in the Yongle Palace in Ruicheng, Shanxi, with a total of 1000 square meters of murals. The full name of Yongle Palace is Da Chongyang Wanshou Palace. The existing three halls are all buildings of the Yuan Dynasty. The buildings and murals were all moved from the original site of Yongle Town due to the construction of a reservoir. It used to be a Taoist temple, dedicated to one of the Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin. The three halls from large to small are Sanqing Hall, Chongyang Hall, and Chunyang Hall. The Sanqing Hall worships the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, the Lingbao Heavenly Sovereign, and the Taishang Laojun. The murals in the hall are the famous Chaoyuan Map, with a height of 4.26 meters, a total length of 94.68 meters, and a total area of 403.34 square meters, which is the focus of the Yongle Palace murals. The Chongyang Hall worships Wang Chongyang, and the murals are also his life. The Chunyang Hall is dedicated to Lu Zu. The murals in the latter two halls are social life, small stories, you can watch slowly, see the way of life and details of the ancients. Address: Navigate to Ruicheng Yongle Palace, you can directly reach the door Parking: Free Tickets: 60 yuan Time: 8:00～5:30 Note: No photography is allowed in the museum

Yongle Palace in Shanxi, visit the Eastern Art Gallery!

🌟Yongle Palace, is the largest existing Yuan Dynasty Taoist temple in China. Why is it Taoist, the person commemorated is one of the Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin, here and Beijing Baiyun Temple and Shaanxi Chongyang Palace are known as the three major ancestral homes of Quanzhen Taoism. Yongle Palace is famous for its mural art all over the world, and is one of the existing ancient mural art treasures in the world, known as the "Eastern Art Gallery". 👍Yongle Palace is located on the east side of Longquan Village, north of Ruicheng County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. The former site is the new site, the original site is under Emei Ridge of Yongle Town, because of the construction of the Sanmenxia Reservoir, so it was relocated. The murals in the temple are exquisite, and the relocation at that time was also the first mural relocation, so a lot of financial and material resources were used, and foreign experts were also asked for help, so that they could be perfectly relocated. ❤Yongle Palace is a typical Yuan Dynasty Taoist architecture, the existing buildings are a door and three halls, namely Wuji Gate, Sanqing Hall, Chunyang Hall, Chongyang Hall. Wuji Gate, also known as Longhu Hall, was originally the palace gate of Yuan Dynasty Yongle Palace. Because the original sculptures of Qinglong and Baihu were slightly between the east and west of the hall, it was called Longhu Hall. Sanqing Hall, also known as Wuji Hall, is the main hall of Yongle Palace, where the highest respected god Sanqing ancestor of Taoism is enshrined. The hall contains a huge mural "Chao Yuan Tu", which covers all four walls. Chunyang Hall, also known as Hun Cheng Hall or Lvzu Hall, enshrines the ancestor of Quanzhen Taoism, Lu Dongbin. The east, north, and west walls of the hall are painted with "Chunyang Emperor Shenyou Xianhua Tu", which describes the life story of Taoist ancestor Lu Dongbin. Chongyang Hall, also known as Qizhen Hall, enshrines Wang Chongyang, the founder of Quanzhen Taoism. The murals in the hall describe 49 stories of Wang Chongyang and his disciples preaching and preaching. Lv Gongci, the courtyard where Lu Dongbin was born and grew up, after Lu Dongbin's death, the villagers admired his virtues, and they all went to worship and sacrifice, and later received attention from the court and changed to a temple. 🕙Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm. 💰Ticket information: 45 yuan. 📍Address information: About 2 kilometers north of Ruicheng County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, ancient Wei Town. 🚉Transportation information: Take the train from all over to Yuncheng, and take the bus directly at the passenger transport center. Self-driving can navigate to Ruicheng.

Li Family Mansion - The Home of Good Deeds

The Li Family Mansion was established during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, located in Yanjing Village, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. The existing ancient courtyard complexes cover 11 groups, occupying an area of 125 mu. It is known as one of the 'Three Great Detianlian of Jin Merchants' along with the Qiao Family Mansion and the Wang Family Mansion, and there is a saying that 'Qiao Family is known for its fame, Wang Family for its courtyard, and Li Family for its goodness'. The overall architecture of the Li Family Mansion's ancient building complex is a typical Shanxi courtyard in the vertical well style, which also incorporates the architectural style of Huizhou. Part of the courtyard is 'Gothic' architecture due to the descendants of the Li family studying in the United Kingdom, highlighting the characteristics of the integration of north and south, and the combination of Chinese and Western styles. Each courtyard, while dignified and splendid, is also highly functional, reflecting the simplicity and hard work of the Li family everywhere. Upon entering the Li Family Mansion scenic area, the first thing that catches the eye is the 'Path of Goodness' hung with red lanterns inscribed with the character 'Good'. The culture of goodness is evident throughout the Li Family Mansion, and the saying 'A family that accumulates goodness will surely be blessed' is perhaps the main reason why the Li Family Mansion has been able to survive the wars and preserve its integrity to this day.

The most worthwhile ancient building to visit in Shanxi - Li Family Mansion

Li Family Mansion is a courtyard of the wealthy Li family of Jin merchants, which was established during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. The entire building is a well-style wealth-gathering Siheyuan, which also incorporates Huizhou architectural style. The brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings and iron art decorations of the building vividly reflect the folk cultural characteristics of southern Shanxi. Because the representative of the family, Li Ziyong, once studied in the UK and married a British woman, some of the buildings have incorporated European "Gothic" architectural elements, thus reflecting the artistic characteristics of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. It is a unique flower among the national characteristic dwellings. The Li family is the richest in southern Shanxi, rich but not arrogant, rich but not extravagant, rich but able to help the world. Every time there is a disaster, the Li family can help the victims with all their family wealth, and they are deeply loved by the people because they do good deeds. Generations have successively repaired virtues and done good deeds. The explanation mainly introduced us to the life experience of Li Ziyong. Li Ziyong, named Daohang, is the core figure of the 15th generation of the Li family with the word "Dao", and one of the main representatives of the Li family. Li Ziyong studied Chinese studies when he was young, and then studied textile in the UK. After returning to China, he took over the family business, founded industries to help the weak and enrich the people, and also founded education and participated in politics. He personally experienced the history of the Li family from prosperity to decline, and also witnessed the development of Chinese national industry and commerce. I specifically studied that Li Ziyong married five wives in his life, In 1899, he married Wang, and in 1900, Wang died after giving birth to a daughter. In 1901, he married Dantai, and in 1904, Dantai voluntarily left because she had no offspring. In 1907, Li Ziyong went to study in the UK, and in 1911, he married a British woman, Mai. In 1914, he returned to China with Mai, and in 1918, Mai died. In 1926, Dantai died of illness and he married Hu. In 1946, Hu died of illness, and in 1947, he married Wang. In 1965, Li Ziyong died of illness at the age of 86. This life experience is really rich and full of stories. What impressed me most about the entire mansion was the courtyard he built for his "foreign daughter-in-law". At that time, everyone else lived in cave dwellings, but he built a new house for Mai and repaired Gothic windows and iron beds. It was true love. There is also a "anti-theft door" with six locks, which is very powerful. The various small mechanisms are really wonderful, and the big characters written on the wall and then erased are also a witness to history.

Yan Jing Li Family Mansion in Wanrong, Shanxi

The Li Family Mansion is the home of Li Ziyong, the richest man in southern Shanxi from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. It was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, located in Yanjing Village, Wanrong County, and is known as the 'Three Lotus of Jin Merchants' along with Qiao Family Mansion and Wang Family Mansion, with the saying 'Qiao's for fame, Wang's for courtyard, Li's for kindness'. The overall architecture is a vertical well-type wealth-gathering Shanxi Siheyuan, which also incorporates Huizhou architectural style. Because Li Ziyong studied in the UK, some courtyards are 'Gothic' architecture, which is a blend of north and south, Chinese and Western, unparalleled Jin merchant mansion in Shanxi, condensing the profound cultural heritage of the Han nationality, with extremely high cultural and artistic value. The Li Family Mansion scenic area is 38 kilometers away from Yuncheng city, and is a national AAAA level tourist attraction and a national key cultural relics protection unit. There were originally 20 groups of courtyards and 280 rooms, and now there are 11 groups of courtyards and 146 rooms. The Li Family Mansion (Hedong Folk Museum) and the Wanrong Joke Expo Park cover nearly 1,000 acres, with a construction area of 100,000 square meters. Its scale is grand, simple and elegant, with ingenious conception, exuding the spirit, temperament, and charm of the traditional culture of the Han nationality.

If you go to Yuncheng, you can't miss the Li Family Mansion

Touring Shanxi, an important project is to see the mansions. Qiao Family Mansion, Wang Family Mansion, Cao Family Mansion, etc., are too numerous to mention. In Yuncheng, southern Shanxi, there is a relatively unknown Li Family Mansion. This mansion is the 'newest' one, with its main buildings being less than a hundred years old. Therefore, its architectural style is not entirely traditional Chinese. Many building complexes have obvious Western styles, and the residence of the mansion owner, Li Ziyong, is a completely Western-style house, with fireplaces, sofas, and mattresses, which are rare even in Guangdong coast at the same time. The locals in Yuncheng proudly claim that the Li Family Mansion covers more than ten Wang Family Mansions. Although it's an exaggeration, it's true that the Li Family Mansion is so large that it can make people's feet hurt. If you look carefully at the more than 20 courtyards, it might take a whole day. In fact, the highlight of the Li Family Mansion is not simply its size, but its rich architectural art features and more functionality. The Li Family Mansion is more like a luxurious official residence than other courtyards, with many grand gate towers and pavilions. The exquisite wood carvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings are indeed ostentatious. This is obviously related to its construction period. It was only from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China that the rich dared to take such risks. In addition to the courtyards for living, the Li Family Mansion also has a private school, a library, a farm tool yard, and other functional buildings that occupy a large area, more like a small town, fully functional. In fact, the Li Family Mansion has been filmed in TV dramas and movies, but it is not as famous as 'Qiao Family Mansion'. However, the story of the Li Family Mansion is more dramatic. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the head of the Li family, Li Ziyong, was sent to study in the UK. When he graduated, he brought back a foreign girl, Miss Mai, and married her back to the remote and closed Shanxi, which caused a sensation for a while... As time goes by, the mansion today actually only retains half of its area from back then. The bustling big family has dispersed, leaving a nearly thousand-acre lonely mansion for later generations to visit and play, which is inevitably sighing. If you go to Yuncheng, you can't miss the Li Family Mansion.

The four famous towers of China all feel inferior!

"The Number One Wooden Tower in China" is so beautiful yet so low-key, a national treasure that must be seen in this lifetime. When it comes to the "Four Great Ancient Towers of China," every middle and elementary school student knows them by heart. However, if we set aside their spokespersons and literary works and focus solely on the architecture itself, none of today's "Four Great Ancient Towers of China" are truly deserving of their names anymore. Fan Zhongyan's Yueyang Tower, which embodies the spirit of 'worrying before the world worries, and enjoying only after the world enjoys,' Cui Hao's Yellow Crane Tower with 'the white clouds drifting freely for a thousand years,' Wang Bo's Pavilion of Prince Teng where 'the setting sun and the solitary wild duck fly together, and the autumn water shares the same color with the sky,' and Wang Zhihuan's Stork Tower, where 'one wishes to see a thousand miles further, and climbs up one level higher,' have all disappeared into the river of history. What we see today, except for the Yueyang Tower built in the late Qing Dynasty that can still be considered an ancient building, the other three towers are all modern constructions of steel and concrete. In front of the authentic ancient Feiyun Tower in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, these towers, whether compared in historical age or architectural craftsmanship, are all inferior and not on the same level. The four famous towers of Shanxi version, the Feiyun Tower of Dongyue Temple in Wanrong, the Qiufeng Tower of Houtu Temple in Wanrong, the Xuanjian Tower of the old city of Yuci, and the Xian Shen Tower of Jiexiu, may not be as well-known due to the lack of endorsement by famous people and works, but they are all genuine ancient wooden structures, representing the superb level of ancient Chinese craftsmen's architectural skills. Each one commands respect. Located in front of the Dongyue Temple in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, the Feiyun Tower is a pure wooden structure. Like the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, it is built from bottom to top without a single nail and is known as "The Number One Wooden Tower in China," alongside the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, which is referred to as "the southern tower and the northern pagoda." The predecessor of Wanrong County was Wanquan County and Ronghe County. When the two counties merged, the first characters of their names were combined to form the new Wanrong County, with the county seat set in Jiedian Town. The exact year of the construction of Feiyun Tower is unknown. Because it is located in Jiedian Town, it was originally named Jiedian Tower, and the existing building is of Ming and Qing styles. Legend has it that in the second year of Wude during the Tang Dynasty (619 AD), the 20-year-old Prince Li Shimin led his army to cross the Yellow River and launched the key battle of 'Baibi Battle' to eliminate the separatist forces of Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang. After the victory, Li Shimin built music towers and temples in the three places where he stationed his troops to showcase his military achievements. Today, only the Feiyun Tower in Wanrong County stands tall in the city of Wanrong. The Feiyun Tower is 23 meters high, with three visible and five hidden levels, a total of four layers of eaves, 12 triangular roof sides, and 32 roof corners. From all directions, each layer is a beautiful and spectacular Xieshan-style building. Standing at the base of the tower, one can see the bottom space filled with wooden columns, four spliced columns that reach the top of the tower, ingeniously connected with the surrounding 32 columns in a chessboard pattern. The entire Feiyun Tower is like an inseparable organic whole, solid and stable, with the overall structure largely maintaining its original appearance after construction. The interior of the tower is densely packed with dougong brackets, exquisite and intricate, with more than 300 sets of dougong brackets encompassing 23 types of forms, yet without a sense of complexity and chaos. Looking at them, they are like clouds surrounding or like flowers blooming, with the eaves and upturned corners resembling birds ready to soar and strike the sky, exquisitely beautiful. No wonder the ancients praised it as 'connecting to the cloud paths above, overlooking the groundless below, with layered eaves and stacked corners, like leather yet as if flying, painted rafters and carved beams, shining in the moon and reflecting the stars'.

Journey to Shanxi—Feiyun Tower in Wanrong

🌟Highlights: 1. Feiyun Tower is known as the "Number One Wooden Tower in China". The existing building is in the style of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, with a pure wooden structure densely packed with dougong brackets, exquisite and delicate, and is known alongside the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County as "the Southern Tower and the Northern Pagoda". 2. It is an extremely spectacular existence among ancient Chinese wooden structures, standing 23.19 meters tall. There is a local saying, "Wanrong has a Feiyun Tower, half of which is buried in the clouds". 3. In 1988, it was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit. It is a gem among the wooden structures in southern Shanxi and the whole country, and holds an important position among pavilion-style buildings. 4. Compared to the famous Yellow Crane Tower, Heque Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion, which are now new reinforced concrete imitations, only the Yueyang Tower, rebuilt during the Guangxu period, can still be considered an ancient building. Feiyun Tower is an original ancient pavilion that has retained the style of the Song and Yuan dynasties. 5. The entire tower is densely packed with dougong brackets inside and out, totaling 345 sets, creating a strong visual impact with its interlocking appearance. Looking up from beneath the tower, the numerous winged corner brackets and mountain flowers are intricately placed. The glazed warrior figures at the eaves are all different, but upon close inspection, they are definitely finely crafted. 6. Feiyun Tower is located within the ancient architectural complex of Dongyue Temple, which also includes the Yuan dynasty's Wu Gate, the Yuan-style Xian Hall and Daiyue Hall, as well as the Xiang Pavilion. Here one can understand the sacrificial rituals of the Dongyue Emperor, and Dongyue Temple itself is also a well-preserved grand ancient architectural complex from an ancient era. 7. The ticket price is 10 yuan, very affordable, with convenient transportation. The photography, whether of distant views or close-ups, is very good. While appreciating ancient architecture, one can also record the beauty of Chinese tradition. 8. Wanrong is not only home to Feiyun Tower but also other national treasure-level ancient buildings such as the Houtu Temple (Autumn Wind Tower), the Tomb of Emperor Shun, and the Temple of King Ji. Welcome everyone to collect and like

Shanxi Tourism | In Wanrong, there's a Feiyun Tower, half of it piercing into the clouds

| In Wanrong, there's a Feiyun Tower, half of it piercing into the clouds. 📍Feiyun Tower is located inside Dongyue Temple in Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, and is a pure wooden structure, known as 'China's number one wooden tower'. 🔸Feiyun Tower is 23.19 meters tall, with densely packed dougong brackets, all joints are mortise and tenon, exquisitely intricate, and together with the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County, they are known as 'Southern Tower and Northern Pagoda'. The exterior of Feiyun Tower has three stories, but the interior actually has five levels, with a total height of about 23 meters. The floor plan is square, the middle level changes to a folded cross shape, surrounded by a corridor, the roof profile is varied; the third level's floor plan returns to a square, but the roof shape is similar to the middle level, topped with a cross-ridge roof. The various roof levels create the rich facade composition of Feiyun Tower. Although the tower is not large in volume, it has four layers of eaves, 12 triangular roof sides, 32 roof corners, and the wood surface is not painted, showing the natural color of the wood. The dougong brackets and structure of Feiyun Tower are extremely varied, with almost every level having a different form of upturned eaves and bracket sets. The decorative elements include dragon heads, rolling clouds, grasshopper heads, single floating clouds, etc., with upturned mouths in the shape of a qin (Chinese musical instrument) or ruyi (scepter), and the corner brackets are decorated with elephant trunks and dragon heads, rich in decorative interest. Feiyun Tower is the representative building within Dongyue Temple in Jiedian Town, Wanrong, and there is a local saying, 'Wanrong has a Jiedian Tower, half of it piercing into the sky'. ✨The exact founding year of Feiyun Tower is unknown, but records indicate that the tower already existed during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era. The existing tower was rebuilt in the eleventh year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, retaining the architectural style of the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

Exquisite and delicate, embracing the moon with flying clouds｜Wanrong Dongyue Temple in southern Shanxi

【Shanxi Goodness and Beauty·Wanrong·Embracing the Moon with Flying Clouds Exquisite and Delicate】Continuing southward into the territory of Wanrong County in Yuncheng area. Here is a majestic ancient tower built during the Qianlong period and well preserved - Feiyun Tower. It is also known as the 'Southern Tower and Northern Pagoda' with the wooden pagoda in Ying County in northern Shanxi, and is one of the four famous towers in Shanxi. It is said that this Feiyun Tower was built without using any function, just to show off skills, to see how cool I am, I don't know if it's true or not. Arrived at noon, a bit against the light, Feiyun Tower is still magnificent! Tips: The whole building is densely arranged with brackets, a total of 345 groups. And the shape is extremely varied, like clusters of clouds and blooming flowers. Each eave corner is lifted up, ready to fly. On a windy day, the wind bells at the corners of the building ring evenly, which is very pleasant. The roof is decorated with yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles, which are even more magnificent under the sun. Now its state, its ingenious structure, exquisite modeling, and magnificent appearance can be called a masterpiece of our country's tower architecture. Ticket🎫: 10 yuan

Special forces🪖 in Shanxi Yuncheng Guandi Temple make a wish: Hall of the Brave

Beijing departs on Saturday, arrives in Yuncheng in the afternoon, and goes to Guandi Temple to make a wish the next morning. The incense is super prosperous Avoid pitfalls: After getting off the parking lot, there will be a tour bus, which used to be free but now costs 3 yuan. Honestly, it's just 200 meters walk, and it's really not necessary. Observations: Basically, there will be a figure of Lord Guan on the cars in Yuncheng. 📸 Travel Tips: * The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou is a certain distance from the city center, but it is very convenient to get there by taking bus No. 11. * It is not appropriate to take photos inside the temple, one should respect religious beliefs, and a better way is to quietly appreciate the historical and cultural heritage. * The recommended visiting time is one to two hours, which allows you to fully experience the mysterious charm and historical depth of the Guandi Temple. There are free incense offerings, as well as those costing 10, 50, or 300 yuan. 🔍 Learn History: The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, known as the 'Number One Martial Temple in China', has a long history of over 1400 years and is also one of the largest Guandi Temples in the world. Here, Lord Guan is revered as a symbol of righteousness, justice, and bravery. Whether you come to pray for wealth, education, or marriage, your wishes can be fulfilled here. ❤️ If your wish comes true, remember to come back to fulfill your vow🙏 🚩Basic Information🚩 📍 Location: No. 145 Wuyi Road, Jiezhou, Yancheng District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province ⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM 💰 Admission: 50 yuan in the off-season, 60 yuan in the peak season

Changping Guandi Temple in Yuncheng, Shanxi

Changping Guandi Temple was first built during the Sui Dynasty, covering an area of 13,937 square meters. The Changping Guandi Temple faces south from the north and follows the "front court and back sleeping" system in its architectural layout. The main buildings are arranged in sequence along the axis, with the mountain gate, ceremonial gate, offering hall, Chongning Hall, Niangniang Hall, and Shengzu Hall arranged in sequence along the central axis. On the east and west sides are the bell tower, drum tower, wooden archway, corridor, official hall, official warehouse, and prince's hall. Guan Yu's birthplace, Changping Guandi Temple, is located in Changping Village, nine kilometers southeast of Jiezhou Town, also known as Guandi's family temple. Here is surrounded by mountains and water, the environment is elegant. The temple was built at the same time as the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, with a building area of over 15,000 square meters. The halls are majestic, the structure is exquisite, and the layout is rigorous, which is different from the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou. What's special is that it preserves the "well tower" commemorating the martyrdom of Guan Yu's parents, which is not found in other martial temples in the country; the ancient clay sculpture art "extreme product" Guan Yu's ancestors three generations, Guan's wife and other colored sculptures. In the southeast corner of the courtyard of Changping Guandi Temple, there is an octagonal seven-story brick tower, which was built specifically for the commemoration of Guan Yu's parents. It was built in the 17th year of Dading in the Jin Dynasty (1177), and it provides precious physical materials for the study of ancient towers in the Jin Dynasty. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Northwest Five Provinces (Regions) Autumn Self-Driving Tour (72): Revisiting Guandi Temple in Jiezhou

On the morning of October 16, 2023, at 7:30, we went to the restaurant for breakfast together. The two young ladies at the restaurant door couldn't find our names on the guest list. After asking the relevant leaders, they let us in for breakfast. My sister said, it seems that we didn't spend any money for our stay here. The director is a retired military officer, now he and his wife are lawyers in a law firm in Taiyuan, and his younger brother is a leader of the Yuncheng Tourism Bureau. He told us that his friends don't need to pay for their trips and accommodations in Yuncheng. After breakfast, Yuanyuan went downstairs to clean the car, and we waited in the guest room. At 9:45 in the morning, the director and his wife brought their relatives, including his elder aunt, second aunt, and fourth aunt. Later, the fourth aunt called her son to come and see my sister for treatment. It wasn't until nearly 11 o'clock that the director took us to the Guandi Temple. We visited Yuncheng Guandi Temple in the summer of 1999 when we returned from a trip to Shaanxi. This is my second visit. Jiezhou Guandi Temple was first built in the Sui Dynasty, later destroyed by a big fire, and was rebuilt in the 52nd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1713). It is the earliest, largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved Guandi Temple. The total area of Guandi Temple is 220,000 square meters, divided into the main temple and the Jieyi Garden. The Jieyi Garden, first built in the 48th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1620), was presided over by Zhang Qilong, the then prefect of Jiezhou. In the 27th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1762), Yan Rusi, the prefect of Jiezhou, presided over a large-scale construction, and named it 'Jieyi Garden', composed of archways, Junzi Pavilion, Jieyi Pavilion, rockeries and other buildings. The Jieyi Garden archway is tall and majestic, with four pillars and three floors. The archway is the most spectacular wooden structure in the Guandi ancestral temple. The Jieyi Pavilion is the main building in the garden. In front of the pavilion, there are two ancient pines, with strong branches and lush greenery. The pavilion is 5 rooms deep and 5 rooms wide, with a single-eave roll-top and hip roof, surrounded by corridors. Inside there is a stone stele, 2 meters wide and 1 meter high, with the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden engraved on it. The ancient trees are twisted, the bamboo branches are sparse, and the peach blossoms are blooming, as if it were the scene of that year. The Four Dragon Wall is located to the south of the main gate of the Guandi ancestral temple. It is a glazed shadow wall made during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty (1426-1435). From an architectural point of view, it has the effect of blocking sight and enriching the layers of the landscape; from a cultural perspective, it belongs to the 'Fu Rui' category of traditional Chinese Feng Shui, with the function of eliminating disasters, bringing blessings, and protecting living beings. The picture is divided into three realms from top to bottom: heaven, earth, and sea. The main body is four dragons flying and swimming, with phoenixes, kirins, jade rabbits and other auspicious birds and beasts, giving this Four Dragon Wall a lot of traditional cultural connotations. The Chongning Hall is the main hall of the Guandi Temple, named after Guan Yu was sealed as 'Chongning Zhenjun' by Song Huizong. On the moon platform in front of the hall, there is a bronze incense burner and a rectangular offering table, which were cast by the Qing people in imitation of ancient styles. On the stone steps in front of the moon platform, there are carvings of rolled grass, flowing clouds, and two dragons playing with a pearl, imitating the rules of the imperial palace. The main hall is 7 rooms wide and 6 rooms deep, with a double-eave hip roof. There are 26 huge stone-carved dragon pillars around the hall. The dragon pillars have ascending dragons, descending dragons, auspicious clouds, etc. The rough and powerful carvings contrast sharply with the delicate carvings on the pillar heads and eaves, complementing each other and each with its own beauty. As the inscription in the temple says: 'The temple steps and stone pillars, with dragons flying and soaring, the temple is magnificent, and it is the best in the world.' At 12:10 noon, after we entered the Guandi Temple, the director specially invited a tour guide to take us into the scenic area, gave us a lecture, and took us to the Spring and Autumn Tower to worship the life-size statue of Guan Gong reading the Spring and Autumn Annals. We left at 1:30 in the afternoon.

As the saying goes, the top of the earth looks at Shanxi, and the underground objects look at Shaanxi. As the "ances of the Temple of Literature, the crown of the martial arts temple", Shanxi Yuncheng Jiezhou Guandi Temple is one of the places that must be visited in Shanxi. It was built in the nine years of Emperor Kaihuang and has a history of nearly 1,500 years. It is the largest existing palace-style Taoist building complex and Wu Temple. There are many stone carvings and stone carvings in the whole building, as well as Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, Cixi and other royal pens!

Houtu Temple

Houtu Temple is a widely worshipped deity in Chinese folk religion, known as the supreme god of the land. Located 40 kilometers southwest of Wanrong County in Shanxi Province, on the banks of the Yellow River near Miaoqian Village to the north, it is the oldest temple in China dedicated to the worship of Houtu (Earth Mother). In 1996, the State Council designated the Wanrong Houtu Temple as a national key cultural relics protection unit. The existing Houtu Temple, although not as magnificent as it was during the Tang and Song dynasties, still has a rigorous and complete layout, and remains the most prominent Houtu temple in the country. People from all walks of life within the country, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese, come to seek their roots and pay homage to Houtu in an endless stream. They pray to the Holy Mother of Houtu for the Nine Provinces to have abundant harvests, national peace and prosperity, social harmony, and wealth among the people; and for the blessing of health, safety, and prosperity for the whole family, wishing everything to go well. Especially on the birthday of the Holy Mother of Houtu (the 18th day of the third lunar month) and during the temple fair on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, devout men and women, merchants, and tourists rub shoulders with each other, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

The Wantong Houtu Temple in Shanxi

The Wantong Houtu Temple, also known as the Wantong Houtu Shrine, was historically called the Fen Yin Houtu Shrine. It is bordered by the Yellow River and the Fen River to the west and north, situated by the mountain and near the water, with an open terrain, facing south from the north, covering an area of 25,335.62 square meters. The overall layout is a long rectangle from south to north, a typical temple complex with a strict layout and clear structure, consisting of the spirit path, mountain gate, '品' character platform, east and west 'Five Tigers' side halls, altar, offering hall, incense pavilion, main hall, Autumn Wind Tower, Zhang Yi Path, and other components. The Fen Yin Temple was built in the first year of the Hou Yuan era of Emperor Wen of Han (163 BC), and the Houtu Shrine was built in the second year of the Yuan Shou era of Emperor Wu of Han (121 BC). The Houtu Shrine was relocated again in the ninth year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1870) and has been preserved to this day, with a history of over 150 years. The Wantong Houtu Temple is the oldest existing temple in China dedicated to the worship of the goddess Nüwa. Its glazed decorations are dazzling, and the wooden and brick carvings of the Autumn Wind Tower stand harmoniously, majestic and spectacular. Inside the tower, there is a stele inscribed with Emperor Wu of Han's 'Autumn Wind Ode' from the eighth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1271), as well as the 'Fen Yin Two Saints Offering Inscription' (Xiao Wall Stele) handwritten by Emperor Zhenzong of Song and the 'Houtu Shrine Appearance' stele from the Jin Dynasty. These are precious historical materials for understanding the imperial Fengshan sacrifices to the earth and the appearance of the Houtu Temple during the Song and Jin periods, with unique value in calligraphy, literature, and academia. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

The exquisite Hou Tu Temple is the epitome of Jie Xiu's colored glaze craftsmanship

🌈In Shanxi, if the best glazed pagoda is in Guangsheng Temple, then the finest glazed hall is undoubtedly the Hou Tu Temple. 🗼Jie Xiu has been famous for producing exquisite colored glaze since ancient times. As early as the Ming Dynasty, the colored glaze industry became a well-known industry in the southern region of Shanxi, with Jie Xiu being the most famous and popular center for colored glaze manufacturing. However, due to the increasing scarcity of raw materials and the gradual loss of craftsmanship, many of the ancient colored glaze pieces in Hou Tu Temple, the last great achievement of Jie Xiu's colored glaze products, are now unique (many originals have been placed in museums). 🛕The exact founding date of Hou Tu Temple is unknown, but it existed more than 1500 years ago during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It was rebuilt and expanded over the dynasties, and it took on its current size after expansion during the Ming Zhengde years. In the eighth year of the Qing Yongzheng era (1730), the construction of the new Earth God Temple led to the current layout of the ancient building complex, which includes eight Taoist temples and shrines such as Sanqing Temple, Hou Tu Temple, Zhenwu Hall, Sanguan Temple, Niangniang Temple, Lüzu Pavilion, Guandi Temple, and Earth God Temple, with dozens of halls. Among the existing buildings, the Sanqing Tower is from the Yuan Dynasty, while the rest are from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 🐉'Hou Tu worship' was an important deity worship during the Qin and Han dynasties in China. It originated from the Fen Yin Hou Tu Temple by the Yellow River in Wanrong. Later, the concept of 'Yellow Earth Hou Tu' gradually evolved to include the worship of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, which is reflected in the layout of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In folk customs, the Earth God Hou Tu is also mixed with secular concepts. 🐲'Hou Tu' is a term of respect for the Earth Goddess and female worship in the ancient primitive matriarchal society within the worship of the land. The vastness and boundlessness of the land, bearing all things, and being the fundamental basis for the nurturing and survival of all living beings, led to the supreme worship of the land by people, which gradually became personified, hence the term 'Hou Tu Niangniang', becoming a widely worshipped deity among the people of southern Shanxi. 🌈The largest and most magnificent place of worship for the Earth God Hou Tu is this Hou Tu Temple. After repairs and renovations over the generations, Hou Tu Temple and the surrounding Taoist buildings have merged into a grand architectural complex. It is known as the 'Taoist Earth'. Ticket🎫: Free🆓, enter with ID card🆔 Opening hours: 8:30～17:30

The ancient temple complex with a simple and exquisite structure

The Hou Tu Shrine is located in Miaqian Village, Ronghe Town, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. Hou Tu, the Mother Earth, is the oldest ancestor and the most respected god of the land in China. Emperor Wu of Han enshrined and worshipped her in Fenyin, Dongyue, and designated the Hou Tu Shrine as a national temple. He visited the shrine six times. The Hou Tu Shrine is also the crown of temples at home and abroad, and the source of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Behind the main hall of the Hou Tu Shrine, there is a building named Qiu Feng Lou because it hides the inscription of Emperor Wu of Han's 'Autumn Wind Poem'. Qiu Feng Lou stands by the river, lofty and vigorous. The building is divided into three layers, more than ten meters high, with a hip and gable roof, flying eaves, bright pillars, and densely distributed brackets. The lower part is built on a high platform called the Sweeping Ground Altar. It runs through from east to west, with a horizontal plaque on each side. The east is called 'Zhan Lu' and the west is called 'Wang Qin'. It is said that the famous scholar Zhang Yi entered Qin from here. Many literati and ink guests have also gathered here since ancient times. The time of the initial construction of the Hou Tu Shrine is unknown. The original site was on the Sui in Fenyin. It was expanded during the Tang and Song dynasties, but was destroyed by the Yellow River flood during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was rebuilt during the Tongzhi years. The existing buildings in the temple include the mountain gate, the well platform, the offering hall, the incense pavilion, the main hall, the Qiu Feng Lou, the East and West Five Tigers' side halls, etc. The glazed ornaments are dazzling, and the hanging carving craftsmanship is lifelike. The mountain gate and the well platform form a rare 'product' character stage in China, providing an important example for the study of the form of ancient Chinese stages. Although the existing buildings are not as magnificent as those in the Tang and Song dynasties, they are still a group of ancient temple buildings with a simple and exquisite structure.