Yuanqi Temple in Changzhi丨A living fossil of Tang and Song architecture hidden in the mountains

📍Location: Xinan Village, Huangniuti Township, Lucheng District, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province 🚗How to get there: 1. Self-driving: Navigate to "Yuanqi Temple" and park for free. 2. Public transportation: Changzhi Bus Station → Lucheng District Bus (40 minutes) → Taxi to the scenic spot (about 30 yuan, no bus). 🎫Tickets: Free (no tickets required, but please contact the cultural relics protection officer to open the door). ⏰Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (no strict restrictions, but it's better to contact the cultural relics protection officer in advance). ✨Three must-sees: 1. Qinglong Pagoda of the Northern Song Dynasty An octagonal seven-story brick pagoda, a "building textbook" of the Song Dynasty! 56 iron bells on the eaves jingle in the wind, and eight iron warriors on the top of the pagoda are chained, said to suppress the "phoenix throat" leading to the Zhanghe River. The shadow of the pagoda and the muddy Zhanghe River are reflected in the sunset. 2. Sutra Pillar and Incense Pavilion of the Tang Dynasty The Tang Dynasty blue stone Sutra Pillar is engraved with the Dharani Sutra, and the bottom of the pavilion is decorated with the reliefs of musicians with fluttering sleeves. The Incense Pavilion has four stone pillars, which hide a seven-character quatrain: "Mist shrouds the pagoda, smoke shrouds the temple, listen to the bell at dusk, listen to the tide at night." 3. Daxiong Hall of the Song Dynasty A pure Song structure with three rooms, a single eaves, and a hipped roof! The eaves pillars rise from the side, and the four-bay single-beam dougong is hidden in the beams. 💡In-depth experience: Gently tap the Tang Dynasty Sutra Pillar and feel the temperature of the stone carving from the Wu Zhou period (said to be related to Wu Zetian); squat at the corner of the wall and observe the wind marks on the pillar base, the traces of repairs from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties; listen to the cultural relics protection officer tell the legends of "Iron Man's Dream" and "Fairy's Transformation into Phoenix," which are more exciting than "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." 👀Real experience: Standing in the small temple, the Sutra Pillar of the Tang Dynasty, the Daxiong Hall of the Song Dynasty, and the side hall of the Ming and Qing dynasties are all in sight, which is a slice of solidified time! When the iron bell rings in the wind, it seems to hear the mood of Du Fu's "Deep Mountain Hiding Ancient Temple." There is no tourist noise here, only the sound of the cultural relics protection officer walking with a bunch of keys. Tips: Contact the cultural relics protection officer Li Shifu in advance (private message me for his phone number). Wear Hanfu, wind blowing sleeves + ancient pagoda background, so beautiful, haha.