2025 Jishan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in February)

| A journey of discovery through a thousand-year-old temple. Let me share with you a niche attraction that is well worth checking out—the Jishan Giant Buddha Temple. Located in Jishan, Yuncheng, Shanxi, it is a thousand-year-old temple built against a mountain. The temple's Sakyamuni Nirvana statue is known as the "world's largest clay-sculpted Buddha." Upon entering the temple, the magnificent Giant Buddha comes into view. The Buddha is 16.68m high and 6.8m wide, with a full figure and dignified presence. Its legs hang down, and its feet rest on a lotus throne. The entire form is ethereal, tall, and majestic, and the exquisite craftsmanship is breathtaking. The architectural style of the temple is simple and elegant, with the eaves and brackets showcasing the charm of the ages. Strolling along the stone steps, you can almost hear the echoes of history. 📷Photo Spots ✅Shooting upwards from the foot of the Giant Buddha highlights its grandeur and solemnity. ✅The corners of the temple, with their red walls and black tiles, are excellent spots for artistic photos. ✅Standing on the high ground of the temple allows you to take panoramic photos.

The Nanyang Fawang Temple in Nanyang Village, Jishan, Shanxi, boasts a remarkable opera stage 🎭. Facing west, the square stage is encircled by a covered walkway. Its cross-gabled roof, adorned with glazed colored tiles, retains its grandeur despite the passage of time. The layered dougong brackets exude an aura of ancient simplicity and magnificence. Inside, the stage is free of exposed pillars, with the corner columns concealed within the walls, creating a spacious interior. Looking up, one sees the intricate beam structure, where corner beams, upward-sloping beams, and dougong brackets interconnect to form a Bagua coffered ceiling. This ingenious ceiling structure is said to have amplified the actors' voices in the past 👍. Murals adorn the back wall of the stage. The centerpiece is the timeless image of a blue dragon emerging from the clouds, flanked by the Eight Immortals. Though the colors have faded with time, the figures remain vividly depicted. The stage was renovated in the seventh year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty, yet its design retains characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty. This ancient treasure stands as a testament to the vibrant theatrical performances of bygone eras 🎉.

There are many places to recommend in Shanxi, but this one is a must-see: the Macun Brick Tombs, a hidden gem that will leave you in awe. Stepping into this mysterious family cemetery is like opening a historical blind box. The atmosphere of the Song and Jin dynasties is palpable, and each brick carving is a mark of time. The brick carvings here cover a wide range of themes, including life, mythology, and architecture. There are vivid depictions of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, as well as stunning imitations of wooden architectural components. From doors and windows to brackets and beams, the details are exquisite, and you can't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the ancients. Compared to the crowded popular attractions, this place is quiet and off the beaten path, allowing you to fully appreciate every detail and feel the weight of history. You can also hire a professional guide for CNY 30 (for individual visitors) to learn more about the stories behind the tombs and enhance your experience.

| Macun Brick Tombs. Step into a mysterious and niche treasure land - Macun Brick Tombs. Located in Macun, Jishan, Shanxi, it is a family cemetery from the Song and Jin dynasties. Each brick tomb is like a miniature art palace. The brick carvings in the tombs are rich and diverse in themes, with vivid scenes of daily life, labor, play, and banquets, vividly presenting the life of the ancients; there are also exquisite floral patterns, with delicate and smooth lines, lifelike. The expressions of the characters and the textures of the costumes are clearly carved, making people marvel at the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Compared with popular attractions, there are few tourists here, allowing you to calm down and savor the weight of history and the charm of art. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 🔖Name｜Macun Brick Tombs 🚇Transportation｜Car rental or self-driving is recommended🚗 🈺️Time｜8:30-17:30 💰Ticket｜20

🌟 Jishan Great Buddha Temple is located on a high cliff 1 km northeast of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. Originally named "Qingliang Temple" and also known as "Foge Temple," it is commonly referred to as the "Great Buddha Temple" due to the presence of a giant earthen Buddha statue sculpted into the cliff. The temple was first built in the second year of the Jin Dynasty's Huangtong era (1142) and has undergone multiple renovations and expansions during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Jishan Great Buddha within the temple is a national key cultural relic protection unit and one of the tallest earthen Buddha statues in the world. 🎫 Ticket price: The ticket price for Jishan Great Buddha Temple is CNY 20 per person. However, the scenic area is sometimes open for free. ⌚ Opening hours: Open all year round, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. ✅ Location: Jishan Great Buddha Temple is located on Dafo Road, Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. ☀ Personal experience: My first impression of Jishan Great Buddha Temple was "awe-inspiring." Standing at the foot of the Great Buddha and looking up at the 20-meter-tall earthen Buddha statue, I was filled with reverence. This statue has withstood nearly a thousand years of wind and rain, standing tall as if telling the vicissitudes of history. Entering the main hall, the details of the Great Buddha are astonishing: the folds of the Buddha's robe are smooth and natural, the facial expression is solemn and dignified, and the corners of the mouth are slightly upturned, exuding compassion and peace. Standing at the top of the Buddha statue, overlooking the entire Jishan County, the view is wide, and my mood is suddenly brightened. In addition to the Great Buddha, the Ten Kings Cave and the Sixteen Arhats Cave in the temple are also worth visiting. These Yuan Dynasty clay sculptures of Buddha are vivid and showcase the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Although most of the buildings in the temple have been rebuilt in recent years, the overall style still retains the charm of the Jin Dynasty, and walking through it feels like traveling through time and space.

|Artificial reservoir from the 1970s. The water storage project in Hedong, Yuncheng City, has a long history. As early as the Dazhong Xiangfu period of the Song Dynasty (1008), there was already a water supply project for drinking water at Fusheng Temple in Qingrun Village, Hejin. It has been nearly a thousand years. In the sixth year of the Jiaqing period of the Ming Dynasty (1527), most villages in Wanquan County dug ponds to store water for household use and livestock irrigation. By the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), more than 280 water storage ponds had been dug in the county. The Jinjia Valley Reservoir, built in the 1970s, is a small reservoir mainly for flood control and irrigation. The dam is a masonry arch dam with a maximum height of 33.84m, making it a great place to visit. The source of Jinjia Valley is the top of Chenjia Mountain, which is also the only complete mountain valley in Jishan. The entire valley is within Jishan, and it is a beautiful mountain valley. Address: On the Jinjia Valley River, a tributary of the Fen River, north of Shandi Village, Xishe Town, Jishan County Transportation: Self-driving

|Brick Carvings at the End of Life. The Macun Song-Jin Duan Family Brick Carving Tomb is the family tomb of the Duan family, a wealthy family and medicinal food family from the Song to Jin dynasties. The tomb is 160 meters long from east to west, 140 meters wide from north to south, and covers an area of 22,400 square meters. There are 14 tombs in total, 9 of which have been excavated, all of which are brick chamber tombs. The Macun Brick Carving Tomb unearthed one or two large porcelain bowls or porcelain lamps and some Northern Song Dynasty copper coins, and individual tombs unearthed porcelain pillows. The 24 filial piety sculptures on the eaves of the Xumizuo in Tomb No. 4 are vivid and beautiful, and are precious works of art. The architecture of the Macun Brick Carving Tomb mainly shows the luxurious residence of the tomb owner during his lifetime. The lower part of the four walls is built with waist-bound Xumizuo, carved with flying horses, running deer and other animals, and the carvings are exquisite. The house is surrounded by corridors, and the column heads and interstitial dougong under the eaves are four or five sets, with a 60-degree slope. The roof is either single or double eaves, with simple tiles and hooks, and the hook heads and drips are decorated with animal face patterns. The four walls of the tomb chamber are generally arranged in a courtyard layout with a front hall, a back hall, and left and right wing rooms. The north wall opposite the tomb door is mostly carved with panel doors, with imitation wooden door towers, and the next room is equipped with broken lattice windows. There are also a few tombs with the tomb owner "holding a banquet" in the middle, and the next room is equipped with a screen carved with filial piety pictures. The east and west walls are mostly symmetrically carved with six lattice doors, and the south wall is mostly a wide door tower and stage corresponding to the north wall, with four or five people performing miscellaneous dramas inside. Address: Macun, Xiadi Township, 2.5 km west of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province Tickets: 20

|The Disappeared Shaving Picture of the King of Langqia. Qinglong Temple in Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, was built in the second year of Longshuo in the Tang Dynasty (662 AD). After being rebuilt many times during the wars at the end of the Jin Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it finally became an ancient temple with a long history. The shaving picture of Fanmoyue at the lower left corner of the west wall of the main hall of the temple. The Buddhist scriptures once described that when Maitreya Bodhisattva came to the human world from the Tushita Heaven, he was born in the country ruled by the King of Langqia, with Fanmoyue as his mother. Later, Maitreya Bodhisattva became a monk and became a Buddha, and the King of Langqia and Fanmoyue also shaved their heads. Scholars speculate that the destroyed part of the mural on the right side of the west wall is the shaving picture of the King of Langqia, but it is no longer visible. This theme also appears in the Yuan Dynasty mural "Maitreya Buddha Meeting Picture" in the back hall of Xinghua Temple in Jishan, Shanxi, which is now in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. Address: Macun, Jishan County, Yuncheng City Self-driving: Go to Macun, Jifeng Town via Yunwan Secondary Road Ticket: 20

[Jinshan Jinmei·Jishan·A Woman Opens the Door, Life is Like a Play] In a small village in Jishan County, there is a beautiful treasure - the Macun Brick Carving Tomb. Entering the tomb, there is no sense of gloom and horror, but four exquisite and well-preserved Song and Jin brick carving tombs are displayed in front of you. Try to turn back time 800 years and see the life scenes of the Duan family, who were known for their medical skills! The exquisite and delicate carvings are truly amazing. The brick carvings depict many opera plots, indicating that the tomb owner loved watching operas. Among them, the two tombs of a woman opening the door and holding a banquet are the essence of the essence, YYDS! Tips: A total of 14 tombs were discovered in Macun, and 9 have been excavated. According to the "Duan Ji Pre-repair Tomb Record" and the judgment of the tomb shape, it is the Duan family cemetery before the Jin Dading period. The tombs are all in the north-south direction, with an area of about 7 to 10 square meters. The tomb architecture mainly represents the luxurious residence of the tomb owner during his lifetime - the courtyard. The Macun Jin Tomb is a brick carving imitating wooden structures, with exquisite carvings, complex structures, luxurious decorations, and rich cultural connotations, which are of great significance for the study of architecture, sculpture, and drama history. 📝Note tips: 1. Currently, photography is allowed inside the tomb, and the experience is great. 2. Next to it is Qinglong Temple, which has Ming Dynasty murals and can be visited together.

First time in Yuncheng? Don't miss this carefully prepared 7-day itinerary to make your trip even more exciting! -------- Route Suggestions: Day 1: Chengdu—Yuncheng Depart from Chengdu and arrive in Yuncheng to start your Shanxi trip. Day 2: Yuncheng—Pingyao Head to Pingyao Ancient City to experience the charm of a thousand years of history. Stroll along the cobblestone streets and enjoy a leisurely time. Day 3: Pingyao—Xinzhou Leave Pingyao and head to Xinzhou to explore the new charm of this ancient land. Day 4: Xinzhou—Datong Continue north to Datong to visit the Yungang Grottoes and appreciate the splendor of Buddhist art. Day 5: Datong—Yuanping Depart from Datong and head to Yuanping to experience the tranquility and beauty of this small city. Day 6: Northeast Street Zhongxiao Cultural Square Visit Northeast Street Zhongxiao Cultural Square in Yuanping to savor traditional culture and experience local customs. Day 7: Pingyao—Yuncheng—Chengdu Return to Pingyao, then head to Yuncheng, and finally return to Chengdu to end your pleasant Shanxi trip. -------- Travel Tips: November is a good time to visit Yuncheng. The average daytime temperature is about 13°C, but it is cooler at night, so bring warm clothes. 🧣 Don't miss the local delicacies, such as pepper leaf pancakes and oil-splashed cold noodles. Delicious! 🍴 Yuncheng Guangong Airport has opened a new route to Hong Kong, making travel more convenient! ✈️ Recommended check-in spots: Colorful Salt Lake and Yongji Peacock Garden, perfect for photos! 📸 -------- If you like Yuncheng, don't forget to follow me for more personal travel tips to make your trip even more exciting! 🌈✨

Southern Shanxi has a tradition of worshiping Houji, and almost every county has a Jiwang Temple. The Jiwang Temple in Jishan was originally located on Jiwang Mountain, but was later moved to the county seat. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. The Jiwang Temple is famous for its "three wonders" of glazed tiles, wood carvings, and stone carvings. It is a national protected site, with an entrance fee of CNY 20. The Yuncheng Tourism Annual Pass is not accepted. Upon entering the mountain gate, the first thing you see is the Xian Hall and the Bell and Drum Towers (Figures 2–4). The glazed tiles on the roof ridge are very exquisite (Figures 5–6), but the most distinctive feature is the iron pieces in the center of the roof ridge, which are "Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun," "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl," and "Five Blessings Holding Longevity" (Figures 7–8). There is a stone carving on each of the east and west gable walls of the Xian Hall, depicting the "Eight Scenic Spots of Jishan" and a poem by Li Jingchun, the magistrate of Jishan, about the reconstruction of the Jiwang Temple. The wood carvings and dragon columns on the door frames in front of the main hall are exquisite (Figures 11–17). Only the two square stone pillars behind the hall are not (Figure 18). The final pavilion and Jiang Yuan Hall (Figure 19) are Yuan Dynasty buildings.

❤Recommended reason: At the Jishan Jujube Museum, I watched an immersive live-action drama, "Ji Song," performed by local jujube farmers. I didn't expect it to be so wonderful. The performance tells the history of Jishan and the farming culture of Hou Ji, showing the changes and development of Chinese farming culture. Hou Ji, commonly known as Ji Wang, was the ancestor of Chinese farming culture. He was named "Nongguan" by Yao and Shun for planting grains, teaching people to farm, and opening up the source of grain. Jishan County, as the hometown of Hou Ji, was called "Ji" in the Spring and Autumn Period and belonged to Jin. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. #The Long Journey

This is an ancient building that you can drive up to, park, and enter without a ticket. Next to it are tall and imposing residential buildings. On one side is modern life, and on the other is history. They coexist without disturbing each other. The temple should be guarded, as there is a barking yellow dog in a cage in the corner of the courtyard. At night, the guard and the dog are the protectors of this ancient building. Fawang Temple consists of a mountain gate, a dance building, a main hall, and other buildings. The mountain gate has two pillars and three glazed roofs. A plaque hangs on the lintel with the words "Xuantian Shangdi Fawang Temple." After entering the mountain gate, you will see the dance building, which has a double-eave roof and outer columns. There are many colorful murals on the walls. Walk around the dance hall to take photos, then enter and look up at the dougong, trusses, and columns. Although the paintings are mottled, they are still beautiful. Times have changed, and now this place is preserved as a cultural relic. However, it was not considered a treasure back then, and may have been used as a production room in the village. Therefore, there are three graffiti on the walls, including opera lists, slogans, and production records.

|Nanyang Dharma King Temple!! A low-key national security guard that is full of relaxation. Shanxi|Nanyang Fawang Temple!! The low-key national security that is full of relaxation In Nanyang Village, Jishan County, Yuncheng, there is such a low-key national security unit: Fawang Temple. How low-key is it? It is hidden among the surrounding houses. Villagers even often play cards and chat at the entrance of the temple. If you come to Jishan to see the Macun Brick Tomb and Qinglong Temple, you might as well come here to see them. The distance is less than 3 kilometers and it will definitely be a worthwhile trip. 【Opening status】 The Dharma King's Temple was not open to the public before, which resulted in many people being turned away. Now it is completely open, and there is no need to call the cultural protection staff to open the door. But because it is so low-key, I only see two or three people even on holidays. 【About Dharma King】 The Dharma King here refers to the Xuantian God in Taoism, also known as Emperor Zhenwu, the God of the North in Han myths and legends, and he is also enshrined in Wudang Mountain. 【Building layout】 The year when the Fawang Temple was first built is unknown, but according to the inscriptions on the beams and inscriptions in the temple, there were records of repairs or additions at least during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple is not big. It faces west and faces east, with a two-entry courtyard layout. On the central axis are the mountain gate, music tower, Fawang Hall and some auxiliary halls on both sides. The overall building is well preserved and has important reference value for the study of Taoist architectural forms in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. . Uncle Wenbao lives in one of the side halls, and he also has a big black dog next to him, so he feels very safe. 【Key points】 Mountain Gate: The plaque reads "Xuantian God, Temple of the Dharma King". On one side of the mountain gate is a white tiger painted in plain ink, and on the other side is a blue dragon? The cultural security man said that the other side has collapsed, so now there is only an empty wall. Lelou: After the mountain gate is the Lelou stage, which can be said to be the "treasure of the temple" of Fawang Temple. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, but it retains the ancient system of the Yuan Dynasty. The double-eaves cross-shaped mountain top is paved with yellow-green glazed tiles and ridge decorations, which is very beautiful. There are three Qing Dynasty murals on the back of the stage, the Blue Dragon Izumo and the Eight Immortals. There are no inner pillars in the stage, and the design is very exquisite. Looking up, there are exquisite brackets and caissons. On the walls are written the names of theater troupes, opera directories, and some graffiti that I don’t know when they were painted... Dharma King's Hall: There is a wooden shrine in the hall, dedicated to Emperor Xuanwu. There are carvings and paintings on the wooden boards of the shrine, which are very sophisticated. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures while admiring it. The two dragon pillars at the entrance of the Dharma King's Hall are very interesting. The dragon claws are actually the heads of monsters. Some sisters say that the nearest auxiliary hall on the north side of the King's Palace is a Yuan Dynasty building, but I haven't seen any relevant evidence. The faint writing on the beams seems to be records from the Ming Dynasty. Time: It’s hard to say the opening hours. Tickets: Free Parking: Parking is available on the roadside in the village.

The ancient buildings of Jishan are a series of history books written in brick, stone, wood and tile, and are the artistic treasures deposited in the long river of time. When we set foot on this land, it is like walking into the scroll of history. ❤Recommended attractions: ✅Jiwang Temple, the ancestral temple for worshiping Hou Ji. Jiwang Temple has three unique ancient buildings, exquisite stone carvings, magnificent glazed tiles, and wonderful wood carvings, which are exquisite to the "ceiling"! The wood carving of Hou Ji teaching the people to farm and the wood carving of the bell and drum tower are even more unique! 📝tips: Free before National Day ✅Macun Brick Carving Tomb, the "Underground Siheyuan" created by the medicinal diet family. Three highlights, women open the door, the tomb is arranged in the form of a Siheyuan, and the "banquet" scene in the tomb. 📝tips: Free before National Day ✅Qinglong Temple, amazing Yuan and Ming water and land murals. A palace of art, murals of water and land Taoist fields composed of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The characters in the picture are lifelike, as if they will walk down from the wall in the next moment, and there is also a huge monument of the Yuan Dynasty, "Yao Zhongsu Gong Shendao Monument". 📝tips: The murals are being repaired and are not open to the public ✅Dafo Temple, a thousand-year-old clay Buddha at a glance. The magnificent Buddha statue, evolved from the statue to the plastic statue. 📝tips: Free all year round ✅Yubi City Site, the birthplace of "Chile Song". Yubi City was the frontier town of the Western Wei Yuwen regime to resist the invasion of the Eastern Wei Gao regime. The well-known Northern Dynasty folk song "Chile Song" was written after Gao Huan's second attack on Yubi City was frustrated. 📝tips: Free all year round

📍 Location: Fawang Temple is located in Nanyang Village, 4 kilometers southwest of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is an ancient site that combines the architectural features of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. 🏛️ Introduction to the Scenic Spot: Fawang Hall: Xieshan-style building, with a front eave gallery, five purlin brackets, and a diagonal arch in the middle, with a simple structure. Dance Court: Three square rooms, surrounded by corridors on three sides, covered with a cross-hipped roof, is a place for performing plays to worship gods. Houtu Hall: Confronting Fawang Hall, it is divided into Xieshan and Xieshan styles, with different positions and structures. 🚗 Transportation: Train: Yuncheng City has trains to Beijing, Xi'an, Tianjin, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Datong, Linfen, and other places. Car: National Highway 209 passes through Yuncheng City, which can reach Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, and Huayin City, Shaanxi Province. Airplane: There are direct flights to Taiyuan from major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an, and then you can take a bus to get there. 🎢 Must-play Projects: Ancient Architecture Appreciation: Feel the architectural beauty of Fawang Temple. Cultural Exploration: Learn about the history and cultural background of Fawang Temple. Photography: Record the classical beauty of Fawang Temple with a camera. 🕳️ Pit Avoidance Guide: Opening Hours: It is only open for worship on the first day of each month and is not open at other times. 📸 Photo Check-in Points: In front of Fawang Hall: You can take a photo of the grandeur of the entire building. Dance Court: You can take a photo of the unique roof structure. 🍲 Food Recommendations: Jishan Pancake with Meat: A local snack that you can't miss. 📌 Tips: Wear comfortable shoes because you need to walk around. Respect local culture and customs and keep quiet.

📸When it comes to murals in Shanxi, many people think of the Yuan Dynasty mural "Chao Yuan Tu" in Yongle Palace, Yuncheng. However, not far from Yongle Palace, there are murals of the same style in Jishan, Shanxi, which are located in Qinglong Temple, Ma Village, Jishan County. 📸Although Qinglong Temple is not well-known, it is actually not difficult to get there. You can take a taxi from Jishan City, and the city view pass opened in Yuncheng City also has a station at Qinglong Temple. It is also next to the famous Ma Village brick carving tomb, and the two ancient sites can be played together. ✅Qinglong Temple has a look at the Yuan Dynasty wooden buildings. The three wide halls in the front yard (now the mountain gate), the middle hall and the main hall in the back yard are all wooden buildings of the Yuan Dynasty. ✅Qinglong Temple has two views of the Yuan Dynasty inscriptions "Yao Zhongsu Gong Shendao Stele", written by the famous minister Yu Ji and Jishan County people Yao Tianfu in the early Yuan Dynasty. This monument is the most famous monument of the Yuan Dynasty in Shanxi. There is also a Tang Dynasty square secret eaves stone pagoda in the monument pavilion. ✅Qinglong Temple has three views of murals. The murals of Qinglong Temple are mainly distributed in the Daxiong Hall and the Waist Hall Buddha Hall. These murals are mainly relics of the Yuan Dynasty, with a total of more than 180 square meters of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian murals. It can be said that these murals have experienced a period of vicissitudes. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese cut the murals and took them to Japan. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, these murals were returned under various efforts and returned to their homeland. 📸In addition, on the side of the door lintel of the gate, you can also see the characteristic "Journey to the West". The 8-meter-long and 0.6-meter-wide mural depicts Xuanzang, Sha Monk, and Sun Wukong. The front side is Xuanzang, followed by Sha Monk, and Sun Wukong is leading the white horse carrying the scriptures. 📸From the murals, you can see that Wukong is a monkey-shaped human body, wearing short clothes, leggings, and a tight hoop, and the white horse behind him is carrying the scriptures. 📸Let's take a look at the murals in the Buddha Hall, which are a fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The theme is the six reincarnations, cause and effect, etc., which are also the essence of Qinglong Temple murals. 📸The upper part of the west wall is painted with three Buddhas, the middle one is Sakyamuni, and the two sides are Rendeng Buddha and Maitreya Buddha. Below the three Buddhas is a picture of worshiping the Buddha. There are many characters in the murals, including emperors, princes, kings, civil and military officials, queens, and female officials. 📸Below the Buddha's picture is a group of gods, left and right protectors, ghost mothers, five emperors, five gods, and five immortals. 📸There are ten great Ming kings on the south side of the Buddha Hall. Below the ten great Ming kings are the four envoys of the year, month, day, and time. There are many characters in the lower part of the four envoys, including Confucius of Confucianism, famous ministers of the Three Kingdoms Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, etc., and Tang Taizong Li Shimin, Tang Guifei, Yang Yuhuan, etc. 📸The north side of the Buddha Hall is the nine horizontal death beings in Buddhism, as well as Anan and Yan Kou. 📸It can be said that the murals of Qinglong Temple and Yongle Palace are of the same origin, all are heavy color outlines, and they are all dominated by green and blue. The style and image of the characters are also of the same origin, and they are also the best in Chinese Yuan Dynasty murals.

In Nanyang Village, not far from Jishan County in Yuncheng City, walking about 500 meters along the main alley, an ancient temple comes into view. The door of the ancient temple is an old wooden door. The plaque on the mountain gate reads 'Temple of the Law King of Xuantian Emperor,' and the inscription on the ridge reads 'Built in the ninth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, the year of Gengwu.' On both sides of the mountain gate, there are couplets on the pillars, 'With a sword leaning on the long sky, the universe is bright and clear; Xuan Ying blesses the earth, the country is prosperous,' which is very imposing. It is said that the earliest statues of war gods were enshrined between the left and right walls. There are murals on the walls, and now only the south side has a plain ink painting of a tiger descending the mountain, coming with a roaring majesty. Pushing open the mountain gate, an ancient stage with flying eaves and upturned corners comes into view, which is shocking. Compared with the ancient buildings seen before, Nanyang Fawang Temple has a kind of 'natural beauty without adornment.' The ancient stage here, as a carrier of traditional Chinese opera culture, has witnessed the vicissitudes of history. Every wear and tear, every crack seems to tell an ancient story. In the middle of the back wall of the stage, there is a painting of 'Azure Dragon Emerging from the Clouds,' with paintings of the Eight Immortals on the left and right. These paintings were originally colored, but after being covered in dust for a long time, the colors inevitably became slightly dim, but the postures of the characters are varied, their clothes fluttering, extremely lively. The stage of Nanyang Fawang Temple is also called Wuting or Lelou. The horizontal plaque in the middle reads 'Harmony in Spring,' and the couplet reads 'Praying for a bountiful year with sacrificial vessels; singing of peace with flutes and strings.' The construction date of this stage is unknown. According to the stone tablet in the temple, it was rebuilt in the seventh year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty and has undergone several repairs since then. However, from its form, it has obvious characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty, making it a precious Ming Dynasty building with Yuan Dynasty features. Walking onto the stage, there are no exposed pillars inside, and the load-bearing pillars at the four corners are all built into the walls, making the space more spacious. The upper part of the stage, with interconnected beams, corner beams, upward beams, and dougong structures layer by layer, forms a delicate eight-trigram caisson. The caisson structure is very spectacular and rare, looking complex and ingenious, yet retaining an ancient and exquisite beauty. The large scale of this caisson allows one to intuitively feel the beauty of the wooden structure. Nanyang Fawang Temple has important value for studying the situation of opera activities in the northern region during the early Ming Dynasty. Ancient stages like this, where pictures, texts, and objects coexist, are rare and can be considered treasures of opera relics. Nanyang Fawang Temple has a kind of restrained and grand beauty. It avoids the disturbances of the world, standing quietly in the countryside, telling thousand-year-old stories, showcasing its unique charm, making it unforgettable at first sight. Fawang Temple

The cover photo is my favorite picture taken at the Machun brick carving tomb, with the sunlight on the ground passing through the gatehouse. It reminds people of the Kobolds in fairy tales—they only come out to hunt at night, turning everyone they encounter into deer to hunt. Then they stand on the ancient sandy ground, back to the moon, cutting the shadows on the ground with their feet, and the soul is clearly visible. 😊 The most interesting part of the brick carving tomb is the second picture of the woman opening the door in the tomb. She has a smiling face, kind and amiable. The ancients used the 'woman opening the door' as a metaphor for a symbol of a happy life, with a woman waiting at the door to welcome the male master, the family must be full of happiness and harmony. In the Machun brick carving tomb, this 'woman opening the door' contains the ancients' beautiful expectations for a good life and reincarnation in the next life, and can also be seen as a metaphor for the door as the central hub connecting the world of the living and the dead. 🚗🚗 tips: It's very convenient to drive from Yuncheng, about an hour's drive. There is parking available on the open ground. There is also the Qinglong Temple nearby (currently not accessible due to maintenance, said to open after the National Day). There is a restroom at the entrance of the brick carving tomb, but I didn't see it when I went in. The underground tomb is very cool, and the tombs are very narrow, so be careful.

The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains! The Kunlun Mountain Range! The Kunlun Mountains are an ancient fold mountain range, stretching over 2500 kilometers, divided into western, central, and eastern sections. Starting from the Pamir Plateau, it traverses the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region, extending eastward into the western part of Qinghai Province, reaching the northwestern part of Sichuan Province. The western section runs along the southern edge of the Tarim Basin from northwest to southeast. Here, the mountains are towering and steep, with an average altitude of 5500-6000 meters, and large glaciers are distributed over the tall mountain ranges. The Kunlun Mountains hold a prominent position as the 'Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains' in the cultural history of the Chinese nation. Ancient people referred to the Kunlun Mountains as the 'Ancestor of the Dragon Veins' of China. Many myths and legends passed down from ancient China are related to the Kunlun Mountains, which are considered the birthplace of the descendants of Yan and Huang. However, the Kunlun Mountain mentioned in many myths is not the actual 'Kunlun Mountain' but the Kunlun Mountain Range. The Kunlun Mountain in mythology is the 'Kunlun Fairy Mountain' that exists in reality.

Jishan County's Fawang Temple wasn't originally on our plan, but after visiting the brick carvings and tombs, we made a detour. Driving into Nanyang Village, construction was everywhere, with dust filling the air. At the end of the road was Fawang Temple, easy to find but with its gates firmly shut. 😭😭😭 An elderly lady came over, speaking to us enthusiastically, though we couldn't understand a word. She shuffled to the gate, pointed at a tattered sticker, and then sat down beside it, watching us intently. We moved closer and saw three names with phone numbers on the paper, so we called them one by one. The first didn't answer, the second was out playing, and the third was at a funeral but said they'd come with the keys to open the gate soon. It wasn't until the person arrived on a motorcycle from afar, keys in hand, that the temple's gates were opened, and the old lady's face lit up with a smile, revealing her concern about us being unable to enter. 😁😁😁 Who is the Fawang? The temple's gate provided the answer, inscribed with 'Temple of the Fawang of the Xuantian Shangdi,' indicating that the Fawang is the Northern Black Tortoise Emperor, also known as the God of the Northern Peak. (📌Photo 8) The mountain gate is exquisite, three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in green glazed tiles. An inscription on the plaque dates its construction to the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi era. Pushing open the heavy doors, you enter a stage, a typical cross-shaped double-eave Xieshan-style structure with yellow-green glazed tiles, surrounded by galleries on the left, right, and back sides (📌Photo 4). The interior caisson ceiling looks like a star when viewed from below, and the beam frame structure uses corner-bracing to reduce the number of columns. Although it's a Ming Dynasty stage, after removing the surrounding structures, it closely resembles those from the Yuan Dynasty (📌Photos 2, 6, 7). Further inside is the main hall, stunningly beautiful, with a single-eave hanging mountain roof, and intricate and exquisite ridge beasts and chiwen. (📌Photos 1, 3) A five-bay gallery has been added to the front, and the interior's upper and lower sections connect with the golden columns on the inside, forming the structure of the central hall. However, the statues inside are quite frightening, probably newly made. (📌Photo 9) The temple's cultural heritage officer hurried us to look quickly and leave soon; we only stayed for about ten minutes, while a black dog barked angrily the whole time. The officer, who had rushed from a funeral, was not pleased, but we were still grateful, hoping that such ancient buildings will still be there in many years, still cherished by people like us, who come with persistence for a visit.

Jishan Dafo The world's number one clay sculpture Buddha. Honestly, it's quite rare for the Buddha from the Yuan Dynasty to be preserved so intact to this day, especially considering it has survived nearly 20 earthquakes and fires. The monks in the temple say that when the main hall was struck by lightning and caught fire, the fire trucks were right there but didn't dare to put out the fire because the Buddha was made of clay and would have been destroyed by the high-pressure water jets. Miraculously, after the main hall was completely burned, the Buddha remained unscathed. This may be a kind of blessing, but it's more a testament to the ancient wisdom in constructing ancient buildings. 🪷 About the Dafo Temple The Daxiong Hall and other buildings in the temple are mostly imitations of Yuan Dynasty architecture, but the Buddha inside is an authentic sculpture from the Jin Dynasty, carved from pure loess. This is a more than 20-meter-tall, over 800-year-old clay sculpture Buddha. Inside the hall, there is a wooden staircase leading to the second floor, which is usually not open to the public. This time, I was fortunate enough to go upstairs and have a close encounter with the Buddha, which I consider to be a kind of fate. The stairs are very steep, and from behind the Buddha, you can see the dense curls on top of the Buddha's head. The Buddha's face is full and the ears hang over the shoulders. From the second floor, you can look closely into the Buddha's clear eyes. The Buddha's left hand is placed on the knee, and the right hand is raised high in a teaching gesture, probably representing a scene of preaching. The view from the second floor is truly amazing; from the first floor, it seems you can only see the Buddha's nostrils... you can't see all these details. 📍 Address: Jishan County, Yuncheng, Shanxi 🎫 Ticket: Free Some say the Buddha is Sakyamuni Buddha Actually, it's a Maitreya Buddha Don't disbelieve it‼️

The Kunlun Mountain Range, a grand mountain range that traverses the western part of China, is located on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. It stretches from the eastern part of the Pamir Plateau in the west to the upper valley of the Qaidam River in the east, spanning over 2,500 kilometers in length; the widest part is around 350 kilometers at 90°E, and the narrowest is about 150 kilometers near 81°E. Different documents have various internal divisions of the range, with some referring to it as having an eastern and western section, while others divide it into western, central, and eastern sections. The Kunlun Mountains hold a prominent position in the cultural history of the Chinese nation as the 'ancestor of all mountains.' It was the site of the Daoist Mixed Yuan Sect (Kunlun Sect) during the late Ming Dynasty. Many myths and legends passed down from ancient China are associated with the Kunlun Mountains, which are considered the birthplace of the descendants of Yan and Huang, the legendary ancestors of the Chinese people. However, the Kunlun Mountains mentioned in many myths are not the same as the actual Kunlun Mountain Range, but rather the 'Kunlun Fairy Mountain' that exists in reality. 🌟 Highlight Feature: Only from an airplane can one truly appreciate the vast expanse of the motherland's territory, where the mountains blend seamlessly with the clouds, and the snow-capped peaks are covered in a blanket of white. 🌟 Highlight Feature: The snowmelt flowing down from the Tianshan Mountains gathers into streams, eventually making its way to the great rivers.

Exploring the Pamir Plateau The only county in China with a Caucasian population On the Pamir Plateau, there is a county town with an average altitude of over 4000 meters, where China's only Caucasian population resides. It is called Tashkurgan, also known as Taxkorgan County. This place borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, and has been rated by National Geographic as the most extraordinary county town. It is like a dazzling pearl set upon the Pamir Plateau. Here, there are snow-capped mountains welcoming the wind, the Tian Ge Pasture with herds of cattle and sheep, the mysterious and majestic Kunlun Mountain area, and the Pamir Plateau, known as the ancestor of mountains and the source of rivers. Within the territory of Taxkorgan, there are 4 peaks over 8000 meters high, accounting for one-third of the world's total, and their majestic and spectacular sights are breathtaking. The Karakoram Highway, like a giant dragon, winds through this magical land, with over 100 peaks exceeding 7000 meters in altitude along the way. Glacial meltwater nourishes the lush grasslands, creating a paradise for wild animals and providing pastures essential for the survival of nomadic peoples. The Tajik people, known as the 'People above the Clouds,' not only attract attention with their unique culture and traditions but also shoulder the important mission of guarding the frontier, closely connected to this land. Let us walk into the snow mountains together, feel their majesty and tranquility, follow the Karakoram Highway into Taxkorgan, and experience the Tajik people's love and commitment to this land. Follow me to discover the unique beauty of Xinjiang.

Explore the Pamir Plateau The only county in China with a Caucasian population On the Pamir Plateau, there is a county town with an average altitude of over 4000 meters, inhabited by China's only Caucasian population, known as Tashkurgan, or simply Taxkorgan County. This place borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, and has been rated by National Geographic as the most extraordinary county town. It is like a dazzling pearl set upon the Pamir Plateau. Here, you can find snow-capped mountains welcoming the wind, flocks of cattle and sheep on the Tian Ge pasture, the mysterious and majestic Kunlun mountain range, and the roof of the world, the Pamir Plateau, which is the ancestor of all mountains and the source of all waters. Taxkorgan County has four peaks over 8000 meters high, accounting for one-third of such peaks worldwide, and their majestic and spectacular sights are breathtaking. The Karakoram Highway, like a mighty dragon, winds through this magical land, with over 100 snow-capped mountains along the way that are over 7000 meters high. Glacial meltwater nourishes the lush grasslands, creating a paradise for wildlife and providing pastures essential for the survival of nomadic tribes. The Tajik people, known as the 'People above the Clouds,' not only attract attention with their unique culture and traditions but also carry the important mission of guarding the frontier, closely connected to this land. Let us walk into the snow mountains together to feel their majesty and tranquility, and follow the Karakoram Highway into Taxkorgan County to experience the Tajik people's love and dedication to this land. Follow me to discover the unique beauty of Xinjiang.

Explore the Pamir Plateau The only county in China with a Caucasian population On the Pamir Plateau, there is a county with an average altitude of over 4000 meters, where the only Caucasians in China live. It is called Tashkurgan, also known as Taxkorgan County. This place borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, and has been rated by National Geographic as the most impressive county. It is like a dazzling pearl set upon the Pamir Plateau. Here, there are snow-capped mountains welcoming the wind, herds of cattle and sheep on the Tian Ge pasture, the mysterious and majestic Kunlun mountain range, and the roof of the world, the Pamir Plateau, which is the ancestor of all mountains and the source of all waters. Within the territory of Taxkorgan, there are 4 peaks over 8000 meters high, accounting for one-third of the world's total, and their majestic and spectacular sights are breathtaking. The Karakoram Highway is like a giant dragon winding through this magical land, with over 100 peaks along the way that exceed 7000 meters in altitude. The glacial meltwater nourishes the lush grasslands, becoming a paradise for wild animals and providing pastures for the nomadic people to rely on for survival. The Tajik people are known as the 'people above the clouds' and are not only notable for their unique culture and traditions but also bear the important mission of guarding the border, closely connected to this land. Let us walk into the snow mountains together, feel their majesty and tranquility, follow the Karakoram Highway into Taxkorgan, and experience the Tajik people's love and dedication to this land. Follow me to appreciate the different beauties of Xinjiang.

| Yuncheng | Qinglong Temple. Cultural Relics on the Ground: Shanxi | Yuncheng | Qinglong Temple. 🕍 Qinglong Temple in Jishan County is next to the Duan family tombs. It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, but unfortunately, the Tang Dynasty buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The current structures were rebuilt during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and more than a dozen buildings in the front and rear courtyards are relatively well-preserved. The main hall, waist hall, and Jialan hall of Qinglong Temple all have murals, among which the waist hall is considered the essence, depicting monks worshipping the Buddhas of the three realms and conducting water and land rituals for the salvation of souls. The entire composition of the hall contains more than 300 figures, spread over 130 square meters of wall space. The west wall features the Buddhas of the Three Worlds and worship scenes, below which is a Taoist pantheon; the north wall features the Eighteen Arhats, below which are the Ten Kings of Hell and the Six Paths of Reincarnation, as well as scenes of the underworld's execution grounds; the east wall murals have been weathered by sun and rain, making the features difficult to discern. 🛕 The murals of Qinglong Temple inherit the painting techniques developed since the Tang and Song dynasties and are considered masterpieces of Yuan and Ming dynasty painting. The style and details of the murals show a lineage with the murals of Yongle Palace, characterized by layering numerous figures vertically, but with less grandeur than those of Yongle Palace, and they have suffered more damage. 🛕 The famous 'Holding a Scepter Taiyi' on the west wall of the Sanqing Hall of Yongle Palace, and a figure in the western wall of Qinglong Temple among the great Yaksha group holding a scepter dressed as an emperor (cover image), are extremely similar in terms of clothing, headgear, and brushwork. A peculiar rock in the murals of the Sanqing Hall, resembling a bull's head, is the unique signature of Zhu Haogu, a folk painter from southern Shanxi during the Yuan Dynasty. Similar rocks can be found in the murals of Xinghua Temple and Qinglong Temple, suggesting a lineage among the three. 💡Tips: On June 25, 2001, the State Council announced it as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

[Jinshan Jimei·Jishan·Ancestor of the God of Agriculture, Three Wonders of Crown Beauty] Continue south and arrive at Jishan County. There are several national treasures hidden in the small county town. Jiwang Temple is located in the center of the county. It is a complete temple dedicated to Houji, the founder of farming. It is the largest of the existing Jiwang temples in Shanxi. When we went there, the venue was private and there were almost no people in sight. The wood carvings and stone carvings of the Qing Dynasty are worth savoring. The architecture is magnificent, especially the two bell and drum towers in front of the Xian Palace. They have unique shapes and exquisite carvings. I spent more than an hour visiting the small Jiwang Temple before leaving. Tips: Jiwang Temple has three unique features: 1⃣️Liu Li: The colored glaze of Jiwang Temple is divided into seven colors: yellow, orange, red, green, blue, blue, and purple, which are brilliant and ever-changing. The colored tiles on the roof and the flowers, flowing clouds, celestial horses, immortals, and mythical animals on the ridge are all made of colored glaze. The most exciting thing is that the main ridge of colored glaze in Houji Tower is more than 1 meter high, and there are about 5 feet high colored glaze ridges standing at both ends. Chi kiss. There are also glazed statues of Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Luo Cheng and Han Xin at the foot of Houji Tower as a backing up. 2⃣️Stone sculpture: The stone carvings in the Jiwang Temple are definitely based on the art of divine craftsmanship. The most praiseworthy ones are the two dragon stone pillars in front of Houji Tower. They adopt the hollow high-relief technique. One is a fire dragon passing through the flaming red bird. Stone pillars, one is a water dragon stone pillar with clouds surging, fish leaping and dragons flying. The walls on the east and west sides of the Xian Hall are engraved with the Eight Views of Jishan and the Seven Ancient Chapters of Li Jingchun respectively. 3⃣️Woodcut: The eye-catching wood carvings of Jiwang Temple use a still method to show the history of its walking. On the balustrades under the eaves of the front and rear halls, there are pictures of Hou Ji leading people to engage in agricultural activities.