Pingyao City God Temple.

《Pingyao City God Temple Travel Guide》 I. Introduction to the Scenic Spot Pingyao City God Temple was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,100 years. It was extensively renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties, preserving the architectural style of those dynasties and covers an area of ​​7,302 square meters. The archway of the City God Temple is considered to be the best of Pingyao's ancient buildings, with four pillars, three doors, and eleven-step brackets, and it is tall and magnificent. The couplet on the pillar, "If you are willing to visit this place, you will feel no guilt; if you are unwilling to visit our gate, you will feel terrified" has a profound meaning and is thought-provoking. There are 18 corridors on both sides of the front yard. A month-long temple fair is held starting on the 27th day of the fifth lunar month every year. The corridors are rented to vendors for use, making the place very lively. Further ahead is the Music Tower, a two-story building with a hipped-roof street gate in the middle and hexagonal rear windows on both sides. There are bell towers and drum towers on both sides of the music building, the bell tower on the left and the drum tower on the right. There is a cave-style side door under the bell and drum tower, through which you can reach the main hall of the City God Temple. The theater in the Temple of the God of Wealth is also unique. There is a brick-arched cave-like passage under the stage. The inner doors on both sides of the passage connect to three brick kilns, which also serve as the base of the theater. The brackets of the theater are gorgeous and intricate, with carvings of dragons, phoenixes and white elephant heads, displaying the techniques and style of the Qing Dynasty. The architecture of City God Temple is brilliantly colored. The roofs of the front hall and the stage of God of Wealth Temple are covered with peacock blue and yellow glazed components, which bring visual shock to people. The decorations and gargoyles on the roof are magnificent. Climbing up the Zhenwu Tower, one can overlook the City God Temple and the God of Wealth Temple. The well-arranged buildings seem to be dominated by the concept of the unity of heaven, earth and man. 2. Transportation Guide 1. Self-driving If you choose to drive to Pingyao City God Temple, you can use navigation software to locate Pingyao Ancient City. From surrounding cities, drive along the highway, exit at Pingyao, and then follow the signs to the City God Temple in Pingyao Ancient City. There are parking lots around the ancient city for tourists to park. 2. Public Transportation After arriving at Pingyao Station or Pingyao Bus Station by train or long-distance bus, you can choose to take a bus, taxi or walk to Pingyao Ancient City. After entering the ancient city, you can find the location of the City God Temple according to the signs. Bus routes may change, so it is recommended to consult the local bus station or driver before riding. Taxis are relatively convenient, but may cost a little more. You can enjoy the scenery of the ancient city and feel its atmosphere by walking. 3. Tour route 1. Archway When you enter the City God Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is the towering and magnificent archway. Appreciate the exquisite carvings and couplets on the archway and feel its unique charm. 2. Front yard veranda Walking along the front yard veranda, imagine the lively scene during the temple fair. Here you can learn about the local folk culture and traditional business activities. 3. Le Tower Climb up the Le Tower to admire its architectural style and unique design. Look out from the back windows on both sides of the Le Tower and feel the beauty of the ancient city. 4. Bell and Drum Tower Visit the Bell and Drum Tower to learn about the ancient timekeeping method and architectural features. Listening to the sound of bells and drums, it feels like traveling back to ancient times. 5. Cave door Go through the cave door and head to the main hall of the City God Temple. Feel the ingenious design and mysterious atmosphere of ancient buildings. 6. Theater of the God of Wealth Temple When you come to the God of Wealth Temple, you can admire the magnificent brackets and unique platform design of the theater. Imagine the grand occasion of opera performances back then. 7. Glazed roofs Look up and admire the glazed roofs of the City God Temple and the God of Wealth Temple, and feel the brilliant colors and exquisite craftsmanship. Take photos to record this beautiful moment. 8. Zhenwu Tower Climb up the Zhenwu Tower and overlook the entire City God Temple and the God of Wealth Temple. Feel the well-proportioned architectural layout and the concept of unity among heaven, earth and man. IV. Food Recommendations 1. Pingyao Beef Pingyao Beef is one of Pingyao’s specialties, with tender meat and rich flavor. You can taste authentic Pingyao beef in restaurants or specialty shops in the ancient city. 2. Pingyao Wantuo Wantuo is a traditional snack in Pingyao, made from buckwheat flour and has a smooth texture. It can be eaten with condiments such as chili oil and vinegar to make it taste better. 3. Pingyao Mooncakes Pingyao mooncakes are famous for their unique craftsmanship and taste. The mooncake skin is crispy and the filling is fragrant, and there are many flavors to choose from. 4. Pingyao Noodles Pingyao has a wide variety of noodles, such as knife-cut noodles, hand-pulled noodles, etc. You can taste authentic Pingyao noodles in local noodle shops. 5. Special snacks There are many other special snacks in the ancient city, such as Pingyao oil tea, Pingyao tofu brain, Pingyao smoked meat, etc. You can choose to taste according to your taste. V. Accommodation Arrangements 1. Inns in the Ancient City Choosing to stay in an inn in Pingyao Ancient City will allow you to better experience the atmosphere of the ancient city. The architectural styles of the inns are mostly traditional buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with beautiful environment and thoughtful service. 2. Hotels outside the ancient city If you want more comfortable accommodation, you can choose to stay in a hotel outside the ancient city. The hotel has complete facilities, convenient transportation and relatively reasonable prices. VI. Precautions 1. Respect religious beliefs Chenghuang Temple is a religious site. Visitors should respect religious beliefs and abide by the temple's regulations when visiting. Do not make loud noises, smoke, litter, etc. in the temple. 2. Protect cultural relics and historical sites Pingyao City God Temple is a historical and cultural heritage. Tourists should protect cultural relics and historical sites and not touch or damage ancient buildings and cultural relics at will. 3. Pay attention to safety During the tour, please pay attention to safety. Especially when climbing to high places such as Le Tower and Zhenwu Tower, you must be careful to avoid falling. At the same time, pay attention to fire prevention and do not use open flames in the temple. 4. Arrange your time properly Pingyao Chenghuang Temple is a large scenic area and it takes a certain amount of time to visit. Tourists are advised to arrange their time reasonably and plan their tour routes in advance to avoid delays. In short, Pingyao City God Temple is an ancient building complex with a long history and profound cultural heritage. It is a good place for sightseeing and learning about history and culture. I hope this travel guide can help you with your trip to Pingyao City God Temple, so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while feeling the charm of ancient architecture and the profound historical culture.