Lingling District Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Dongshan Scenic Area Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Lingling East of Yongzhou
Spring is in full bloom at the Lingling East Mountain Scenic Area in Yongzhou
Having just admired the cherry blossoms in my hometown, I unexpectedly found a different kind of spring in the Lingling East Mountain Scenic Area, and I envy the welfare of the people of Yongzhou.
The city is full of white paulownia trees that are entering their peak blooming period. From the viewing platform behind the Wumiao Temple, the view is incredibly open and wide, even reminiscent of Mount Fuji.
Xiaoshitan is already very beautiful, but East Mountain seems to have a slight edge.
Yongzhou Emperor Guan Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
The largest martial temple south of the Yangtze River, with four coiled dragon pillars that are rare nationwide!
Yongzhou Wumiao, also known as Guan Sheng Temple or Lingling Wumiao, was founded in the early years of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, located at the summit of Dongshan in the ancient city of Lingling. Its predecessor was the Chanling Marquis Temple, built to commemorate Lu Meng, adjacent to the ancient Green Sky Hermitage where Huai Su studied and the Gao Mountain Temple.
Yongzhou Wumiao is a temple dedicated to the worship of Guan Yu, a 'Martial Saint' of his era. It served both as a place of military honor worship and military coordination, witnessing important military activities such as local oath-taking expeditions, military consultations, and victory reports during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the largest and most influential martial temple south of the Yangtze River.
In the second year of the Shenlong era (706) of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Taigong Temples were established in the two capitals, Chang'an and Luoyang. In 760, Emperor Suzong of Tang honored Jiang Taigong as 'King Wucheng', also known as 'Martial Saint'. The Taigong Temple was officially renamed 'King Wucheng Temple', commonly known as Wumiao, initiating the worship of Taigong and the sacrificial tradition of martial temples. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Guan Yu was a secondary deity in the worship of King Wucheng, but during the Yongzheng era, he became the main deity of the Wumiao.
Guan Yu was a famous general during the Three Kingdoms period, known for his feats such as slaying Hua Xiong while warming wine, maintaining proper rituals while staying in Cao Cao's camp, hanging his seal to pledge allegiance, flooding seven armies, scraping bone to treat his wound, and capturing Lu Su with a single blade. After his defeat and death at the Battle of Maicheng, his horse Red Hare refused to eat or drink and died of grief. Later, Emperor Shenzong of Ming posthumously honored him as 'Lord Chasing the Wind'.
Guan Yu was revered for his righteousness and outstanding military achievements, embodying the Chinese national spirit of 'loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and bravery', and was worshipped as a god of war. He was ennobled by the Han, enshrined as a king by the Song, deified by the Ming, and sanctified by the Qing. Confucianists called him a saint, Buddhists a Buddha, and Taoists a Heavenly Venerable. Over thousands of years, he has risen from 'a hero for all ages' to 'a god capable of everything', revered by all.
The establishment of a temple in Yongzhou to worship Guan Yu began in the Ming dynasty, originally called 'Shu Han's Former General, the Marquis of Zhuangmiao'. The Qing dynasty saw the peak of Guan Di worship, and in the second year of Shunzhi (1645), the 13th day of the fifth lunar month was designated as the day of worship at the Guan Temple. In the third year of Yongzheng (1725), additional sacrifices were made in the middle months of spring and autumn.
Yongzhou Wumiao has five bays and five openings, with a vermilion platform featuring high-relief carvings of five dragons holding pearls, with scales, claws, and bones vividly presented and finely crafted. In front of the main hall, there are four blue stone dragon and phoenix pillars, with male and female coiled dragons spiraling down from above, as if they are about to take flight, a unique treasure in the world.
The main hall of the Wumiao faces west, with a width of five bays and a depth of three bays. The architecture features a double-eaved Xieshan-style high platform with a fenced enclosure, red walls, and green tiles, with high-flying wing corners. A treasure gourd is erected in the center of the main hall, with large beast masks installed at both ends, and fish-shaped masks on the other eave corners. Wind boards and hanging fish are placed on the two slopes.
The Xiangdian has a double-layered Xieshan roof, also known as the Nine-Ridge Hall. In 2013, the Lingling Wenwu and Shuang Temples were listed as national key cultural relics protection units.
The martial spirit of Yongzhou has been elevated through generations of sacrificial ceremonies, with generations of outstanding military leaders from Yongzhou active on the historical stage of the Chinese nation. Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army suppressed the Taiping Rebellion and participated in wars such as the recapture of Xinjiang, the Sino-French War, and the First Sino-Japanese War.
Xintian's Wen Zhang Rongzu and Wu Xiao Rongfang were honored with the title 'Brave Batulu'. Dong'an martial arts originated from the Emei Fist of the Three Kingdoms period and has a development history of more than 1700 years.
Lingling East of Yongzhou
Spring is in full bloom at the Lingling East Mountain Scenic Area in Yongzhou
Having just admired the cherry blossoms in my hometown, I unexpectedly found a different kind of spring in the Lingling East Mountain Scenic Area, and I envy the welfare of the people of Yongzhou.
The city is full of white paulownia trees that are entering their peak blooming period. From the viewing platform behind the Wumiao Temple, the view is incredibly open and wide, even reminiscent of Mount Fuji.
Xiaoshitan is already very beautiful, but East Mountain seems to have a slight edge.
Lingling Ancient City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
A Trip to the Ancient City of Lingling in Yongzhou
Traveling with family
Travel: Shaoyang to Lingling Ancient City Self-driving via expressway + national road takes about one and a half hours to arrive
Expense: Highway toll is 24.5 yuan for a single trip, free admission to the ancient city, 25 yuan per person for a boat ride, meals depend on the individual, our group of five spent 300 yuan on ordering dishes for lunch
Personal feelings: Lingling Ancient City is worth a visit! It's very serene and beautiful, the old street is not heavily commercialized, and there's a strong sense of daily life. When we went there in the afternoon, several households were playing cards, mahjong, or watching TV. The Yu Creek that surrounds the entire ancient city is also very clear, and every snapshot is super beautiful! You can also take a boat ride to experience it, and by the creek, there are grandmas washing items and grandpas sorting old things, the warmth of human life is right beside you
Duration of visit: 2-3 hours is enough
To settle in Yongzhou, I actually bought a house there
1 Liuzi Temple (P3)
Visiting duration: 1-1.5 hours Admission: 25 yuan
Highlights: The stage on the gate of Liuzi Temple has a beautiful overall design. Two coiling dragons are carved out in relief on the main ridge, and the corners of the eaves are upturned, each decorated with lion or dragon-shaped stone carvings. Above the second layer of eaves, there are carvings of the Eight Immortals and Laozi, which give the eaves a high artistic value. Inside the temple, there are four exhibition halls introducing the life and deeds of Liu Zongyuan, as well as a hall with stele inscriptions copied from various districts and counties of Yongzhou, all worth a visit, and you can also listen in on the explanations others have paid for.
2 Gubu Tan - Xi Xiaoqiu - Xiaoshitan Site (P4-P6)
Visiting duration: 0.5-1 hour Admission: Free
Highlights: Turn right out of Liuzi Temple and walk straight ahead on Liuzi Street for about 5 minutes, and you'll arrive at the place where Liu Zongyuan wrote 'Gubu Tan Ji', 'Xi Xiaoqiu Ji', and 'Xiaoshitan Ji'. It is actually just following Yu Creek upstream. Here you can look across the ages at Liuzi while comparing these three essays. This place is very quiet, in stark contrast to the noisy and bustling Lingling Ancient City.
3 Lingling Wen Temple (P7-P9)
Visiting duration: 0.5-1 hour Admission: Free
Highlights: Lingling Wen Temple is located in a small alley next to the main gate of Lingling Middle School, which is currently under repair, and there are very few tourists. This Wen Temple is not as complete as Ningyuan Wen Temple, with only one Dacheng Hall and two steles behind it. The corridor in front of Dacheng Hall has four relief-carved dragon and phoenix stone columns and two openwork dragon-patterned wooden columns, with cute carvings of fairy deer and lions on top of the stone columns. A whole beam above the columns is carved with several long dragons, making the whole structure exquisitely gorgeous. The caisson ceiling paintings inside the hall were painted in the 1980s and are brightly colored.
4 Yongzhou Wu Temple (P10)
Visiting duration: 0.5 hour Admission: Free
Highlights: Wu Temple is located inside Dongshan Park, most of the buildings are modern reconstructions, only the main hall of Wu Temple is an ancient building from the late Qing Dynasty. The main hall is relatively simple, without too much decoration. In front of the hall, there is a Baosha, and the corridor has two carved bluestone columns with dragons holding treasure beads in their mouths. The dragon heads are huge and are the largest stone-carved dragon heads I've seen in Yongzhou.
Stroll leisurely through the small town and follow Liu Zongyuan to see the Eight Views of Yongzhou
Yongzhou is a national forest city, and by spring, it's filled with fresh greenery. Walking under the trees by the Xiang River, you are surrounded by lush greenery, which is very relaxing and pleasant.
If it's a rainy day, it's the perfect time to listen to the 'Xiaoxiang Night Rain' and watch the misty rain over Xiangling.
📷Eight Views of Yongzhou
Morning Sun
Returning Dragon at Sunset
Pingzhou Spring Tide - You can see Pingzhou from the shore
Xiangling Misty Rain
Enyuan Wind Lotus - Lotus is only available in summer
Yu Creek Snow Gaze - There is no snow in spring, but strolling along Yu Creek is also very pleasant, and the scenery along the creek is beautiful
Green Banana Shadows
Mountain Temple Evening Bell
To see all of the Eight Views of Yongzhou, one would have to experience all four seasons in Yongzhou. But even with just two days, you can still stroll through Liuzi Street, tour Yu Creek, climb Dongshan, visit the Jiewu Temple, reread Liu Gong's 'Eight Records of Yongzhou', and appreciate the calligraphy of the monk Huaisu's 'Crazy Cursive', and get a sense of the literary spirit that the greats of the Tang and Song dynasties bestowed upon this beautiful landscape.
Yongzhou Cuisine
In a place where delicious food is everywhere, there's generally no need for a special food guide. Just pick any restaurant that looks appealing, and as long as the ingredients are fresh, even a simple stir-fry can be delicious. Try the Yongzhou Luos, also known as Yongzhou Suoluo, a famous dish in Hunan's Yongzhou. The locals have been eating Luos for over two thousand years. The soup in Luos is quite savory, and with a sip and a slurp, the snail meat comes right out, allowing you to taste the chewy, crunchy, and refreshing snail meat and the spicy deliciousness of the soup.
🚘Transportation: Direct high-speed train access. Yongzhou city is not big, so walking, taking a taxi, or using public transport are all options.
🏠Accommodation: You can choose a homestay hotel in the Lingling ancient city, which is very convenient for transportation and eating.
Guangxi Self-Driving Tour (Part 13)
I didn't know until my second visit to Yongzhou that the ancient city of Yongzhou is located in Lingling District. Last time I went to the northern Lengshuitan District, which is more than twenty kilometers away from Lingling. The ancient city of Lingling has been established as the earliest administrative division of Yongzhou since the Western Han Dynasty, for over two thousand years. It is also widely known thanks to Liu Zongyuan's 'The Story of the Snake Catcher' and 'A Record of a Little Stone Pool' being included in Chinese textbooks. Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Yongzhou for ten years, leaving behind the famous 'Eight Records of Yongzhou,' with 'A Record of a Little Stone Pool' being one of them. The Liuzi Temple is the best memorial the people of Yongzhou have for him, and not far upstream from the temple is the location of the Little Stone Pool. In order to recreate the scenery of the Little Stone Pool, the Yongzhou government blew up the dam that submerged it, which is in line with the repeated destruction and reconstruction of the Liuzi Temple. On both sides of the Yu Creek in the ancient city of Lingling, the ancient streets and lanes blend with the newly built antique-style architectural district. The pleasure boats on Yu Creek and tourists dressed in ancient costumes have become a scenic spot in the ancient city. Walking down along Yu Creek, you can reach the confluence with the Xiao River, which is especially beautiful at night.
The confluence of the Xiao River and the Xiang River has a small island with a Pingzhou Academy on it. To get there, you need to take a ferry, which costs 20 for a round trip, and the entrance fee for Pingzhou Academy is 40. We didn't go to the island but walked along the riverside path to an abandoned ferry dock, where the view of the Xiao and Xiang rivers converging is also very beautiful.
Yongzhou Hunan Lingling Ancient City
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Pingzhou Academy Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Guangxi Self-Driving Tour (Part 13)
I didn't know until my second visit to Yongzhou that the ancient city of Yongzhou is located in Lingling District. Last time I went to the northern Lengshuitan District, which is more than twenty kilometers away from Lingling. The ancient city of Lingling has been established as the earliest administrative division of Yongzhou since the Western Han Dynasty, for over two thousand years. It is also widely known thanks to Liu Zongyuan's 'The Story of the Snake Catcher' and 'A Record of a Little Stone Pool' being included in Chinese textbooks. Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Yongzhou for ten years, leaving behind the famous 'Eight Records of Yongzhou,' with 'A Record of a Little Stone Pool' being one of them. The Liuzi Temple is the best memorial the people of Yongzhou have for him, and not far upstream from the temple is the location of the Little Stone Pool. In order to recreate the scenery of the Little Stone Pool, the Yongzhou government blew up the dam that submerged it, which is in line with the repeated destruction and reconstruction of the Liuzi Temple. On both sides of the Yu Creek in the ancient city of Lingling, the ancient streets and lanes blend with the newly built antique-style architectural district. The pleasure boats on Yu Creek and tourists dressed in ancient costumes have become a scenic spot in the ancient city. Walking down along Yu Creek, you can reach the confluence with the Xiao River, which is especially beautiful at night.
The confluence of the Xiao River and the Xiang River has a small island with a Pingzhou Academy on it. To get there, you need to take a ferry, which costs 20 for a round trip, and the entrance fee for Pingzhou Academy is 40. We didn't go to the island but walked along the riverside path to an abandoned ferry dock, where the view of the Xiao and Xiang rivers converging is also very beautiful.
Yongzhou Hunan Lingling Ancient City
The unique Pingzhou Academy
Located at the confluence of the Xiao River and the Xiang River, eight miles northwest of the ancient city of Yongzhou, there is a small island called Ping Island. It is surrounded by water on all sides, like two dragons playing with a pearl. The island is full of ancient trees and lush bamboo and banana trees, with a quiet and elegant environment and beautiful scenery. On the island, there is the Pingzhou Academy, which was established in the fourth year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1739). The academy is in the form of a quadrangle, with gray bricks and green tiles, and a sense of age.
The Pingzhou Academy is known as one of the four major academies in Hunan, along with Yuelu, Shigu, and Chengnan.
The unique and beautiful natural landscape of Ping Island has long attracted people's appreciation. During the Tang Dynasty, Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Yongzhou, where he traveled by boat on the Xiao and Xiang rivers and visited Ping Island. He wrote the poem 'Xiangkou Pavilion, where the two waters of Xiao and Xiang meet'.
As soon as you enter the 'Xiaoxiang' gate, you can see an arc-shaped stele forest arranged on the left, with both sides, there are many famous people's handwriting, worth slowly tasting.
The Pingzhou Academy is simple and quiet, and some viewing platforms in the style of Han white jade have been added to the back of the academy, which are also very beautiful for taking pictures.
To visit Pingzhou Academy on Ping Island, you need to take a boat, which costs 20 yuan for a round trip. Taking photos in Hanfu on the boat is also very harmonious.
Along the Xiao River, it feels like traveling through a thousand years
🚣♂️ Along the Xiao River, it feels like traveling through a thousand years. Walking in the poetic land under the pen of Liu Zongyuan, Pingzhou Academy is a historical relic of the four major academies in Hunan, like a quiet literary hall, bathed in a long history, as if you can hear the low chant of the Xiao Xiang night rain. 📜🌙
🛥️ Take a boat up, pass through the ancient city of Lingling under the Dongfeng Bridge, come to Xiakedu, the floating bridge in the rain and the Xiao River reflect each other, like a classical landscape painting, intoxicating. ⛵️🌧️
🏞️ Chaoyang Rock, Liu Zi fishing alone in the cold river snow, along the Xiao River, the rock with many inscriptions records the vicissitudes of a thousand years, as if time is frozen here. 🌄📜
🏔️ Xiangling Mountain is like a watcher, standing tall on the bank of the Xiao River, the huge rocks in the river witness countless stories about Xiao Xiang, walking through the floating bridge of Xiangling Mountain Village, feeling the precipitation of a long history, as if in the ideal country under the southern sky. 🏞️📖
On this mysterious and distant land, the soul of Lingling wakes up in the cold river and dusk rain, and the heart with sorrow and resentment pursues the open-minded realm between the mountains and rivers. Everyone who has walked through Lingling will suddenly become enlightened in the melodious Eina sound, feeling the deep affection of Xiao Xiang. 🌿🌧️
Stepping into the Pingzhou Academy in Yongzhou is like reading a small poem of Xiaoxiang
Coming from the bustling metropolis to the Pingzhou Academy, the body and mind are as comfortable as if they have been bathed and incensed. The Pingzhou Academy was built in the Qing Dynasty, located on Ping Island in Yongzhou, where the Xiao River and Xiang River converge, and you must take a small boat to get to the island. The island is full of ancient trees and abundant bamboo and bananas. The bluestone path in the academy is planted with 320-year-old ancient osmanthus trees. Although the osmanthus has withered, the four seasons osmanthus is in full bloom, and the fragrance is attacking people's hearts. The lingering piano sound is revolving around the ears, strolling in it, enjoying the tranquility of the island, and the beauty seeps into every cell. It can be described as 'When you wield a brush, you should get the help of the country, and if you don't go to Xiaoxiang, how can there be a poem'.
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Chaoyangyan Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Along the Xiao River, it feels like traveling through a thousand years
🚣♂️ Along the Xiao River, it feels like traveling through a thousand years. Walking in the poetic land under the pen of Liu Zongyuan, Pingzhou Academy is a historical relic of the four major academies in Hunan, like a quiet literary hall, bathed in a long history, as if you can hear the low chant of the Xiao Xiang night rain. 📜🌙
🛥️ Take a boat up, pass through the ancient city of Lingling under the Dongfeng Bridge, come to Xiakedu, the floating bridge in the rain and the Xiao River reflect each other, like a classical landscape painting, intoxicating. ⛵️🌧️
🏞️ Chaoyang Rock, Liu Zi fishing alone in the cold river snow, along the Xiao River, the rock with many inscriptions records the vicissitudes of a thousand years, as if time is frozen here. 🌄📜
🏔️ Xiangling Mountain is like a watcher, standing tall on the bank of the Xiao River, the huge rocks in the river witness countless stories about Xiao Xiang, walking through the floating bridge of Xiangling Mountain Village, feeling the precipitation of a long history, as if in the ideal country under the southern sky. 🏞️📖
On this mysterious and distant land, the soul of Lingling wakes up in the cold river and dusk rain, and the heart with sorrow and resentment pursues the open-minded realm between the mountains and rivers. Everyone who has walked through Lingling will suddenly become enlightened in the melodious Eina sound, feeling the deep affection of Xiao Xiang. 🌿🌧️
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