Exploring the Hidden Gem of Daizhou: A Small County with Big Treasures

During the May Day holiday in Shanxi, popular attractions were bustling with crowds, but we chose a different path and visited the lesser-known yet historically significant ancient city of Daixian. Praised by architect Liang Sicheng as "an exceptionally well-planned city," it boasts three national-level cultural heritage sites: the Bianjing Tower, known as the "First Tower of the Great Wall"; the Ashoka Pagoda, hailed as "China's most beautiful stupa"; and the Daizhou Confucian Temple, the largest prefecture-level Confucian temple in northern China. The Bianjing Tower was first built in the seventh year of the Hongwu era (1374) during the early Ming Dynasty. After being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in the twelfth year of the Chenghua era (1476) and has stood tall ever since. Its name, meaning "Pacifying the Borders and Bringing Peace to the People," reflects its original purpose as a military facility for monitoring enemies, drum signaling, and battle command. The tower stands 26.7 meters tall, with a total height of 40 meters, consisting of a massive brick-arched base and a three-story, four-eaved wooden structure with a hip-and-gable roof. Recognized by Great Wall experts as the "First Tower of the Great Wall," it is a remarkable architectural feat. The Ashoka Pagoda was originally constructed in the first year of the Renshou era (601) during the Sui Dynasty, initially named "Longxing" and built as a wooden pagoda. Destroyed in war, it was rebuilt as a brick pagoda in the twelfth year of the Zhiyuan era (1275) under Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty. Featuring a conical Tibetan Buddhist design, it is considered a masterpiece among Chinese Tibetan-style pagodas and is a rare example of a circular-based stupa in inland regions. Located within the current county government compound, visitors can explore it free of charge. The Daizhou Confucian Temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, is the largest surviving prefecture-level Confucian temple in northern China. Facing south, it includes the Loyalty and Righteousness Shrine and the Wenchang Pavilion to the east, and the Minglun Hall and the Chastity and Filial Piety Shrine to the west. The complex also features the Xue Zheng and Xun Dao offices flanking the Loyalty and Righteousness Shrine, forming an expansive Confucian architectural ensemble. The temple's octagonal caisson ceiling, intricate wood carvings, and bracket-set structures are rare treasures in Chinese architectural history.