[2025 Zezhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Dai Temple (Updated Mar)

| See a 6,000-year-old ginkgo tree. Zezhou Dai Temple, commonly known as Xidamiao, is located in Yedi Village, Nancun Town, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. It is the only Dai Temple and Taoist Quanzhen Temple outside of Mount Tai. Next to Zezhou Dai Temple stands a ginkgo tree, one of the attractions here. According to experts, the tree is at least 6,000 years old, making it one of the top ten largest trees in Jincheng and unique in China. In front of the Dai Temple, the tree's crown spreads out like a giant umbrella. Originally, the tree had eight branches, but six were cut down in the early days of liberation to make desks and benches for the village school, leaving only two branches. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow, and from a distance, it looks like a money tree. Perhaps making a wish for wealth here will be effective. Tickets: Free Transportation: Taxi fare is about 38 one way

🌿【Zezhou Dai Temple—A Symphony of Ancient Trees and Ancient Buildings】🌿 🎼 When Goethe gazed at the Strasbourg Cathedral, he heard frozen music. But I, at Zezhou Dai Temple, felt the harmony of time. This is not just a temple; it is a poem spanning millennia, a painting crafted with wood and stone. 📍【Location】Jincheng, Shanxi. Here lies a temple called Zezhou Dai Temple, also known as Yedi Dai Temple. It speaks endless stories without uttering a word. It is a sacred place second only to the Dai Temple of Mount Tai and an important site for the Quanzhen School of Taoism. 🏰 The history of Dai Temple is like an ancient musical score, with the earliest notes tracing back to the Song Dynasty. The main hall, Tianqi Hall, has stone bases, lotus-shaped column bases, and stone pillars marked with the year 1080. The beam structure is a masterpiece from the Jin Dading period in 1187. Every detail is a tender caress of history. 🎭 Facing Tianqi Hall is a stage called Wulou. The stone pillars from the Jin Dynasty and the renovations from the Ming Dynasty give it both the elegance of the Jin era and the splendor of the Ming era. In the May breeze, willow catkins dance in front of the stage, as if time itself is performing ancient stories for us. 🌳 But the most astonishing sight is the ginkgo tree outside the courtyard. It is 6200 years old and still full of life. This is not just a tree; it is a miracle of nature and a witness to the ages. Its presence makes Dai Temple not just a building but a hymn to life. ✅【National Treasure】In 2001, Dai Temple was listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, affirming its historical value. 🎫【Open】There is no ticket barrier here; it is open all day, always welcoming you to listen to this ancient music. 🚗【Transportation】Located 13 kilometers southwest of Jincheng city center, it is easily accessible by car, taxi, or chartered vehicle. 🌟 Come to Zezhou Dai Temple and join me in feeling the echoes of history and listening to the songs of time in the tranquility of ancient architecture.🌟

Who would have thought that Jincheng in Shanxi has 72 national cultural relics protection units! We spent two and a half days and visited 15 national cultural relics protection units to get a rough idea of the essence of Jincheng's national cultural relics protection units. The word "impressive" was always on our lips, and we were tired of saying it! Without further ado, let's share our itinerary and travel tips~ · 📍 Jincheng 2~3-day National Cultural Relics Protection Unit Essence Route: Day 1: Zezhou Dai Temple - Xiaonancun Erxian Temple - Qinglian Temple - Yuhuang Temple - Fucheng Guandi Temple - Xilimen Erxian Temple - Chongming Temple Day 2: Youxian Temple - Xianweng Temple - Wangbao Erlang Temple - Dinglin Temple - Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple - Xixi Erxian Temple - Kaihua Temple Day 3: Yangtoushan Grottoes - Go to Changzhi (PS. We drove ourselves, but our schedule was quite tight. If you're worried about not having enough time, you can adjust it.) · Here are some of our favorites~ 🔻Xiaonancun Erxian Temple The exquisite and intricate wooden palace and pavilion of the Northern Song Dynasty are breathtaking and leave you speechless. The large wooden structure is also impressive. 🔻Qinglian Temple Upper Temple: The Buddha and Bodhisattva in the Sakyamuni Hall and the Sixteen Arhats in the Luohan Hall are all masterpieces of Northern Song Dynasty colored sculptures. Lower Temple: The Tang Dynasty sculptures are simple and ancient, and the Song Dynasty proportions are perfect. 🔻Yuhuang Temple Finally saw the Twenty-Eight Constellations! Yuhuang Temple is very popular and has many visitors. There are also many exquisite colored sculptures, Chengtang Hall, Yuhuang Hall, Thirteen Yao Stars, Twelve Yuanchen... All open, don't miss it😭. 🔻Chongming Temple Originally closed, thanks to the cultural relics protection officer who came back to open the door. The moment the door opened, the oldest surviving Northern Song Dynasty wooden structure came into view, with its deep eaves and Tang Dynasty style, so moving that I almost cried! 🔻Xianweng Temple Coming to Zhang Guolao Temple, I saw the murals on the walls, which are well preserved. The "Tang Xuanzong Taishan Fengchan Tu" is a masterpiece. 🔻Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple It's too 🔥, you can't make an appointment online, but you can queue up on the spot to get a number. The Twenty-Four Devas are so beautiful, I queued up several times and finally saw enough. I came out and bought iron plate shabu-shabu bean skin, sat under the tree and watched the Iron Buddha Temple eat bean skin, which felt like a time travel. 🔻Kaihua Temple The Mahavira Hall is a Northern Song Dynasty building, and the Northern Song Dynasty murals in the hall are colorful and known as the "清明上河图" of murals. The cultural relics protection officer was very enthusiastic. 🔻Yangtoushan Grottoes Highly recommended! The Northern Dynasty grottoes scattered in the mountains are very impressive. The process of finding the grottoes is also very interesting. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car is recommended. 🛌Accommodation: It is recommended to stay in Jincheng and Gaoping City. 🥘Food: Lige Zha is delicious! It's made with vermicelli, meat, and cabbage, and it's especially fragrant. Meatball instant noodles are also very fragrant, recommended. · 👇Tips: Jincheng is too real, all of the above cultural relics protection units are free to visit (except Dinglin Temple, which requires a ticket to the Daling Mountain Scenic Area). Cultural relics protection work is not easy, so it is recommended to make a donation.

Zexian Dai Temple is located in Yedi Village, Nancun Town, Zexian County, situated on the northwest side of the village. It is the only Dai Temple apart from Mount Tai. According to the inscription on the columns of the main hall of the Dai Temple, "One stone column donated by Wang Cong of the Five Sacred Mountains Hall, recorded on the third day of the second month of the third year of Yuanfeng," it can be seen that it was built no later than the third year of Yuanfeng in the Song Dynasty. The existing "Record of the Reconstruction of the Dai Temple" on the west wall of the main hall of the Dai Temple records: "After occasional military conflicts, alas! The beams and pillars collapsed. The tiles were missing, the walls were destroyed, and the exterior was overgrown with weeds while the interior was thorny. The wind and rain eroded the painted statues, and the rituals of incense offerings were lost over the years. Everyone who saw it lamented!" It can be seen that during the Jin and Yuan periods, due to wars, the temple's artifacts were repeatedly damaged and repaired. Zexian Dai Temple consists of two courtyards, with the main buildings divided into the upper and lower courtyards. The elevation difference between the upper and lower courtyards is 2.81 meters, perfectly matching the habit of viewing at a 45° angle. The architectural design is so precise that it is rarely seen even in today's highly advanced scientific and technological era. The upper courtyard of the Dai Temple features typical northern architectural style. The Qitian Hall is the main hall of the upper courtyard and is the oldest existing building in the temple, rebuilt in 1080 AD. The hall has three bays in width and depth, with a single-eave hip roof. The eaves extend 2.5 meters, and the bracket system follows the construction methods of the Song and Jin dynasties. The square lotus-covered stone bases and square chamfered stone columns outside the main entrance, along with the inscriptions on the tops of the four stone columns; the stone-carved door frame from the 27th year of Jin Dading (1187 AD), and the stone-carved door piers with lion sculptures, are all exquisitely crafted with clear inscriptions. The hall's interior features exquisite brick-carved deity platforms and wooden deity niches with floral covers. The hall's roof is adorned with a 2.3-meter-high glazed ridge decoration resembling a four-clawed dragon descending from the sky, hovering over the hall's ridge. The ancient painted murals are also extremely valuable cultural heritage. The Dance Pavilion is located opposite the Qitian Hall, with a square floor plan. Four sandstone columns support a wooden cross-hip roof with flying eaves and gentle slopes. The eaves extend far, and the column heads are adorned with large beams. The bracket system consists of five layers, with the tail of the brackets curving upward. The roof structure is an octagonal wooden frame with a caisson ceiling, constructed without a single nail, showcasing unique and intricate craftsmanship. The east and west doorways of the Dance Pavilion bear the inscriptions "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon" and "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool," connecting the upper and lower courtyards and the bamboo grove to the south of the Dance Pavilion, as well as the fish pond and the well to the east, with two towering cypress trees beside the well. This combination of pavilions, fish ponds, bamboo shadows, and poetic inscriptions not only gives a sense of grandeur and sanctity but also provides an enjoyable aesthetic experience. The lower courtyard features classic southern garden-style architecture. Looking up from the lower courtyard, the window designs on the east and west wings of the Dance Pavilion are all garden-style. The Dance Pavilion is situated between the upper and lower courtyards, with a clear spring fish pond to the south, cypress trees to the east, and a ginkgo tree to the west, fully embodying the core southern garden technique of changing scenery with each step. The Yedi Dai Temple is a testament to the ancient wisdom of combining temples and gardens. Under the light, the ancient cypress trees are reflected in the fish pond, corresponding to the inscription "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool" above the doorway. At night, the moon's reflection in the water, with fish swimming towards the moon's shadow, corresponds to the inscription "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon." The combination of sunlight and moonlight, the pond, and the bamboo grove creates a perfect fusion of northern and southern architectural art, showcasing the temple's grand and elegant layout and the design concept of harmony between heaven and humanity. ☑️ Tickets: Free, contact the cultural preservation officer when not open ☑️ Core Highlights: ⭐ Qitian Hall - The existing building was rebuilt in the third year of Song Yuanfeng (1080 AD), with a front platform height of 1.53 meters, recorded as "the steps are shoulder-high" ⭐ Square lotus-covered stone bases, square chamfered stone columns, and inscriptions on the tops of the four stone columns outside the main entrance of the hall ⭐ Stone-carved door frame from the 27th year of Jin Dading (1187 AD) ⭐ Stone-carved door piers with lion sculptures ⭐ Exquisite brick-carved deity platforms and wooden deity niches with floral covers inside the hall ⭐ 2.3-meter-high glazed dragon ridge decoration on the hall's roof, with a four-clawed dragon descending from the sky, hovering over the hall's ridge ⭐ Dance Pavilion - Cross-hip roof with caisson ceiling, constructed without a single nail ⭐ East and west doorways of the Dance Pavilion, bearing the inscriptions "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon" and "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool" ⭐ Connecting the upper and lower courtyards and the bamboo grove to the south of the Dance Pavilion ⭐ Fish pond (with a stone-carved dragon head on the north wall and a tiger head carved in relief on the opposite south wall, used to predict the weather in ancient times) ⭐ Well to the east and two towering cypress trees beside the well ⭐ "Guardian" of the Dai Temple entrance - Ginkgo King and the one-armed Venus lion Reference: Folk Architecture and Rural Customs - Taking Yedi Dai Temple in Zexian County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province as an Example

The Ze Zhou Dai Temple is divided into upper and lower courtyards according to the mountain terrain, with a staggered layout, covering an area of about 3128 square meters. The entire architectural complex faces south with a north orientation, and along the central axis from south to north, the sequence is the mountain gate, fish pond, bamboo garden, dance tower, and the main hall (Tian Qi Hall). On the east and west sides, there are 56 rooms of galleries, which include the Bi Xia Yuan Jun Temple, Earth God Temple, Five Grains God Temple, Insect King Temple, Ox King Temple, Dragon King Temple, Speedy Report God Shrine, and Guan Sheng Emperor Temple.