Just four days, a complete guide to ancient architecture in Shanxi (Southern Shanxi edition)

You asked for it, and here comes the Southern Shanxi guide! Day1 Yuncheng ·Yongle Palace—Guangren King Temple—Jiezhou Guandi Temple Stay: Hejin Highlight 1: Yongle Palace One of the world's largest existing ancient mural art treasures, the 'Chaoyuan Tu' of Yongle Palace is the pinnacle of group composition development in the history of world painting, a rare masterpiece. (For details, refer to the video on the homepage) Highlight 2: Guangren King Temple This is one of only 3.5 Tang Dynasty wooden structures in all of China. It is recommended to arrive in the afternoon, bring your own tea, find shade on the stage opposite the temple, drink tea, and watch the ancient architecture shine. (For details, refer to the video on the homepage: Guangren King Temple) Highlight 3: Jiezhou Guandi Temple The earliest Guandi Temple in the country, I personally think the highlight is in the last building, the Spring and Autumn Tower. On the second floor of the Spring and Autumn Tower, you can see the highly artistic value of the chrysanthemum caisson and the true image of Guandi. (For details, refer to the video on the homepage: Jiezhou Guandi Temple) Day2 Linfen ·Xixian Xiaoxitian—Guangsheng Temple Stay: Hongtong Highlight 1: Xixian Xiaoxitian The most shocking place along the way, known as the 'ultimate song of hanging sculpture art'. The full wall of hanging sculptures that have survived three hundred years are presented before you, and that visual shock can only be felt when you come to Xiaoxitian. Also, for game enthusiasts, this is the filming location for the upcoming blockbuster 'Black Myth: Wukong' (I filmed a documentary about Old Wang, the temple keeper of Xiaoxitian, interested friends can find my video online: Shanxi Temple Keeper) Highlight 2: Guangsheng Temple Lower Temple Water God Temple Murals It is recommended to arrive at Guangsheng Temple around 3 pm. Guangsheng Temple is divided into upper and lower temples, start with the lower temple, the highlight is the Water God Temple murals, which contain a large number of Yuan Dynasty life scenes, these are murals included in history textbooks. Highlight 3: Guangsheng Temple Lower Temple Lost National Treasures Overseas Go to the Daxiong Hall of the lower temple, where only some remnants of murals remain today. The original murals on the walls, the Yuan Dynasty 'Blazing Light Buddha Assembly' mural on the east mountain wall of the rear hall is displayed in the Chinese Temple Hall of the Nelson Museum, and the Yuan Dynasty 'Medicine Buddha Assembly' mural on the west mountain wall is displayed in the Sackler Gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the two Ming Dynasty murals 'Blazing Light Buddha Assembly' and 'Medicine Buddha Assembly' in the front hall are displayed in the Chinese Rotunda of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. (For details, search online for my video: Failed Temple Keeping) Highlight 4: Guangsheng Temple Upper Temple Feihong Tower The best-preserved glazed tower in the country, remember to arrive before sunset. Birds circling the tower at sunset is a spectacular sight, as the upper temple is on high ground, perfect for watching the sunset below the tower, where you can feel the romance of the ancients. Day3 Jinzhong Shuanglin Temple—Zhenguo Temple Stay: Taiyuan Highlight 1: Shuanglin Temple The World's Number One Weituo The name of the Shuanglin Temple, the hall of Eastern colored sculpture art, comes from 'Both forests enter nirvana', and the representative sculpture here is the 'Eastern David', the world's number one Weituo statue. Highlight 2: Shuanglin Temple Ksitigarbha Hall Here, the philosophy of life from death is expressed, showing the ancient view of life, with an alternative group of statues. Highlight 3: Zhenguo Temple Great Bell At Zhenguo Temple, I found the answer to why Shanxi people have preserved so many intact cultural relics. It all started with thinking about a great bell here, for which I filmed the old man selling mineral water in the Erlang Hall of the temple. He told me a lot of valuable information. Day4 Taiyuan Northern Qi Mural Museum Highlight 1 Northern Qi Murals China's first tomb mural art museum of archaeological site type, Chen Danqing said these murals represent the highest realm of Chinese line aesthetics, with explorations of the Northern Qi people's cultural demeanor, as well as various depictions of beasts from the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' in the tombs, especially recommended: Ascension Diagram Highlight 2 VR Walk into the Tomb You can experience wearing VR glasses and use high-tech means to walk into the tomb to appreciate the murals. This is a four-day easy and comfortable journey through the essence of ancient architecture in Southern Shanxi. Of course, Shanxi's treasures cannot be seen in one go. If you have any good suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments section to provide more clues for those about to set off. More extended video content is on my homepage, feel free to follow me. I am the documentary director Bai Song, hoping to accompany you on every journey, making it worthwhile.

Shanxi | Yuncheng is the hometown of Guan Gong, with the world's number one Guandi Temple

The Guandi Temple of Jiezhou, located in Jiezhou Village, Jiezhou Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, was founded during the Sui Dynasty and has a history of over 1,400 years. It is the earliest established, largest in scale, highest in grade, and most completely preserved Guandi Temple, known as the 'Ancestor of Guan Temples' and 'Crown of Martial Temples'. The Guandi Temple of Jiezhou is a sacred hall of traditional Chinese moral culture. An ancient Chinese saying goes: 'In Shandong, the sage of culture; in Shanxi, the sage of martial arts.' The martial sage is renowned for his virtue and is often revered as the patron saint of business, 'God of Wealth', ranking first among the gods of culture, martial arts, and wealth. Location: Wuyi Road, Jiezhou Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City Opening hours: 9:00—17:00 🎫 Ticket price: 48.5 yuan /person Transportation Yuncheng City (where the Guandi Temple of Jiezhou is located 20 kilometers southwest of the city) is situated at the junction of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, in the golden triangle of the Yellow River, with a superior geographical location. The city is well-connected by rail, road, and air, bringing great convenience to people. Air: Yuncheng Guangong Airport –– Bus No. 18 –– Yuncheng Bus Station –– Bus No. 11 –– Guandi Ancestral Temple of Jiezhou High-speed rail: Yuncheng North High-speed Rail Station –– Bus No. 7 –– Train Station –– Bus No. 11 –– Guandi Ancestral Temple of Jiezhou Rail: Yuncheng Train Station –– Bus No. 11 –– Guandi Ancestral Temple of Jiezhou Road: Yuncheng Central Bus Station –– Bus No. 2 or 12 –– Train Station –– Bus No. 11 –– Guandi Ancestral Temple of Jiezhou

Special forces🪖 in Shanxi Yuncheng Guandi Temple make a wish: Hall of the Brave

Beijing departs on Saturday, arrives in Yuncheng in the afternoon, and goes to Guandi Temple to make a wish the next morning. The incense is super prosperous Avoid pitfalls: After getting off the parking lot, there will be a tour bus, which used to be free but now costs 3 yuan. Honestly, it's just 200 meters walk, and it's really not necessary. Observations: Basically, there will be a figure of Lord Guan on the cars in Yuncheng. 📸 Travel Tips: * The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou is a certain distance from the city center, but it is very convenient to get there by taking bus No. 11. * It is not appropriate to take photos inside the temple, one should respect religious beliefs, and a better way is to quietly appreciate the historical and cultural heritage. * The recommended visiting time is one to two hours, which allows you to fully experience the mysterious charm and historical depth of the Guandi Temple. There are free incense offerings, as well as those costing 10, 50, or 300 yuan. 🔍 Learn History: The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, known as the 'Number One Martial Temple in China', has a long history of over 1400 years and is also one of the largest Guandi Temples in the world. Here, Lord Guan is revered as a symbol of righteousness, justice, and bravery. Whether you come to pray for wealth, education, or marriage, your wishes can be fulfilled here. ❤️ If your wish comes true, remember to come back to fulfill your vow🙏 🚩Basic Information🚩 📍 Location: No. 145 Wuyi Road, Jiezhou, Yancheng District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province ⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM 💰 Admission: 50 yuan in the off-season, 60 yuan in the peak season

Changping Guandi Temple in Yuncheng, Shanxi

Changping Guandi Temple was first built during the Sui Dynasty, covering an area of 13,937 square meters. The Changping Guandi Temple faces south from the north and follows the "front court and back sleeping" system in its architectural layout. The main buildings are arranged in sequence along the axis, with the mountain gate, ceremonial gate, offering hall, Chongning Hall, Niangniang Hall, and Shengzu Hall arranged in sequence along the central axis. On the east and west sides are the bell tower, drum tower, wooden archway, corridor, official hall, official warehouse, and prince's hall. Guan Yu's birthplace, Changping Guandi Temple, is located in Changping Village, nine kilometers southeast of Jiezhou Town, also known as Guandi's family temple. Here is surrounded by mountains and water, the environment is elegant. The temple was built at the same time as the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, with a building area of over 15,000 square meters. The halls are majestic, the structure is exquisite, and the layout is rigorous, which is different from the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou. What's special is that it preserves the "well tower" commemorating the martyrdom of Guan Yu's parents, which is not found in other martial temples in the country; the ancient clay sculpture art "extreme product" Guan Yu's ancestors three generations, Guan's wife and other colored sculptures. In the southeast corner of the courtyard of Changping Guandi Temple, there is an octagonal seven-story brick tower, which was built specifically for the commemoration of Guan Yu's parents. It was built in the 17th year of Dading in the Jin Dynasty (1177), and it provides precious physical materials for the study of ancient towers in the Jin Dynasty. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Northwest Five Provinces (Regions) Autumn Self-Driving Tour (72): Revisiting Guandi Temple in Jiezhou

On the morning of October 16, 2023, at 7:30, we went to the restaurant for breakfast together. The two young ladies at the restaurant door couldn't find our names on the guest list. After asking the relevant leaders, they let us in for breakfast. My sister said, it seems that we didn't spend any money for our stay here. The director is a retired military officer, now he and his wife are lawyers in a law firm in Taiyuan, and his younger brother is a leader of the Yuncheng Tourism Bureau. He told us that his friends don't need to pay for their trips and accommodations in Yuncheng. After breakfast, Yuanyuan went downstairs to clean the car, and we waited in the guest room. At 9:45 in the morning, the director and his wife brought their relatives, including his elder aunt, second aunt, and fourth aunt. Later, the fourth aunt called her son to come and see my sister for treatment. It wasn't until nearly 11 o'clock that the director took us to the Guandi Temple. We visited Yuncheng Guandi Temple in the summer of 1999 when we returned from a trip to Shaanxi. This is my second visit. Jiezhou Guandi Temple was first built in the Sui Dynasty, later destroyed by a big fire, and was rebuilt in the 52nd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1713). It is the earliest, largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved Guandi Temple. The total area of Guandi Temple is 220,000 square meters, divided into the main temple and the Jieyi Garden. The Jieyi Garden, first built in the 48th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1620), was presided over by Zhang Qilong, the then prefect of Jiezhou. In the 27th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1762), Yan Rusi, the prefect of Jiezhou, presided over a large-scale construction, and named it 'Jieyi Garden', composed of archways, Junzi Pavilion, Jieyi Pavilion, rockeries and other buildings. The Jieyi Garden archway is tall and majestic, with four pillars and three floors. The archway is the most spectacular wooden structure in the Guandi ancestral temple. The Jieyi Pavilion is the main building in the garden. In front of the pavilion, there are two ancient pines, with strong branches and lush greenery. The pavilion is 5 rooms deep and 5 rooms wide, with a single-eave roll-top and hip roof, surrounded by corridors. Inside there is a stone stele, 2 meters wide and 1 meter high, with the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden engraved on it. The ancient trees are twisted, the bamboo branches are sparse, and the peach blossoms are blooming, as if it were the scene of that year. The Four Dragon Wall is located to the south of the main gate of the Guandi ancestral temple. It is a glazed shadow wall made during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty (1426-1435). From an architectural point of view, it has the effect of blocking sight and enriching the layers of the landscape; from a cultural perspective, it belongs to the 'Fu Rui' category of traditional Chinese Feng Shui, with the function of eliminating disasters, bringing blessings, and protecting living beings. The picture is divided into three realms from top to bottom: heaven, earth, and sea. The main body is four dragons flying and swimming, with phoenixes, kirins, jade rabbits and other auspicious birds and beasts, giving this Four Dragon Wall a lot of traditional cultural connotations. The Chongning Hall is the main hall of the Guandi Temple, named after Guan Yu was sealed as 'Chongning Zhenjun' by Song Huizong. On the moon platform in front of the hall, there is a bronze incense burner and a rectangular offering table, which were cast by the Qing people in imitation of ancient styles. On the stone steps in front of the moon platform, there are carvings of rolled grass, flowing clouds, and two dragons playing with a pearl, imitating the rules of the imperial palace. The main hall is 7 rooms wide and 6 rooms deep, with a double-eave hip roof. There are 26 huge stone-carved dragon pillars around the hall. The dragon pillars have ascending dragons, descending dragons, auspicious clouds, etc. The rough and powerful carvings contrast sharply with the delicate carvings on the pillar heads and eaves, complementing each other and each with its own beauty. As the inscription in the temple says: 'The temple steps and stone pillars, with dragons flying and soaring, the temple is magnificent, and it is the best in the world.' At 12:10 noon, after we entered the Guandi Temple, the director specially invited a tour guide to take us into the scenic area, gave us a lecture, and took us to the Spring and Autumn Tower to worship the life-size statue of Guan Gong reading the Spring and Autumn Annals. We left at 1:30 in the afternoon.

As the saying goes, the top of the earth looks at Shanxi, and the underground objects look at Shaanxi. As the "ances of the Temple of Literature, the crown of the martial arts temple", Shanxi Yuncheng Jiezhou Guandi Temple is one of the places that must be visited in Shanxi. It was built in the nine years of Emperor Kaihuang and has a history of nearly 1,500 years. It is the largest existing palace-style Taoist building complex and Wu Temple. There are many stone carvings and stone carvings in the whole building, as well as Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, Cixi and other royal pens!