Linfen Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Mount Yunqiu Scenic Area Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
The cloud-kissed Yunqiu Mountain is a photographer's dream with every snap a masterpiece
Yunqiu Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, boasting abundant natural resources, cultural landscapes, and heritage. It is a rare comprehensive tourist area in southern Shanxi that combines sightseeing, leisure and entertainment, health and wellness retreats, folk experience, and cultural exchange.
Yunqiu Mountain is lush with greenery, offering stunning views and is known as 'the most beautiful peak in Gushan' and 'the premier attraction of the Fen River area.' It features majestic mountains, perilous peaks, unique rocks, cascading waterfalls, deep ravines, clear springs, and streams. It is home to the largest natural ice and wind cave complex in China, as well as the country's most extensive natural red foliage. The 'Xiangning County Annals' describe Yunqiu Mountain as follows: verdant trees in spring, lush forests in summer, autumn leaves dyed with crimson, proud pines in the snow of winter, fragrant mountain flowers in all seasons, and babbling brooks year-round.
Yunqiu Mountain, formerly known as Kunlun Mountain, is a geographical symbol of Chinese native culture, the birthplace of Chinese agricultural civilization and the twenty-four solar terms, and a heritage site for the culture of moderation. Since ancient times, Yunqiu Mountain has been a melting pot of Chinese civilization for thousands of years. The area is prosperous in Taoist culture, with numerous temples and cave sanctuaries, being the cradle of the Quanzhen School's Longmen sect, known as 'Yunqiu in the north, Wudang in the south.' The Taoist culture of Yunqiu Mountain coexists harmoniously with the Confucian and Buddhist cultures represented by Yunqiu Academy and the Duobao Lingyan Zen Temple. Additionally, Yunqiu Mountain has preserved 11 ancient villages dating back a thousand years, a rare cluster of ancient cave dwelling villages in southern Shanxi.
Shanxi Citywalk | Yunqiu Mountain
Visiting Yunqiu Mountain in Shanxi is definitely a top 3 recommended must-visit attraction for everyone.
Yunqiu Mountain is the core of the tourism of southern Shanxi, and the number one scenic spot of the Fen River.
Here you can enjoy the world-class rare ice cave group, visit the thousand-year-old village of Ta'erpo, and stay in a hundred-year-old cave dwelling.
The desired Yunqiu Mountain.
Here there are rolling mountains, deep canyons on the edge of the cliff, sky ladders surging into the clouds, and simple folk customs.
Everything in Yunqiu Mountain can satisfy my expectations for travel... Ninety percent of the entire Yunqiu Mountain staff are former villagers, who still retain the simple folk customs. The prices in the scenic area are very reasonable. I recommend everyone to go to the shadow puppet theater in Ta'erpo ancient village to have a look. The shadow puppets made by the inheritors of shadow puppetry are super affordable and exquisitely made.
I didn't expect to come to Yunqiu Mountain in Shanxi for the second time
As a guest speaker, I share with everyone the Yunqiu Mountain in my heart. Revisiting Yunqiu Mountain, the blue ice cave is still beautiful, the lawn in front of the homestay is still strikingly green, you can participate in camping activities on the lawn, there are also exquisite small gifts, what makes me most happy is that the homestay group in Kangjiaping is still so beautiful, I was attracted by the homestay here last time, walking on the stone road in front of the homestay in the night, I can always feel the calm in my heart, if you come to Yunqiu Mountain, I highly recommend you to stay and experience it
Three-day tour guide for Linfen
Yunqiu Mountain, because of its special karst topography, beautiful natural scenery, fun and exciting entertainment projects, world-rare super-large ice cave group, you can also see the rare southern Shanxi cave ancient village, live in the cave theme homestay. It has become the travel destination of more and more travel enthusiasts.
Yunqiu Mountain three-day itinerary
DAY1: Hangzhou flies to Yuncheng, Yuncheng high-speed rail to Houma, Houma to Yunqiu Mountain, stay in Qi Erkang Resort
DAY2: Shenxian Gorge - Ta'erpo Ancient Village - Kangjiaping Ancient Village
DAY3: Jade Emperor Peak - Mandarin Duck Bridge - Ice Cave Group - Shenxian Gorge - Return
Yunqiu Mountain is located in Xiangning County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. It is only 16 kilometers from the exit of Houyu Expressway to the scenic area, only 80 kilometers from Yuncheng Airport, and it takes only 40 minutes to drive from Houma city to the scenic area.
【Shenxian Gorge】
Shenxian Gorge is four kilometers long and is the only way to go to Ta'erpo Ancient Village. It is said that the predecessor of the northern god Zhenwu (Xuanwu) Emperor 'Gun' came to this gorge to choose the holy land of Taoism. Seeing that the feng shui and scenery of this place are excellent, he practiced Taoism and became immortal on the peak of the ancestor behind the gorge. Later generations called this place 'Shenxian Gorge'.
【Ta'erpo Ancient Village】
Ta'erpo Ancient Village has a history of more than 2,500 years. The village is built on the mountain, with more than 20 courtyards, including cave dwellings, arch stone cave dwellings, and tile houses with stone and wood structures. Most of the courtyards are paved with stones, with courtyards in courtyards, caves connected to caves, and secret passages between courtyards, forming a labyrinth-like architectural form, which has both strong defensive functions and private spaces, fully demonstrating the wisdom of the ancients.
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Hukou Waterfall Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
The waters of the Yellow River come from the sky, and once they rush to the sea, they never return
🚫🍂【Hukou Waterfall Winter Travel Advisory】🍂🚫
Dear explorers, 🧳if you dream of a Hukou Waterfall that is lush and has an impressive flow, then please put this dream on hold during winter (December to March). As a Shanxi native who has witnessed the seasonal changes of the Loess Plateau, I must say that in winter, Hukou is just a wide river, lacking the grandeur of the Yellow River, and that majesty cannot be captured in photos. 📸
✨【Best Travel Seasons】✨
The best times to visit are from April to May and from September to November each year. Spring brings blooming peach blossoms, and autumn brings refreshing breezes and frequent rainbows. Unfortunately, my visit in February was marred by the construction period of the scenic area, which greatly reduced the experience. 🚧
📌【Best Photography Spots】📌
- Downstream railing of the scenic area: Capture the tranquil beauty of the Yellow River.
- Bridge viewpoint: Overlook the breadth of the Yellow River.
- Upstream railing: Include the scenery of the Shaanxi bank in your frame.
- The same location as in picture 3: Cleverly avoid the crowds and fully enjoy the beauty of the Yellow River.
🌟Hukou Waterfall, this wonder on the Yellow River, shows different charms in different seasons. Choose the best time, take this guide with you, and embark on a spontaneous trip! 🌈
【Quick Glance at Practical Information】
- Name: Shanxi Yellow River Hukou Waterfall Tourist Area
- Address: Yanhukou Road, Hukou Town, Jixian County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province
- Opening Hours: 07:30-17:30
- Ticket Price: 100 yuan; Shuttle Bus: 20 yuan
- Self-driving Tips: The scenic area is equipped with a parking lot
Although the Hukou Waterfall is tranquil in winter, its true magnificence is during the seasons when the water is abundant. Take our little tips, plan your Yellow River journey, and make every trip full of surprises! 🍁
Shanxi Hukou Waterfall | Experience the spectacular view of the Yellow River coming from the sky
🏞Hukou Waterfall is a national scenic spot and a national 5A tourist attraction. It is located in Hukou Town, Jixian County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province to the east, and Hukou Town, Yichuan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province to the west. It is a tourist attraction shared by the two provinces.
🌟Highlights:
Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China and the largest yellow waterfall in the world. The Yellow River rushes to this point, with steep cliffs on both sides. The river narrows like a pot mouth, hence the name Hukou Waterfall. An average of one thousand cubic meters of river water per second pours down from a cliff more than 20 meters high, forming the momentum of 'a thousand miles of the Yellow River collected in a pot'.
❤Recommended reasons:
🔸Hukou Waterfall has eight wonders🔸
🌈Smoke from the bottom of the water
The Yellow River enters the 'pot mouth', the rapids rush down, the water mist rises, and the clouds connect with the sky. It looks like thick smoke coming out from the bottom of the water, which can be seen from ten miles away.
🌈Boating on dry land
Now you can only see the traces left by boating in the past.
🌈Rainbow playing in the water
The water mist formed by the repeated impact of Hukou Waterfall rises into the air, causing the sunlight to refract and form a rainbow.
🌈Mountains fly and seas stand
The Yellow River passes through a thousand-mile-long gorge, and the turbulent rapids rush to the pot mouth. Suddenly the flow is restrained and a spectacular waterfall is formed. Looking up at the water curtain, the rolling yellow water pours down from the sky, like thousands of mountains flying and the four seas pouring, forming the core view of Hukou Waterfall.
🌈Rain in clear sky
The hanging waterfall flows, and the formed water mist floats into the sky. Although the sun is in the sky, it is like a drizzle near the waterfall, wetting people's clothes.
🌈Thunder in dry weather
The Yellow River travels through the gorge, the surging waves are like thousands of troops and horses, roaring and shaking the river valley. When the waterfall falls and repeatedly hits the rocks and the water surface, it makes a huge noise, which echoes in the valley, just like thousands of drums beating together, thunder in dry weather, and the sound is transmitted ten miles away.
🌈Ice peaks hanging upside down
In the winter season, the dragon trough is frozen, and the water columns formed by the streams on both sides are like ice peaks of different sizes hanging upside down on the cliff. The rainbow appears and disappears from time to time, moving among them, the colorful and crystal clear complement each other, making tourists sigh at the magic of nature.
🌈Ten miles of dragon trough
Looking at the dragon trough from a distance, the winding stone trough in the gorge looks like a giant dragon shaking its head and wagging its tail. The pot mouth is the dragon's head, swallowing the huge flow of the Yellow River, and Mengmen is the dragon's tail, discharging the river water downstream.
📍Detailed address:
Yanhulu Road, Hukou Town, Jixian County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province
🕙Business hours:
Open from 06:30 to 17:30
⏳Play time:
It is recommended to spend about 3-5 hours
💰Per capita consumption:
Adult ticket for the scenic area is 90 yuan
🚉Travel strategy:
Self-driving or join a one-day tour group
🍲Food recommendation:
👍Shanxi's knife-cut noodles🍜 are very famous, and Linfen City, where Hukou Waterfall is located, is one of the main producing areas of knife-cut noodles. Tourists can taste authentic knife-cut noodles locally.
👍Mutton Paomo🌮 is a traditional delicacy of Shaanxi, and Linfen City, where Hukou Waterfall is located, is also one of the important producing areas of Mutton Paomo.
👍Cold noodles🍝 is a traditional snack in Shaanxi, and tourists can taste authentic cold noodles locally.
The Hukou Waterfall in winter is so beautiful, you can even see a rainbow!
The Hukou Waterfall after freezing shows a different kind of beauty, it's not that we can't afford to go to the northeast, but the natural ice waterfall here is also very beautiful!
The Yellow River is one of the sources in our country
Only here can you feel the greatness of nature and the insignificance of human beings. Jiaokou ancient town, enjoying the reputation of "the first town of the nine bends of the Yellow River", lies to the north of Wohu Mountain, and the Yellow River water surrounds the ancient town.
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Taerpo Ancient Village Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Shanxi Citywalk | Yunqiu Mountain
Visiting Yunqiu Mountain in Shanxi is definitely a top 3 recommended must-visit attraction for everyone.
Yunqiu Mountain is the core of the tourism of southern Shanxi, and the number one scenic spot of the Fen River.
Here you can enjoy the world-class rare ice cave group, visit the thousand-year-old village of Ta'erpo, and stay in a hundred-year-old cave dwelling.
The desired Yunqiu Mountain.
Here there are rolling mountains, deep canyons on the edge of the cliff, sky ladders surging into the clouds, and simple folk customs.
Everything in Yunqiu Mountain can satisfy my expectations for travel... Ninety percent of the entire Yunqiu Mountain staff are former villagers, who still retain the simple folk customs. The prices in the scenic area are very reasonable. I recommend everyone to go to the shadow puppet theater in Ta'erpo ancient village to have a look. The shadow puppets made by the inheritors of shadow puppetry are super affordable and exquisitely made.
Three-day tour guide for Linfen
Yunqiu Mountain, because of its special karst topography, beautiful natural scenery, fun and exciting entertainment projects, world-rare super-large ice cave group, you can also see the rare southern Shanxi cave ancient village, live in the cave theme homestay. It has become the travel destination of more and more travel enthusiasts.
Yunqiu Mountain three-day itinerary
DAY1: Hangzhou flies to Yuncheng, Yuncheng high-speed rail to Houma, Houma to Yunqiu Mountain, stay in Qi Erkang Resort
DAY2: Shenxian Gorge - Ta'erpo Ancient Village - Kangjiaping Ancient Village
DAY3: Jade Emperor Peak - Mandarin Duck Bridge - Ice Cave Group - Shenxian Gorge - Return
Yunqiu Mountain is located in Xiangning County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. It is only 16 kilometers from the exit of Houyu Expressway to the scenic area, only 80 kilometers from Yuncheng Airport, and it takes only 40 minutes to drive from Houma city to the scenic area.
【Shenxian Gorge】
Shenxian Gorge is four kilometers long and is the only way to go to Ta'erpo Ancient Village. It is said that the predecessor of the northern god Zhenwu (Xuanwu) Emperor 'Gun' came to this gorge to choose the holy land of Taoism. Seeing that the feng shui and scenery of this place are excellent, he practiced Taoism and became immortal on the peak of the ancestor behind the gorge. Later generations called this place 'Shenxian Gorge'.
【Ta'erpo Ancient Village】
Ta'erpo Ancient Village has a history of more than 2,500 years. The village is built on the mountain, with more than 20 courtyards, including cave dwellings, arch stone cave dwellings, and tile houses with stone and wood structures. Most of the courtyards are paved with stones, with courtyards in courtyards, caves connected to caves, and secret passages between courtyards, forming a labyrinth-like architectural form, which has both strong defensive functions and private spaces, fully demonstrating the wisdom of the ancients.
Come to Yunqiu Mountain·Feel the rhythm of the forest
Come to Yunqiu Mountain·Feel the rhythm of the forest🌳
This is the Yue Mountain⛰️ where the three saints Yao, Shun, and Yu looked at from afar
It is also the cradle of farming civilization.
Walking🚶 in the forest path of Shenxianyu,
The fog🌫️ is lingering, like a fairyland.
In the historic Ta'erpo ancient village🏘️,
The hospitable villagers show me the charm of intangible cultural heritage.
In the largest group of ice caves,
Even in the hot summer, you can feel the coolness of winter🥶
Yunqiu Mountain not only has beautiful natural scenery and rich historical and cultural heritage, but also carries a deep cultural heritage and strong humanistic atmosphere.
The ancient village of Talpo was originally known as Tegpo. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. Because of the name of Laozis travel to the world, the later generations are famous. Seeing this Fengshui treasure is very suitable for repairing, and it is in the nearby mountains. Practice, and live with the local mountain people, and gradually become a village.
When you walk into the village, you will also find a brand with a history and introduction about the ancient village.
Those who have the heart, will hang lanterns on the tall trees to welcome people.
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Xiaoxitian Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Xixian County, Shanxi Province, the Thousand Buddha Nunnery of Xiaoxitian
Xixian County, Shanxi Province, the Thousand Buddha Nunnery of Xiaoxitian.
The mountains have lush foliage, and the marshes bloom with lotuses.
In Xixian County, Shanxi Province, lies the Thousand Buddha Nunnery of Xiaoxitian, a filming location for the Black Myth. It's breathtaking!
Cameras fail to capture the awe that meets the eye!
Staring too long may lead to obsession.
The ancient architecture of Shanxi - Xiaoxitian in Xixian County reaches the pinnacle of suspended sculpture
🎈 Xiaoxitian in Xixian County, also known as Ganfo An, is located at the summit of Phoenix Mountain to the west of Xixian County in Linfen City, Shanxi Province. It is a Buddhist Zen monastery founded by the Ming Dynasty Zen Master Dongming in the second year of the Chongzhen era. It was originally named for the dry-lacquered Buddha statues in the Mahavira Hall, and later, due to the inscription 'Path to the Western Heaven' on the heavy gate, it was renamed 'Xiaoxitian' to distinguish it from another Ming Dynasty monastery 'Daxitian' in the south of the city.
🎈 The total building area of Xiaoxitian in Xixian County is over 1,100 square meters, with structures including the Mahavira Hall, Manjusri Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, Beamless Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Weituo Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and many other halls. Caves are used as entrances, separating the upper, middle, and front courtyards. In fact, two-thirds of the temple halls are double-layered structures. The suspended sculptures and colored paintings inside Xiaoxitian in Xixian County are of great reference value for the study of Ming and Qing Dynasty suspended sculptures and colored paintings.
🎈 On March 5, 2013, Xiaoxitian in Xixian County was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the fourth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.
Shanxi The Ancient Architecture Stories I Know (1)
|||🚩Xiaoxitian: Also known as the Thousand Buddha Nunnery, it was founded during the Ming Dynasty.
There is an interesting little story about the Arhat statues in Xiaoxitian. It is said that when they were building this place, the craftsmen first constructed five Arhat statues on the left side. At that time, a wandering monk came by and saw the statues. He offered to help complete the five statues on the right side, and the craftsmen gladly accepted. However, after just one night, the monk left. When they came to the hall, they found that the five statues on the right had been completed, and they were lifelike, especially the facial expressions which were incredibly vivid. They were quite different from those made by the craftsmen on the left side. Unfortunately, the monk had already left, and it was impossible to rebuild them, so they had to maintain the status quo, resulting in the current uncoordinated level of craftsmanship between the statues on the left and right.
Picture 3, 4: The statues built by the monk
Picture 5: The statues built by the craftsmen
🚩Feiyun Tower: One of the main buildings within the Wanyong Dongyue Temple.
There is a small story about the construction of Feiyun Tower. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin passed through Wanyong County while leading his army to suppress a rebellion. After the rebellion was quelled, he built a temple here to commemorate his achievements. The temple was rebuilt and renovated many times in later generations, and the tower we see now was reconstructed during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty.
Scenic Splendor Fills the Hall | Xiaoxitian in Xixian County, Shanxi
【Shanxi's Beauty and Goodness·Xixian·Xiaoxitian Scenic Splendor Fills the Hall】The YYDS of Chinese hanging sculpture art is here, photos cannot show one percent of its beauty, this is the Buddhist pure land—Xiaoxitian located in Xixian County, Linfen City. To witness this splendid hall, you need to climb the stairs. Before you enter the Daxiong Hall, you better polish your eyes or glasses, I'm afraid you'll think you've entered a dream world! The hall is not big, even a bit cramped, those ingenious artworks are right in front of you, enjoy them slowly!
Tips1: The real value of Xiaoxitian lies in the perfectly preserved hanging sculptures in the Daxiong Hall. Most of the hanging sculptures in the hall were painted between the 17th year of the Ming Chongzhen era (1644) and the 13th year of the Qing Shunzhi era (1656), the sculptures inside the hall are dazzling and magnificent, exquisitely moving, after more than three hundred years they remain as clean as new, intact as ever. The hall is filled with colorful sculptures, in addition to the five main statues above the altar, the walls, beams, and even the roof rafters are all painted with thousands of colorful sculptures. These sculptures have different postures and vivid shapes, placing you in the halls and pavilions of a thousand Buddha nations. Some are over 3 meters tall, while others are only the size of a thumb, intricate but not cluttered, orderly expressing the vast world of Buddhism.
Tips2: Inside the Daxiong Hall, there are five interconnected Buddhist niches separated by a four-story pagoda. In the front of the hall, from left to right, 'Medicine Buddha', 'Amitabha Buddha', 'Shakyamuni Buddha', 'Vairocana Buddha', and 'Maitreya Buddha' are seated in the center of the niches, with attendant Bodhisattvas on both sides.
The ten great disciples stand on both sides, with graceful shapes and subtle expressions, vividly portrayed. On the south wall of the hall, Buddhist figures and stories such as the 'Four Directions Three Saints' and the 'Four Heavenly Kings' are sculpted, and on the north wall, stories from Mount Sumeru's thirty-three layers of 'Trāyastriṃśa Heaven', the life of Buddha, and the Jataka tales of Shakyamuni are depicted. On the beams, the eight great Vajra are mighty and majestic, and the walls between the beams are adorned with the resplendent 'Pure Land'; numerous human-faced Apsaras, divine birds, peacocks, parrots, and cranes roam among the misty clouds, and the twelve musical Bodhisattvas perform 'heavenly' songs and dances with light and graceful figures, gentle and pure, moving freely. The entire hall, with its heavenly palaces and pavilions, layered upon each other, shrouded in mist, and decorated with colorful makeup, presents a captivating scene of a fairy palace and Buddhist land.
📝Note tips:
1. It's cheaper to buy tickets online in advance
2. Photography is basically allowed📷
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Guangsheng Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Guangsheng Temple: A Hall of Art
Guangsheng Temple is a millennium-old ancient monastery located at the foot of Huo Mountain in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province, built during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Guangsheng Temple consists of three groups of ancient buildings: the Upper Guangsheng Temple, the Lower Guangsheng Temple, and the Water God Temple. The Upper Temple, which stands atop the mountain; the Lower Temple, situated at the foot of the mountain facing Huo Spring; and the Water God Temple to the west of the Lower Temple. The buildings of the Lower Temple were mostly constructed during the Yuan dynasty, while the Upper Temple was largely rebuilt during the Ming dynasty.
Visiting Guangsheng Temple, one can see not only the Buddhist hall architecture, the Ming dynasty's Feihong Pagoda (the world's tallest glazed pagoda), and the clay Buddha statues in the Amitabha Hall, but also Yuan and Ming dynasty murals. Regrettably, the Yuan dynasty murals in the Lower Temple's Mahavira Hall were stolen and sold to the United States, but fortunately, the three large stone Buddha statues are well preserved.
Despite the poor weather, our interest in visiting was not diminished. Seeing the devoutness of our ancestors towards their faith and their achievements in artistic creation, we were genuinely moved and filled with admiration!
Transportation: From the Linfen city area, take bus 301 (5 yuan/person) to Hongtong, then transfer to bus 22 (3 yuan/person) to Guangsheng Temple scenic area. Get off and walk about 1 kilometer to reach the destination.
Shanxi, Guangsheng Temple, absolutely beautiful!
Shanxi, you are so beautiful! The Yuan Dynasty murals in the Xia Si Rain God Temple at Guangsheng Temple, and the Feihong Tower in the Shang Si, are too beautiful! Great creations, they are also our most precious treasures today.
Rainbow flies across the sky, the glaze is dazzling | Hongtong Guangsheng Temple in Jinzhong
【Jinshan Jinmei·Hongtong·Rainbow flies across the sky, the glaze is dazzling】"Su San left Hongtong County", we entered Hongtong County, just to see the style of the world's first glazed pagoda, it is - Guangsheng Temple Rainbow Tower. The weather is beautiful, this rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, and well-preserved Rainbow Tower under the blue sky and white clouds, brilliant. Of course, the Ming Dynasty murals of the Water God Temple, one of the three unique features of Guangsheng Temple, should not be missed.
Tips1: The Rainbow Tower is a pavilion-style tower, a glazed tower, with a total of thirteen octagonal layers, the tower is 47.31 meters high, the outer contour shrinks layer by layer from bottom to top, shaped like a cone, all made of brick, with a cross hip roof. The tower is hollow, with a walkway to turn over, can climb up. Each layer has a glazed eaves, the bottom of the tower has a corridor, a group of patterns on each floor, and does not repeat. The entrance of the corridor on the south side protrudes a two-story room. There is a glazed caisson in the heart room of the bottom floor. The tower of the Rainbow Tower is a treasure bottle-shaped copper casting, the wheel is iron casting, and the tassel is green glaze. The glazed surface of the whole tower reflects the superb glaze firing skills and wisdom of the people of Shanxi, and is a representative work of Chinese glazed towers.
Tips2: On the four walls of the Water God Temple, there are full of Yuan Dynasty murals, a total of 14, are the works of Yuan Taiding first year (1324 AD), according to the inscription, are drawn by folk painters in the area of Hongtong Zhaocheng at that time, these folk painters are clever in conception and exquisite in skills. The murals are mainly distributed on both sides of the front eaves corridor and the walls of the temple, covering an area of about 200 square meters. These murals are rich in content, rigorous in layout, and the characters in the picture are of different sizes, the tallest is about 1.8 meters, and the shortest is only more than 20 centimeters.
Tips: The wisdom and metaphor of the ancients:
The Water God Temple, intended to pray for rain, but the painting is, dressing (mirror), playing chess (game), playing ball (seek), selling fish (rain), however, each of the four murals takes a homophonic word, that is - "respectfully pray for rain".
⏳Play time: 2-4 hours
🚉Traffic strategy: It is recommended to drive by yourself, there is a large parking lot🅿️
Greater than the sky, famous throughout the world: Hongtong Guangsheng Temple
Hongtong, a thousand-year-old county, is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization, and also the origin of immigration with the widest radiation and greatest influence in our country's history of immigration.
Guangsheng Temple, which was founded in the first year of Jianhe in the Eastern Han Dynasty, is located 17 kilometers northeast of Hongtong County, at the southern foot of Huoshan Mountain. It consists of the Upper Temple Feihong Tower and Amitabha Hall architectural group located at the top of the mountain, the Lower Temple architectural group at the foot of the mountain, and the Water God Temple, which preserves the most complete temple for the worship of the Water God in our country.
It is said that Guangsheng Temple has three unique features: the exquisite murals in the Water God Temple in the Lower Temple, the towering and spectacular 'Rainbow Glazed Tower' in the Upper Temple, and the rare treasure 'Zhaocheng Gold Collection' once stored in the Amitabha Hall of the Upper Temple.
When you come to the top of the mountain where the Upper Temple of Guangsheng Temple is located, the towering Feihong Tower will stand in front of you.
The glazed pagoda has 13 levels, with a total height of 47.31 meters. The body of the tower gradually narrows from bottom to top, and the eaves can almost form a straight line, shaped like a cone.
The entire Feihong Tower is exquisitely constructed and beautiful. The body of the tower is an octagonal plane. Except for the wooden corridor on the bottom floor, the others are all built of green bricks. Each floor has glazed eaves, and the glazed imitation wood structure and lotus petals are alternated, giving people a sense of towering into the clouds and exquisite beauty.
The Feihong Tower is one of the five Buddha relic pagodas and one of the four ancient pagodas existing in China. It is also the only glazed pagoda found so far that has the inscription of craftsmen and the highest multicolored glazed pagoda in the world.
What is astonishing is that the Feihong Tower has experienced an earthquake of more than 8 degrees in the 34th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, and the tower remains intact. Its exquisite design and unique shape made Mr. Chen Wanli, the father of ceramic archaeology and an expert in ancient Chinese ceramics who came to inspect in modern times, marvel at its 'miraculous craftsmanship'.
The rare treasure 'Zhaocheng Gold Collection', which totals 6980 volumes and more than 60 million words, is praised by the Buddhist world as a 'unique secret book between heaven and earth'. It was carved in the early Jin Dynasty and was treasured and offered in Guangsheng Temple.
The 'Zhaocheng Gold Collection' is the format of the first woodblock printed Tripitaka 'Kaibao Zang' in the Song Dynasty. This Tripitaka is a good translation of the Sanskrit scriptures brought back from Tianzhu by the Tang Dynasty Tripitaka Master Xuanzang. There is only one copy in the world, so it is regarded as a rare treasure. It is known as one of the four treasures of the National Library, along with the 'Yongle Encyclopedia', 'Siku Quanshu', and 'Dunhuang Manuscripts'.
Guangsheng Temple
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Popular Trip Moments
Guangsheng Temple: A Hall of Art | The Linfen Museum: A Witness to the Splendid Chinese Civilization | The Taiyi Temple in Houma, Shanxi | The largest iron-cast Buddha head in the country | The cloud-kissed Yunqiu Mountain is a photographer's dream with every snap a masterpiece | This is the most time-traveling place in China! | The waters of the Yellow River come from the sky, and once they rush to the sea, they never return | Immersive check-in Shanxi Quwo Jin State Museum: Steal half a day of leisure | The ancient architecture of Shanxi - Xiaoxitian in Xixian County reaches the pinnacle of suspended sculpture | Shanxi The Ancient Architecture Stories I Know (1) | Scenic Splendor Fills the Hall | Xiaoxitian in Xixian County, Shanxi | Xixian has a 'Little Western Heaven'| It's so beautiful when you get to Zhitian Palace! | The Great Compassion Temple in Quwo, Shanxi | Trending | Rainbow flies across the sky, the glaze is dazzling | Hongtong Guangsheng Temple in Jinzhong | The moment I opened the door, I exploded!!! | Pathfinder Episode 11: Jinfeng Tomb Village in Linfen | Shanxi's cultural tourism is boosting, many attractions are free during the Spring Festival, the first stop: Dahuaishu | The most beautiful homestay in Shanxi | Experience nature at Yunqiu Mountain Kangjiaping | Gray Whale | Greater than the sky, famous throughout the world: Hongtong Guangsheng Temple | Shanxi Quwo | Jin State Museum | Understand the rise and fall of the Jin State over a thousand years | The Yao Temple after the snowfall | Shanxi is a must-visit | Shanxi Hukou Waterfall | Experience the spectacular view of the Yellow River coming from the sky | Shanxi Citywalk | Yunqiu Mountain | Yao Temple in Linfen | I declare, I'm going to stay at this hotel permanently | Where to go for the weekend? Go to Beiyongan Village, Qiaoli Town, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, Yaodu Ancient Town Scenic Area | I didn't expect to come to Yunqiu Mountain in Shanxi for the second time Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
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