[2025 Yao'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Yao’an Guanglu Ancient Town (Updated Aug)

Yesterday, February 2, also known as "Dragon Head-Raising Day," we made a special trip to Longhua Temple in Yao'an County, Chuxiong. Longhua Temple is nestled in the Guanglu Mountains, built against the mountainside, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in complete tranquility. The temple was first built during the Tianyou period of the Tang Dynasty (904–907 AD), over a thousand years ago. The stone carvings, wood carvings, and brick carvings inside the temple are exquisite and truly exceptional.

Guanglu Ancient Town: An Ancient Town with a Long History Famous for being the home of the Yao'an Prefecture, named after the Yao'an Gao family Known as the "Cultural Capital of Western Yunnan" and the "Home of Lanterns" The government has restored the town, with two entrances in the north and south The ancient street is not large, but the stone road is still there The restored houses, wooden windows, and carved wooden boards will take you back in time The Longhua Temple, built in the Tang Dynasty, is a popular attraction The Yao'an Road Military and Civilian General Office, built in the Yuan Dynasty, is solemn and majestic The Gaoxuejun Ancestral Hall, a blend of Chinese and Western styles, has colorful stained glass windows The Longhua Temple Fair, which has been held for 700 years, is held on March 4 Enter the Gate of Fortune, walk the Path of Fortune, touch the Statue of Fortune, write a blessing Ask for a blessing, drink tea, eat cake... and pass on the "fortune" 🎫Tickets: Free🆓 🌟Facilities: Accommodation, dining (fewer shops open in the off-season), RV campsites 📍Address: Intersection of Guanghe Section and Longxiang Street, Yao'an County, Chuxiong

|Chuxiong Guanglu Ancient Town~~. Chuxiong Yao'an Guanglu Ancient Town: The entire ancient town is built in the shape of the Chinese character '坤', with numerous ancient buildings. The town has a long history and has always been an important town for governing Yunnan in ancient times. It was an important stronghold on the ancient southern 'Silk Road' leading to Southeast Asia and India. It is a small town dominated by historical and agricultural culture, where one can see the coexistence of the local land deity worship, Taoism, and Buddhism. As a necessary pass through the ancient southwestern Silk Road, it was historically known as a 'famous state of literature'. Guanglu Town is a place of outstanding people and spirit, with many notable figures. The Gao family once had the saying, 'Nine bright scholars, seven officials, eight prime ministers, three kings, one emperor, and five marquises'. Visitors are very rare, and almost every household has flowers planted at the door. The grandparents playing cards in the alleys are so at ease··

Longhua Temple, also known as Living Buddha Temple, was originally named Wofo Temple. It is located at the foot of the west mountain of Guanglu Town, Yao'an County. It was first built during the Tianyou period of the Tang Dynasty (904-907 AD). It is recorded that "because of the appearance of the divine monk, he came from the outside world to seek him, and left at midnight to lead the king away. Because of the spiritual signs, the temple was called Living Buddha." During the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, the eminent monks Jikong and Zhicong built a temple here, diligently practiced the precepts, opened the mountain and expanded the temple, and renamed it "Longhua Ancient Temple". In 1638, the traveler Xu Xiake visited Longhua Temple and made a brief description of the local geographical environment and landscape. He also wrote what he saw and heard here in the famous "Xu Xiake's Travel Notes". He used his personal travel notes to further describe the solemnity of Longhua Temple. Longhua Temple was built on the mountain, facing west to east. The building is large in scale, exquisite in layout, and well-arranged. There is a clear central axis in the center. It is an ancient palace-style building. The temple building consists of 108 houses, covering an area of ​​4,372 square meters and a construction area of ​​2,797 square meters. The brick carvings, stone carvings and wood carvings in the temple are called "three wonders". The architectural complex of Longhua Temple has accumulated a long history and cultural connotation. It is a fusion of multicultural and multi-ethnic architectural techniques and arts such as Han, Bai, Yi, and Naxi. Therefore, it has also formed a social and cultural phenomenon of tolerance, integration, and harmonious coexistence of multiple beliefs, vividly showing that our long history is written by all ethnic groups, and our splendid culture is created by all ethnic groups. Longhua Temple is the oldest famous temple in Chuxiong Prefecture and the only legal religious activity venue open to the public in Guanglu Town. In September 1981, Longhua Temple was announced as the first batch of state-level cultural relics protection units by the Chuxiong Prefecture People's Government; in November 1993, Longhua Temple was announced as the fourth batch of provincial-level key cultural relics protection units in Yunnan Province; in May 2006, Longhua Temple was announced as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council; in July 2008, Longhua Temple was named the third advanced collective for ethnic unity and progress in Yao'an County; in February 2009, Longhua Temple was named one of the twelve "harmonious Buddhist temples" in the prefecture by the Prefecture Buddhist Association; in November 2010, Longhua Temple was named a "harmonious temple" by the Prefecture Religious Affairs Bureau; in April 2020, it was named a state-level demonstration unit for ethnic unity and progress.

Under the cover of the blues light and shadow, the Guanglu Ancient Town in Yao'an, Chuxiong, Yunnan seems to have been endowed with a touch of mystery. The afterglow of the setting sun spills on the ancient stone-paved roads, reflecting a mottled pattern of light and shadow. The architectural style of the ancient town is unique, blending the essence of southern Yunnan dwellings with the cultural confluence of the Southern Silk Road. Between the gray tiles and green bricks, the eaves of the houses with their upturned corners seem to be telling stories of the years. Along the streets, the quaint wooden structures are scattered in an orderly fashion, with carved window lattices revealing a hint of warm yellow light, reflecting the cozy living scenes of the residents. The elderly sit leisurely in front of their houses, puffing on dry pipes, while children chase and play in the alleys, their laughter and joy filling the air with the warmth of life. Occasionally, one or two women dressed in Yi ethnic costumes pass by on the bluestone pavement, their dresses embroidered with exquisite patterns, standing out vividly against the blues light and shadow. The surrounding environment is quiet and peaceful, with distant mountains becoming hazy and mysterious under the night sky. The small river in the ancient town flows quietly, its clear surface reflecting the faint starlight in the sky, adding a touch of tranquility. Under the embellishment of the blues light and shadow, Guanglu Ancient Town not only showcases its historical sedimentation but also highlights its unique cultural charm and profound ethnic customs. Here, every step can tread over the traces of history, every sound can hear the whispers of culture, and every glance can appreciate the harmonious blend of nature and humanity.