Things to do in Quwo

The Jin State Museum, which recently reopened after renovations for the Mid-Autumn Festival, is divided into three main sections: the first section displays the history and ancient artifacts of the Jin State and the pre-Qin period; the second section features a realistic display of Jin State tombs; and the third section showcases porcelain. The overall flow of the exhibits is well-organized, providing a comprehensive experience from understanding and reading about history to witnessing it firsthand.

Jin State Ancient Capital Museum: Located in Jinbo Park, Fuxi Road, Houma City, Shanxi Province, it is a thematic museum that focuses on displaying the Xintian Culture of the Jin State. The museum is divided into two parts, with four exhibition halls, and exhibits nearly 500 cultural relics of various types.

The overall area is quite large, and the planning and design are generally well done. It features mountains, water, and cultural elements. The water area is substantial, and the reservoir capacity is also very large. However, it appears to have undergone secondary development, with several submerged buildings in the water. There are quite a few businesses operating there, offering a variety of dining and entertainment facilities. The biggest drawback is the extreme inconvenience of parking during holidays. The parking lot is quite far from the scenic area, and it costs 10 yuan per vehicle.

The Longxing Temple, a national key cultural relics protection unit, boasts a rich historical atmosphere. We even happened to be there during lunchtime at the pagoda. Climbing up using both hands and feet provided an excellent view and a fantastic experience. It's truly a treasure trove of a temple – highly recommended!

Although it's just a gate located on the street and still serves as a passageway, it's a key cultural relic. Many people who love cultural relics will come here specifically to take a set of photos. Locals, seeing this, are very curious about what's so special about it. That's the essence of tourism, I guess.

It is definitely worth a visit for lovers of ancient architecture. Go early so that you can still feel the vicissitudes of history. I am afraid that in a few years it will be overcrowded and you will never be able to feel the same as today.

There were quite a few people when we went; the tour guide said it was considered relatively few, as it was truly packed during the National Day holiday. The Terracotta Army formation was awe-inspiring, and the craftsmen's dedication was truly admirable. The bronze chariots and horses were especially breathtaking and definitely worth seeing.

Since I was there, I decided to take a look, but there really wasn't much to see. The buildings were too obviously constructed. Aside from the architecture, I couldn't see any of the original structures. The residential area behind it is worth exploring at a slower pace, but unfortunately, I was in a rush and didn't have time to appreciate it properly.

The Most Beautiful Guanyin Crossing the Sea – The Past and Present of Fusheng Temple in Xinjiang County Said to be the inspiration for Wu Cheng'en's novel *Journey to the West*, Fusheng Temple boasts a history of over 1400 years. Originally built during the Northern Qi Dynasty, it was commissioned by Emperor Taizong of Tang (627-649 AD) to be a temple dedicated to the upright and honest Lin Xiangru, a high-ranking official in the village. This is also the origin of the temple's name, "Little Leiyin." The temple enshrines Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. During the Jin Dynasty, it was officially named "Fushengyuan," later changed to Fusheng Temple. Imperial edicts and inscriptions record this within the temple grounds. The main hall of Fusheng Temple, the Amitabha Hall, enshrines the Three Western Saints—Amitabha Buddha as the main deity, flanked by Bodhisattvas Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta, forming the Western Paradise. The statues are all original works from the Yuan Dynasty. The altar is surrounded by the Sixteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings, which were added during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Inside the Heavenly Kings Hall were the two generals Heng and Ha, namely Zheng Lun and Chen Qi, who were responsible for guarding the mountain gate and protecting the safety of the temple, but they are no longer there, and the temple is also... alas... The back of the Buddha statue is adorned with statues of Guanyin of the South Sea, Sudhana, and the Bright King, which are also original works from the Yuan Dynasty. Guanyin of the South Sea is especially praised as the most beautiful and is included in the "Complete Collection of Chinese Art". Below, there were originally statues of Tang Sanzang and his disciples, but now only the monkey-shaped fragments remain: with a pointed mouth and fiery eyes, wearing a rat-head hat, and a lively posture, very similar to Sun Wukong. The mount under Guanyin's feet is the Golden-haired Roar, the original form of Sai Tai Sui in "Journey to the West". The sculpture's details (antlers, eagle claws, fish scales) are exactly as described in the novel. The money-scattering boy at the feet is an image of Red Boy, and the Dragon King and Turtle Prime Minister below recreate the scene of the East Sea Dragon Palace. The three-headed, six-armed Ming Kings on either side, riding on wind-fire wheels, are artistic representations of the two generals Heng and Ha. The film *Black Myth: Wukong* directly uses these as character prototypes. Fuksheng Temple, also known as Little Leiyin Temple, has an inscription at its entrance, which is also attributed to the Yellow-haired Monster impersonating Leiyin Temple. The sculpture predates Wu Cheng'en's *Journey to the West* by 300 years. It is widely believed that Wu Cheng'en saw this sculpture during his travels in Shanxi, which inspired his creation of *Journey to the West*. Although there is no definitive record, it seems authentic to me; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? The scene also depicts Guanyin crossing the sea to deliver all beings, which aligns with Wu Cheng'en's depiction of Guanyin of the South Sea. It's incredibly beautiful!

The Shaanxi History Museum is incredibly popular; I tried to book several days in advance but couldn't get a reservation… so I booked a guided tour, which made my trip to Xi'an worthwhile. I saw so many treasures inside, but the most memorable were: 1. The Duoyou Ding: A bronze vessel from the reign of King Li of the Western Zhou Dynasty, with a 278-character inscription cast on its inner wall. My teacher said that the more inscriptions on a bronze vessel, the more valuable it is, and the more helpful it is for modern research into specific periods of ancient history. This elevated the value of the ding to an all-time high. 2. The Sancai Camel Carrying Musicians: A masterpiece of Tang Dynasty Sancai pottery, this camel carries eight small terracotta figures, each with expressive features and holding various musical instruments, depicting a scene of dance and music reflecting the fusion of Han and non-Han cultures during the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It would definitely be considered overloaded on a modern road, haha! 😂 3. The Gold-Inlaid Beast-Head Agate Cup: Listed by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as one of the first 64 national treasures permanently prohibited from being exhibited abroad. Exquisitely crafted, the cup's body mimics the shape of animal horns, with the front carved into a bull-shaped head, its eyes wide open and piercing. This is a unique piece in China. 4. Gilded Silver Ewer with Dancing Horse and Cup Design: The only artifact that provides concrete evidence of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's "Dancing Horse Birthday Celebration" ceremony. The dancing horse and cup design on the ewer is clearly defined and features flowing lines. It is said that there is a heartbreaking story behind these dancing horses: During the Tang Dynasty, these meticulously trained court dancing horses would kneel and bow, holding wine cups in their mouths, to offer birthday wishes to the emperor. However, after the An Lushan Rebellion, they were scattered into the military camps of regional warlords and mixed into the army. When the dancing horses heard the drums and horns of the military camp, they thought the performance had begun and began to dance to the beat. The stablemen, terrified, considered this "monster" and whipped them. The dancing horses, mistaking the rhythm for being off, danced even more vigorously. Seeing this, the stablemen whipped them even more, killing them. The dancing horses thus disappeared. Therefore, this treasure is a top-tier national treasure, prohibited from leaving the country, bearing witness to the legend of "Dancing Horses and Cups." The teachers only explained the museum's most prized possessions during this visit, and there were still so many artifacts we didn't have time to see. I look forward to visiting Xi'an again next time.