Yongchang Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Ancient City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Gansu Impressions: Watch 'Hexi Corridor' and Visit the Ancient City of Liqian
Gansu Impressions: Watch 'Hexi Corridor' ❤️ and Visit the Ancient City of Liqian
If you missed the popular attractions in Jinchang from the last issue, hurry up and check it out.
Today, I want to single out the ancient city of Liqian in Jinchang to talk about.
The ancient city of Liqian, a mysterious millennium-old city, is located in Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, at an altitude of 2,400 meters and dates back more than 2,000 years. It was first established during the Western Han Dynasty and was an important city and military fortress. The existence of the Liqian ruins proves that descendants of ancient Romans once lived here.
The architecture of the ancient city mainly features a blend of Etruscan architectural techniques, ancient Greek architectural techniques, and Han Dynasty architectural styles. However, due to historical changes, sand erosion, and human destruction, it has not been preserved intact.
Liqian became well-known due to the hypothesis proposed by the Oxford University Sinology professor D. D. Leslie regarding the historical relationship between the Han Dynasty and Rome—the mystery of the disappearance of the First Roman Legion.
He believed that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Parthian army in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle but instead led more than 6,000 men of the First Legion to break through the defense line and never returned to Rome, their fate unknown. It is speculated that they may have eventually settled in Liqian Village, Yongchang County, Gansu Province, China. In Chinese history, ancient Rome is called Liqian, hence the Romans were also known as the Liqian people.
Today, in the ancient city of Liqian, there is a Buddhist holy site with a blend of Chinese and Western elements—Jinshan Temple. From a distance, it looks like a magnificent Christian church, but it is actually a Buddhist holy site with the sound of chanting.
Highlight, highlight!!! If you want an immersive travel experience, after wandering around the ancient city of Liqian, you can stay at Jinshan Temple at night. Get up at two or three in the morning, put on a robe, and join the monks in the temple for morning prayers, seeking your long-lost original intention amidst the chants of Amitabha. Although it will be tiring, it is a unique experience!
After the morning prayers, you may encounter the surprise of a morning mist clearing or a heavy snowfall in October! Then, have a quiet breakfast with someone who shares your destiny.
Many people come here to practice Buddhism, some for a long stay, others for a short one. In any case, Buddha guides those with destiny, and here the soul feels at peace, no longer troubled, and those twisted things can be soothed.
Time flies, and more than two thousand years have passed with the wind. The Liqian County, which was once specially established for the ancient Romans, has now become ruins amidst the vicissitudes of history, and those Liqian people who came from afar and died in a foreign land have also gradually become little known in the splendid Chinese civilization.
All that remains are their descendants, who, with the unique traits created by their ancestors' genes, tell the world a legendary story full of twists and turns in the long river of history.
Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor| Liqian Ancient City
|Liqian Ancient City. Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor
Yongchang County is under the jurisdiction of Jinchang City, Gansu Province, located in the northwest of Gansu Province, at the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains, and the southern edge of the Alashan Plateau. It is an important town on the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor.
⛩️ Scenic Spot Introduction
Liqian Ancient City
Liqian, also known as Liqian, is an ancient city in the Western Han Dynasty of China, with the earliest documentary record in 60 BC. Liqian Village, also known as Zhe Lai Village. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty incorporated Hexi into the territory of the Han Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty set up Liqian County, which was successively under the jurisdiction of Zhangye and Wuwei, and was an important commercial and military fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
Liqian is located in Jiaozhuang Township, Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, and is famous for the hypothesis of "Roman legions stranded in China". This hypothesis believes that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to be defeated by the Parthian army in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle, but led the First Legion with more than 6,000 people to break through the defense line, never returned to Rome, and disappeared. It is speculated that they may have finally settled in Liqian Village. In 2007, scientists also found through genetic identification of local people that their Y chromosomes are mostly of East Asian local types, and most of the haplotypes have nothing to do with Romans. The hypothesis of "Roman legions stranded in China" lacks evidence.
🎫Ticket Information
Free visit, open all day
🚗Traffic Information
It is about 15 kilometers from Beiwudang Mountain to Liqian Ancient City by car, and the parking lot in the scenic area is 10 yuan/time.
🍱Food Recommendation
Navigate to "Bell Tower Snack City", there are many local special foods, such as buckwheat cold noodles, kang pot and local special noodles
Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor
Yongchang County belongs to Jinchang City, Gansu Province, located in the northwest of Gansu Province, in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, and on the southern edge of the Alashan Plateau. It is an important town on the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor.
⛩️ Brief introduction of the attractions
1️⃣ Yongchang Wudang Mountain
Yongchang Wudang Mountain, also known as Jinshan and North Wudang Mountain, is located on the west side of Beihai Scenic Area in Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province. It was also a cultural center of Taoism and Buddhism during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with Taoist buildings being the majority. The North Wudang Mountain Temple was built before the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and was gradually completed during the Guangxu period, forming a complete architectural complex.
The entire building of North Wudang Mountain was finally destroyed around 1966. All the antique buildings you see now were newly built by Yongchang County in 1994. From the foot of the mountain to the golden top, 15 buildings such as Dajue Temple, Guanyin Hall, Sanqing Palace, Baxian Pavilion, Baizi Cave, Dacheng Hall, and Confucius Temple were built. The mountain road was renovated, and more than a thousand brick and stone steps were built from the mountain gate to the golden top. The following year, all the temples were painted with murals or statues. The newly built North Wudang Mountain Temple integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. All buildings are divided into three parts: Buddhist buildings at the foot of the mountain, folk gods buildings in Baizi Cave at the waist of the mountain, and Taoist and Confucian cultural buildings from Baizi Cave to the golden top.
2️⃣ Li Jing Ancient City
Li Jing, also known as Li Jing, is an ancient city in the Western Han Dynasty in China. The earliest documentary record is 60 BC. Li Jing Village, also known as Zhe Lai Village. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened up the Hexi Corridor and set up Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Zhangye, and Wuwei, and Hexi was included in the territory of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty set up Li Jing County, which was successively under the jurisdiction of Zhangye and Wuwei, and was an important commercial and military fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
Li Jing is located in Jiaojia Village, Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, and is famous for the hypothesis of the Roman Legion's stranding in China. This hypothesis believes that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle, but led the First Legion with more than 6,000 people to break through the line of defense. , Never returned to Rome, disappeared, and speculated that it might finally settle in Li Jing Village. In 2007, scientists also found through genetic identification of local people that their Y chromosomes are mostly of East Asian local types, and most haplotypes have nothing to do with Romans. The hypothesis of the Roman Legion's stranding in China lacks evidence.
🎫Ticket information
Both attractions are free to visit and open all day
🚗Traffic information
Self-driving from Jinchang City to North Wudang Mountain is about 50 kilometers, and the scenic area has a free parking lot.
It is about 15 kilometers from North Wudang Mountain to Li Jing Ancient City by self-driving, and the parking lot in the scenic area is 10 yuan/time.
🍱Food recommendation
Navigate to 'Clock Tower Snack City', there are many local special foods, such as buckwheat cold noodles, kang pot and local special noodles
🗺Tour guide
Reserve 2 hours for visiting North Wudang Mountain, and your calves will be sore the next day after climbing the mountain. You can do some stretching exercises for your muscles after climbing the mountain. It is recommended to reserve 1.5 hours for playing in Li Jing Ancient City. You can arrange to go to North Wudang Mountain for 2 hours in the morning, go to Yongchang Snack City to experience folk snacks at noon, and play in Li Jing Ancient City for 1.5 hours in the afternoon.
Shengrong Pagoda Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Gansu C position|The throat of the Silk Road, Yushan Gorge, the dust-sealed pearl of the sea
Gansu C position city tour, come to Jinchang Yushan Gorge.
Geography calls the narrow strip between Qilian Mountain and Longshou Mountain the 'Hexi Corridor', this corridor is the cultural blending zone of the Silk Road, and is an important cultural gathering place.
The throat of the northern route of the Han and Tang Silk Roads, the Yushan Gorge of the lofty mountains of Longshou Mountain, winding more than 10 kilometers, slowly walking in, but can turn over the dust-sealed years, pick up the civilization of the Silk Road.
✅Silk Road Hidden Famous Temple
The narrowest part of Yushan Gorge, hides a famous ancient temple site in the history of Buddhism in our country, Yushan Gorge Shengrong Temple.
In the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, a large number of early mural materials come from the Shengrong Temple of Yushan and related content, some historians say, first there was Shengrong Temple, then there was Mogao Grottoes.
The Shengrong Temple was originally named Ruixiang Temple, the first temple in Hexi with a history of more than 1440 years has been revived and continued to this day.
✅Gorge Leaves Traces
This narrow valley, with a long history and culture, has left many ancient relics, the earliest of which can be traced back to the Neolithic Age.
The most famous of the relics left in the gorge is the two towers of the national key cultural relic Shengrong Temple, the tower is a subsidiary building of Shengrong Temple named after the temple, built in the Tang Dynasty, is the earliest existing ancient tower building in Hexi.
On the stone wall of the mountain cliff in front of Shengrong Temple, the Buddhist 'Om Mani Padme Hum' 'Six-Word Proverb' stone carving is still preserved.
The Han and Ming Great Wall that crosses Yushan Gorge was once the guide of the Silk Road, now it has also become a ruin, becoming a civilization relic on the Silk Road.
In the Yushan Gorge, 19 kilometers north of Yongchang County, there is a Yushan Shengrong Temple with a history of more than 1,400 years. It was built in 561 AD. It is said that Tang Xuanzhao once said poetry and poetry here; the monks who practiced here have reached more than 1,500 people. Shengrong Temple is one of the few well-preserved thousand-year-old temples in China. There are two murals in the 231 cave of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, which describe a strange legend in detail: Shenglu Liusayun Yunyou At this point, overlooking the Yushan Gorge, predicting that the Yugu Mountain will open, there will be a statue of Buddha, the world will be missing, and the world will be one. On his day, the Thunder Mountain is split, and there is no Buddha statue on the cliff of Yuguyan. As the sun sets, walk through the temples, listen to the deep and long-lasting bells floating in the hustle and bustle of the Yushan Gorge, echoing in your ears...
Beihaizi Park Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Yongbei Haizi Park is also known as Beihu in the local area. It is 1km away from the county town. Because of the collection of Qingquan, it is named after the water. Beihaizi is located in the groundwater discharge zone at the edge of the alluvial fan of the eastern Dahe River in the Qilian Mountains. The spring water is injected into the Jinchuan River. Among the Zhuquan, the most famous horses are springs, and the springs are filled with water. Every year, the two scenes of Liuchi Yingyue and Golden Waters in Yongchang Eight Views are here. Beihaizi Park is also a resort of ancient buildings, and is well-known for its Jinchuan Temple. The Jinchuan Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty. After several years of prosperity and decline, the Qing Dynasty has developed into the first Zen forest of Yongchang. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the war in 1936, and only one brick tower of the Ming Dynasty was preserved. After the founding of New China, it has been repaired and expanded by the people of Yongchang over the years. It has formed five tourist communities: Leitai Yuyuguan ancient buildings, winding path promenade, playground, artificial lake, flower garden, making Beihai Tower, Hall The caves and pavilions are complete, the corridors, bridges, springs and forests are harmonious. The birds, fish, flowers and butterflies are arguing, the forests are flourishing, the lakes are rippled, the beams are painted, the reflections are intricate, and the ancient and modern landscapes are the same, becoming a unique garden. Wudang Mountain, 1.5km away from Yongchang County, is next to Beihaizi Park. It is an extension of Beihaizi Scenic Area and forms a tourist attraction in the north line of Yongchang County. According to history: Before the Qing Emperor Qianlong had a temple, Guangxu repaired the road in six years, and was destroyed in 1936, but then reconstructed the foothills and Baizi Cave.
Located in the north of the Beihaizi Scenic Area in Yongchang County, the Beiwudang Mountain was built before the Qing Emperor Qianlong. It was only during the Guangxu period that a complete Taoist architectural community was formed. When you climb the mountain and climb to the top, you can stand at the height of the Yongchang Mountain River and you will have a panoramic view. The North Wudang Mountain is an important part of the Beihaizi Park Scenic Area. It overlooks the mountain to the south. Yongchang County is like a jade surrounded by green trees and clear water. It is a golden pot of fish farming. Looking northward, the dragon head peaks are numerous, magnificent, and the valley is deep and deep. On the north Wudang Mountain, from the bottom up, there are different antique buildings with different styles and simple and elegant. They are connected by 1,100 steps, where cigarettes are lingering and bells are small; mountainsides, newly planted pine and cypress trees, twigs and young leaves, Growing up; watching the blue sky, the green plants, the towering buildings of the towers, and the vast peaks of the vast mountains, all make people feel magnificent and proud.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Gansu C position | Jinchang Yunzhuang Temple, exploring the grottoes of the Wei and Jin Dynasties
Climbing along the mountain road, we arrived at Yunzhuang Temple. In the Qilian Mountains, the grottoes of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the temple built along the mountain, the hermit practicing in the mountains, and the stone Buddha cliff that has not been seen.
Yunzhuang Temple has been built to the present, it has experienced several ups and downs, and has been rebuilt or repaired several times. All the buildings of the temple were destroyed in the earthquake in 1927, and a large number of cultural relics such as grotto statues and murals have also been lost in history. The current temple was built by three monks at the original site in recent years, accompanied by the empty grottoes.
Yunzhuang Temple is located in the Qilian Mountains about 10 kilometers away from Nanba Township, Yongchang County, Jinchang City. It is the place where Liu Sahe, a high monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, practiced Zen. According to expert scholars, the temple was built in the early Jin Dynasty, first carved grottoes and then built the temple, rebuilt in the sixth year of the Ming Dynasty Zhengtong, it is a famous Buddhist holy place in Yongchang history.
The high monk Liu Sahe of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, who participated in the construction of the world-famous Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and accurately predicted the Shengrong Ruxiang Temple, carved the magical Yunzhuang Grottoes here and built the famous Yunzhuang Zen Temple.
Yunzhuang Grottoes, there are 21 large and small grottoes existing today, distributed on the sunny side of a whole rock wall about 180 meters long and about 60 meters high under the main peak of Yunzhuang Mountain. On the Stone Buddha Cliff 2.5 kilometers southeast of Yunzhuang Grottoes, there are 9 large and small grottoes existing today.
Yunzhuang Temple
📮Address: About 10 kilometers away from Nanba Township, Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu
🗞️Ticket: Free
Chongqing Hot Pot Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
BEST DAMN HOT POT…..
In Chongqing, please visit Yangma’er hot pot. The food so damn spicy but good and service is on point. Don’t leave the city without visiting.#foodie
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