[2024 She County Attraction] Travel Guide for Wahuang Palace (Updated May)

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#Wahuang Palace Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Historical Sites

Historical Architectures

Address:

Shexian, Handan, Hebei, China

Opening times:

Opens at 08:00-18:00Open

Recommended sightseeing time:

3-4 hours

Phone:

0310-3922355

The 'Hua Xia Ancestral Temple'—Wa Huang Palace

Wa Huang Palace is located on Zhonghuang Mountain in Shexian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, covering an area of 5 square kilometers. It consists of five parks: the service area, Bution Garden, Bution Lake, Wa Huang Palace, and Bution Valley. It is the place in mythology where the goddess Nüwa 'created humans from clay and mended the sky with stones.' It is the largest and earliest ancient architectural complex in China dedicated to worshiping Nüwa, the progenitor of humanity. Wa Huang Palace was originally built during the Northern Qi dynasty, initially as a detached palace for Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, Gao Yang. It started with three stone chambers and several carved divine statues. After renovations and expansions over the dynasties, Wa Huang Palace now covers an area of 760,000 square meters. Most of the existing buildings are from the Ming and Qing dynasties, while the Northern Qi relics are limited to grottoes and cliff inscriptions, totaling six parts, which are the earliest and most extensive among China's existing cliff inscriptions. Every year from the first to the eighteenth day of the third lunar month, the local temple fair and Nüwa worship ceremony take place. During this period, people from all over the country and overseas Chinese come to worship Nüwa, the cultural progenitor of the Huaxia people. It is the largest, earliest, and most influential historical and cultural relic of Nüwa worship in China, known as the 'Hua Xia Ancestral Temple,' and is one of the national ancestral worship sites. Tour route: Follow the sequence of Bution Garden, Nüwa Culture Park, Bution Lake, Stone Archway, Chaoyuan Palace, Bution Square, Nüwa Statue, Tingjun Palace, Guangsheng Palace, Lüxian Temple, and Fengxian Bridge. Ticket price: 70

LEWIS CLARK

This is a guide to a one-day hiking tour of the suspended nine-chain Huaxia ancestral temple

Actually, before going to the Nuwa Palace, I had no idea that this place existed. If it weren't for a fellow traveler constantly recommending it to me, I probably wouldn't have gone there. In my mind, Nuwa has always been a mythological figure, and I never expected that there would be a real place corresponding to this legend. The legend of Nuwa is almost universally known; she 'melted five-colored stones to repair the sky, and cut off the giant turtle's legs to establish the four corners of the world,' and her image of saving the world and benefiting all living beings has long been deeply rooted in people's hearts. The Nuwa Palace is the place where, according to legend, Nuwa 'created humans from clay and repaired the sky with stones.' It is also the largest and earliest architectural complex in China dedicated to worshipping Nuwa, the progenitor of humanity. Of course, the earliest Nuwa Palace actually had little to do with Nuwa herself. It was built during the Northern Qi dynasty as a detached palace by Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, Gao Yang, and has been repaired and expanded over successive dynasties. The current buildings are mostly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with only the grottoes and cliff carvings remaining from the Northern Qi period. 🕳️ Pitfalls to avoid: The Nuwa Palace scenic area is quite large, but half a day is enough. Be aware of the pitfalls, especially the sightseeing cars and cable cars; it's actually better to walk. It takes about half an hour to walk from the entrance of the scenic area to the foot of the Nuwa Palace mountain. If you are with the elderly or children, it is recommended to take the sightseeing car directly, as this stretch is quite taxing and there's not much to see along the way, it's purely to sell sightseeing car tickets. The cable car is also quite superfluous. The cable car's end point is another mountain peak, and it takes about the same time, around half an hour, to walk from the cable car station to the Nuwa Pavilion on the mountain as it does from the foot of the mountain. Of course, if you are with the elderly or children, it is still recommended to take the cable car. The distance is longer, but it's less climbing. If you are young, there's no need to waste the money. 🔀 Route: Entrance - Butian Lake - Stone Archway - Chaoyuan Palace - Tingchai Palace - Guangsheng Palace - Northern Qi Stone Carving Exhibition Hall - Nuwa Statue - Mountain Trail to Nuwa Palace - Mountain Trail down - Stone Archway ❗ If you're short on time, it's recommended to just take the mountain trail up and back. The trail down the mountain goes around Butian Valley and will take at least an extra hour. ⭐ Highlights: The nationally protected Nuwa Palace and its stone carvings actually consist of four groups of buildings. In addition, the Northern Qi Stone Carving Exhibition Hall is also worth a visit. ✅ Nuwa Pavilion: The main building of the Nuwa Palace, with its nine chains hanging in the air as a major highlight. More details in the next article. ✅ Chaoyuan Palace: Originally built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, what you see today is a reconstruction from 1990, built in the style of the Qing dynasty. Entering the palace, you are surrounded by Buddhist culture, while the backyard is filled with folk Taoist deities. ✅ Tingchai Palace: A quaint courtyard that requires climbing steep stairs to enter, the main hall's statue of Nuwa is dignified and composed. On the walls on both sides, there are Qing dynasty murals 'Nuwa Leaving the Palace for an Inspection Tour' and 'Nuwa Returning to the Palace.' ✅ Guangsheng Palace: The largest and oldest group of ancient buildings at the foot of the mountain, the main hall not only has vivid clay figures but also a large mural of 'hundreds of children and thousands of grandchildren,' a place for praying for offspring in mythological legends. 🎫 Tickets: 🔸 Scenic area ticket 70 yuan, 60 yuan if booked online one day in advance 🔸 Sightseeing car from the mountain gate to the foot of Nuwa Palace 10 yuan one way 🔸 Nuwa Palace cable car 40 yuan one way, 70 yuan round trip

caeryn_6476

The millennia-old Huaxian Palace stands picturesquely atop a cliff

✅Must Experience: Huaxian Palace - Best time to visit: From the first to the fifteenth day of the third lunar month each year, during which the Huaxian Palace Temple Fair is held, making it quite lively. - Cliffside Inscriptions: The inscriptions begin at the entrance to the mountain gate and extend all the way to the Huaxian Pavilion, comprising six scriptures with a total of 137,000 characters, embodying the essence of the ancient Huaxian relics. - Northern Qi Grottoes: The Buddha statues inside are incomplete, but the cliffside carvings are well-preserved. - Huaxian Pavilion: This palace is connected to the mountain by nine iron chains and is known as 'one of the top ten ancient architectural wonders of Hebei'. 🍽Dining Recommendations: She County offers many delicacies, such as She County minced chicken, She County pepper sprout vegetables, and minced cotton soup. 🌟Highlights and Features: In that mysterious and ancient place, there is a solemn and sacred palace—Nuwa Palace. Nuwa Palace, as if a witness to time, bears the history and legends of a thousand years. It stands quietly there, exuding a peaceful and mysterious aura. Entering the Nuwa Palace is like stepping into an ancient legend. The architectural style of the palace is elegant and dignified, with every detail reflecting the wisdom and ingenuity of the ancients. Inside the palace, the great statue of the goddess Nuwa is enshrined. Her face is kind and majestic, as if silently protecting the people of this land. Here, you can feel a tranquil and sacred atmosphere. It's as if time has frozen, immersing one in the ancient history and culture. Nuwa Palace is not just a building; it is also a spiritual haven, carrying people's aspirations and hopes for a better life. It reminds us of Nuwa's great achievements and allows us to feel the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation. Let us step into the Nuwa Palace, experience its mystery and solemnity, and appreciate the ancient charm of the Chinese nation.

JAMES PIERCE

Under the spring temple fair, the Wa Huang Palace is crowded with people

Climbing to the top of Wa Huang Pavilion, one can experience the magic of the 'living building hanging temple'. Deep in the Taihang Mountains, surrounded by mountains and water, there is an ancient relic hanging on almost vertical cliffs by several iron chains. It seems to be teetering, but in fact, it has stood for a thousand years. This is the Wa Huang Palace. With the arrival of the rejuvenating spring season, Wa Huang Palace also welcomes its annual grand temple fair. Amidst the greenery and the blooming flowers, the sound of gongs and drums fills the air. The temple fair activities start from the first day of March and continue until the fifteenth. On the first day of March, Wa Huang Palace is packed with people and the incense is strong. This day is like a festival. In addition to local societies from Xie County, people who worship Mazu from surrounding areas including Changzhi, Yuci, and even Zhangzhou and Xiamen also come to Wa Huang Palace to participate in the Shangshe festival. This large-scale worship of the goddess Nüwa is also a traditional intangible cultural heritage. Following the Shangshe procession up the mountain, the green branches are adorned with red ribbons, which are the hopes left by each person who climbs the mountain to pray for blessings. Upon reaching the top of Wa Huang Palace, we can see Wa Huang Pavilion. The pavilion was built during the Northern Qi dynasty and is the main structure of Wa Huang Palace. The entire building hangs on the cliff, supported only by nine iron chains connected to the cliff face. The columns of the first floor are deeply embedded in the mountain cliff, ensuring a solid foundation; there is a gap between the second-floor pavilion and the mountain cliff; the third-floor pavilion is connected to the mountain cliff by iron chains. When the building encounters external forces, the foundation becomes unstable, the building shakes, and the nine iron chains immediately tense up, stabilizing the building. Therefore, it is also known as the 'living building hanging temple'. Wa Huang Pavilion has withstood countless geological disasters and remains standing, a testament to the superb and bold architectural skills that bear witness to the resilience and heritage of Chinese civilization.

PEARL MORALES

Come to the Disney Fantasy World Concert and check in at Handan along the way

Date: 2024.01.26 Friday 19:30 Venue: Handan Grand Theater The Disney Fantasy World Concert that children love is coming! If you have nothing to do during the winter vacation, why not take your children to experience the wonderful world on site! When you come to Handan, take the opportunity to check in at the local attractions in Handan! 1. Guangfu Ancient City Guangfu Ancient City, also known as Yongnian City, is located on the northeast side of Handan City, Hebei Province, about 20 kilometers away from the downtown area of Handan, and is a famous ancient city with a history of more than 2600 years. The current ancient city architecture was mainly built during the Ming Dynasty, well-preserved, with a simple and grand style, and the ancient city is surrounded by water, with beautiful reed marshes and lotus ponds, making it a true northern water city. Visitors can visit ancient buildings, explore the former residences of famous people, and take pictures of the city walls surrounded by lakes, making it a great place to visit the past and play around Handan. 2. Wa Huang Palace Wa Huang Palace is located on the northeast side of Suobao Town, Handan County, about 11 kilometers away from the county town of She County, and is the earliest and largest ancient architectural complex in China dedicated to the worship of the goddess Nüwa. Wa Huang Palace was built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties in the Northern Qi period, and is built hanging on the mountainside of Tangwang Mountain on the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, and the architectural complex has been expanded and renovated over the dynasties, making it magnificent and spectacular. The current Wa Huang Palace mainly consists of Ming and Qing architecture, but there are also Northern Qi cliff carvings and grotto relics, which are very worth visiting. 3. Handan Fantawild Guose Tianxiang Handan Fantawild Guose Tianxiang Theme Park is based on Chinese historical civilization and Handan's historical and regional culture, innovatively displaying idiom culture, mythology culture, Handan historical culture, traditional art culture, folk customs culture, and other cultural features, using high-tech forms of expression as a means, and comprehensively using sound, light, electricity, digital technology, and other technologies to integrate cultural dissemination with interactive experience.

NoraButler.57

The ancient city of a thousand years—Handan

Handan is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province, located in the southern part of Hebei Province. It is a national historical and cultural city, an excellent tourism city in China, a national garden city, a national model city for supporting the military, and the capital of Chinese idiomatic expressions. As of July 2023, Handan administers 6 districts, 11 counties, and 1 county-level city. Some introductions are as follows: - Historical Culture: Handan is an ancient city with a history of nearly three thousand years and was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. It is the birthplace and growth place of Qin Shi Huang, and also the site of the story 'Learning to Walk in Handan' from the Warring States period. - Tourism Resources: Handan boasts numerous scenic spots, such as Huiche Alley, Xuebu Bridge, and Congtai Park. Among them, the Wahuang Palace in She County is known as the 'Ancestral Temple of China' and is the largest and earliest ancient building dedicated to the worship of the ancient goddess Nüwa in China. - Economic Development: Handan is a heavy industrial city dominated by steel, coal, electricity, and building materials. It has large steel enterprises such as Handan Iron and Steel and Tiangang, and is also one of China's important cotton-producing areas and textile bases. - Transportation: Handan is the only mega-city at the junction of four provinces, bordering Shanxi, Shandong, and Henan provinces. It is an important transportation hub in North China, with complete transportation facilities including railways, highways, and aviation.

/Levi.Myers-56

Handan

Handan is a big city, which existed more than 3100 years ago. During the Warring States Period (403 BC - 222 BC), it was the capital of the Zhao State, lasting for as long as 158 years. Handan is also quite impressive in that it has given birth to nearly 1600 idioms, making it the true 'Capital of Idioms' in China. So, the first thing to do when you get to Handan is to learn, learn, and learn again. If you don't learn, you might not be able to walk, dream, or even dress. Such important things, we must note down: 1⃣📌Dream: When in Handan, it doesn't matter if you don't have a yellow beam, dreaming is a must. Otherwise, the trip would be in vain. 2⃣📌Learn to walk: In Handan, if you don't learn to walk, you're done for. The road is long and the horse is strong, walking depends on learning. If you don't learn, you're done for. 3⃣📌Learn to dress: In Handan, you have to learn to dress. If you don't wear Hu clothes, how can you rise? Wearing Hu clothes, eating Hu meals, speaking Hu language, only when you have mastered the 'Three Hus', can you ascend to the Western Paradise. If you can't master it, you're really done for!

Ophelia_Blackwooden-66

Wa Huang Palace

Wa Huang Palace Scenic Area is located in the Zhonghuang Mountain of Suobao Town, Shexian County, Hebei Province. It is said to be the place where Nuwa created humans from clay and mended the sky with stones. It is a key national cultural relic protection unit, a national scenic spot, a national AAAAA level scenic spot, and one of the five major ancestral worship sites in China. It is the largest Nuwa worship site in China and is known as the "Ancestral Temple of China". Wa Huang Palace was founded in the Han Dynasty with three temples, and now there are ancient sites such as the Northern Qi stone carvings, Tang Dynasty inscriptions, Song Dynasty brick walls, Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, etc. There are natural landscapes such as forests, valleys, gardens, and water systems. Among them, the Northern Qi cliff carvings, the main building Wa Huang Pavilion, and the Nuwa Festival are the three essences of the scenic area, known as the "First Wall Sutra Group in the World", "Living Building Hanging Temple", and "National Intangible Cultural Heritage" at home and abroad. It is an important base for studying the root culture of our country. The Nuwa Festival is the longest, largest, and most influential festival in China to worship Nuwa. It is listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. During the temple fair in March of the lunar calendar, people from all over the country and overseas Chinese come to worship the cultural ancestors of the Chinese nation, so Wa Huang Palace has become one of the national ancestral worship sites, known as the "Ancestral Temple of China". Wa Huang Palace architecture is known as the "Living Building Hanging Temple", it is the largest and earliest ancient architectural complex for worshipping Nuwa in the country. The architectural style is based on cliffs and caves, and it is built according to the mountain situation, using the principle of high-rise building center of gravity deviation safety rate, integrating cultural heritage and ancient architectural wonders. The Northern Qi cliff carving sutra is the oldest and most valuable cultural relic in Shexian Wa Huang Palace. It is known as the "First Wall Sutra Group in the World". It is the place with the most words in the existing cliff carving sutras in China. The cliff carving sutra covers 165 square meters (a total of 137,400 words), which has a history of more than 1400 years. It is a priceless treasure in our Buddhist scriptures.

NomadVibes

Off-the-beaten-path recommendation | The temple where Nüwa repaired the sky and created humans, suspended by iron chains on the edge of a cliff.

You can't imagine that there is such a niche place, which is the place where the mythological story of Nüwa mending the sky and creating humans took place. What's even more magical is that on the halfway up the cliff, there is a temple that is over 1400 years old. This temple is only connected to the mountain by 9 iron chains. It is breathtaking from afar and amazing up close, which is truly astonishing. This is the Nüwa Palace in Handan. 💫About the Palace of Empress Wa Wahuang Palace is one of the five national holy sites for ancestor worship, and is the largest and most influential historical and cultural relic for worshipping Nüwa, with the title of "Ancestral Temple of Huaxia". It was first built in the Northern Qi Dynasty and has a history of more than 1400 years. It is the place where the mythical figure Nüwa repaired the sky with stones and created humans from clay. 🌠Recommended highlights 🔸Palace of Empress Wa The most exquisite part of the Palace of Empress Wa‼️ The Palace of Empress Wa is located on the steep mountain slope and dangerous terrain, resembling a grand armchair from afar. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Azure Dragon on the left and the White Tiger on the right. Below the mountain is the Zhang River, which is very spectacular. 👉Features: -Has a history of over 1400 years. -Connected to the mountain only by 9 iron chains. On the halfway up the cliff, hanging there are the "Hanging Temple" and the "Activity Building". ⛰️How to get there❓ From the entrance of the scenic area, take the sightseeing electric car to the square. The one-way fare for the sightseeing electric car is 10 yuan/person, and the round-trip fare is 20 yuan/person. It is recommended to take it. Then, climb up to the Wa Huang Palace on the half-mountain from the square in the following way: 1. Hiking and mountain climbing Seemingly high, but actually doesn't require a long climb. It's recommended to choose mountain climbing as long as your knees are okay. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the top, and it's not very tiring. If it's a holiday or peak season with many people, it's better to choose hiking, which will be faster. 2. Cable car + hiking Cable car one-way ticket costs 40 yuan/person. Take the cable car from the drop-off point of the sightseeing electric car, and then walk for another 20 minutes. The path is mostly flat, with stairs only towards the end. This is suitable for those who are older or have knee problems and cannot walk up stairs. However, taking the cable car does not mean less walking or saving time. On the contrary, it may waste more time. If it's a holiday or peak season with lots of people, don't choose the cable car. You'll queue until you break down, so it's better to hike up the mountain. 3. Sightseeing sled. Often closed, if open, you can choose to slide down the mountain with less effort. ‼️In short, it is recommended to take the sightseeing bus back and forth when entering the gate, unless you have knee problems and cannot climb stairs. Cable car is not recommended. It is suggested to hike up and down the mountain, which is not very high. 🔸Heavenly Square Here you can see the statue of Nüwa and the majestic Nüwa Palace on the tall and steep mountain behind it. It is a spectacular and breathtaking location for photography. ❤️Small tips: Here are many selling prayer gourds (small gourd for 15 yuan, big gourd for 20 yuan) and small stone lucky bags (two stones for 10 yuan). 🚘Transportation guide From the city center of Handan, you can choose to drive, charter a car, take public transportation and then take a taxi to get to the Wa Huang Palace. 1. Self-driving: From the city center of Handan, it's about 100 kilometers to the Wa Huang Palace. You can take National Highway 309 or the Qinglan Expressway. There are quite a few large trucks on the road, but there are plenty of parking spaces in the scenic area. 2. Charter: For renting a car in Handan, the price is around 300 yuan per day. Taking a ride on a ride-sharing platform costs a little over 100 yuan, but sometimes the driver may ask for an extra 50 yuan, and there aren't many ride-sharing options, so it's luck-based. 3. Public transportation + taxi: Take a train from Handan Station to Shexian, then take a taxi to the scenic area for about 20 yuan. 💰Admission ticket Scenic area ticket is 70 yuan, platform discount ticket is 60 yuan, sightseeing bus one-way ticket is 10 yuan/person, cable car one-way ticket is 40 yuan/person. ❤️Money-saving tip: Buy a ticket for Handan scenic area one day in advance, which includes Wa Huang Palace. You can break even by visiting just one attraction, and also visit other attractions in Handan (such as Nangongshan, Jingniang Lake, Guangfu Ancient Town, etc.), which is very cost-effective.

sebastian_ambrose_thornfield

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