[2025 Yuncheng Attraction] Travel Guide for Chunqiu Tower (Updated Apr)

The Jiezhou Guandi Temple, located in Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng, Shanxi, is the ancestral temple of all Guandi Temples worldwide and a sacred site commemorating Guan Yu, the renowned general of the Three Kingdoms period. Originally built during the Sui Dynasty and having undergone a thousand years of renovations, it is now the largest and most completely preserved Guandi Temple in China. The temple is laid out along a central axis, divided into "front court and rear chambers," showcasing a simple and elegant architectural style that embodies the essence of ancient Chinese architectural art. • Shanmen (Main Gate): Simple and solemn, the "Guandi Temple" plaque hanging above the gate highlights the temple's majesty. • Wumen (Noon Gate): The plaque above the Wumen, inscribed with "Awe-Inspiring Across China," was personally written by Emperor Qianlong, demonstrating the temple's esteemed status. • Main Hall: Housing a 6-meter-tall bronze statue of Guan Yu, the hall exudes solemnity and reverence. The murals and wood carvings within are exquisite. • Chunqiu Tower: Named after Guan Yu's nighttime readings of the Spring and Autumn Annals, the tower features the architectural marvel of "hanging beams and supporting pillars," a truly breathtaking sight. • Imperial Garden: The temple's garden landscape, with its pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and ponds, offers picturesque views at every turn, showcasing the elegance of Jiangnan gardens.

Located in Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, Jiezhou Guandi Temple is the largest and most completely preserved Guandi temple in China. It is also the ancestral temple commemorating Guan Yu, the famous general of the Three Kingdoms period. Originally built during the Sui Dynasty and renovated and expanded throughout the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the temple now covers an area of approximately 730,000 square meters. Its magnificent architecture embodies the essence of ancient Chinese architectural art. The temple faces south with a central axis running through it. Its layout is precise and divided into two main areas: the front court and the rear court. The front court mainly consists of structures such as the main gate, the second gate, and the noon gate, while the rear court includes core buildings like the main hall and the Chunqiu Tower. Strolling through the temple, you'll feel as if you've traveled through time, experiencing the spirit of Guan Yu's "loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and courage." 🌟Highlights • Main Gate: The "face" of the temple, simple and solemn, with the plaque "Guandi Temple" hanging above, highlighting the temple's majesty. • Main Hall: Houses the statue of Guan Yu, solemn and respectful. The exquisite murals inside depict important events from Guan Yu's life. • Chunqiu Tower: Named after Guan Yu's nighttime readings of the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, the tower houses precious cultural relics and ancient books, making it an important place to learn about Guan Yu's culture. • Imperial Garden: The temple's garden landscape, with pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and ponds, offers picturesque scenery at every turn, showcasing the elegance of Jiangnan gardens.

The Jiezhou Guan Di Temple in Yuncheng is located north of the Yanchi Salt Lake and faces the Zhongtiao Mountains. Originally built in 589 during the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era, it was expanded and renovated during the Song and Ming Dynasties. It was destroyed by a fire in 1702 during the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi period and took over a decade to restore. The Jiezhou Guan Di Temple is the largest existing palace-style Taoist architectural complex and military temple. It is known as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples" and the "Crown of Military Temples." 👀Must-sees ✅A popular photo spot is the horizontal plaque inscribed by Emperor Qianlong, "Shen Yong" (Divine Valor). The matching refrigerator magnets were sold out at the souvenir shop, but I finally found one at the Yuncheng Museum, although the quality wasn't great for 38 RMB. ✅Guan Di Temple has two beautiful coffered ceilings, one in the Imperial Library and the other in the Chunqiu Tower. The chrysanthemum coffered ceiling in Chunqiu Tower is truly magnificent👏. There's a 30 RMB fee to go upstairs, but it's worth it‼️ ✅The three gates: Duan Gate, Zhi Gate, and Wu Gate

Although there are thousands of Guan Di Temples, the one in Jiezhou is the oldest, largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved, covering a total area of 220,000 square meters. It truly deserves its title as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples"👍 The temple is divided into two parts: the Jieyi Garden and the main temple. The main temple has a complete layout, with the front hall and the rear palace. Along the central axis are the screen wall, Duan Gate, Zhi Gate, Wu Gate, Yushu Tower, Chongning Tower, and Chunqiu Tower. On both sides, there are bell and drum towers, stele pavilions, and corridors. A popular photo spot is the horizontal plaque with the inscription "Shen Yong" (Divine Valor), written by Emperor Qianlong. The matching fridge magnets were sold out at the souvenir shop😭, but luckily, I found one at the Yuncheng Museum. However, the quality wasn't great for 38 RMB, so buy with caution. Guan Di Temple boasts two beautiful caissons, one in Yushu Tower and the other in Chunqiu Tower. The chrysanthemum caisson in Chunqiu Tower is truly breathtaking👏 There's a fee to go upstairs, but it's worth it‼️

The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, Yuncheng, is located to the north of the Salt Lake and faces the Zhongtiao Mountains. Founded in 589 AD, the ninth year of the Kaihuang reign of the Sui Dynasty, it is the largest existing palace-style Taoist building complex and martial arts temple, and is known as the "ancestor of Guan temples" and the "crown of martial arts temples." Guandi Temple is very big, with many attractions👀 👉Must-see contents include ✅ Qianlong's "Divine Bravery" ✅ Meridian Gate: a building with a hip roof, usually only the imperial palace has a Meridian Gate ✅ Bagua Caisson: carved with two dragons playing with a pearl, in the Imperial Library ✅ Chrysanthemum Caisson: the only one in the country, in the Spring and Autumn Building ✅ The only real statue of Guan Erye, on the second floor of the Spring and Autumn Building ps. It costs an additional 30 yuan to climb to the second floor of the Spring and Autumn Building. Cold light flashlights, amulets, and shoe covers will be distributed on site, which can be taken back. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 🧩Name: Jiezhou Guandi Temple 📍Address: No. 145, Wuyi Road, Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng, Shanxi 🈺️Time: 08:00-18:00 (peak season 4/1-10/31) 09:00-17:00 (off-season 11/1-3/31) 💰Tickets: 60 yuan in peak season, 50 yuan in off-season

Location: Jiezhou Guan Di Temple, Jiezhou Town, Jiezhou Village, Yuncheng. You can take buses No. 11, 21, etc., to get there in Yuncheng. Peak season tickets are 60 yuan, and off-season tickets are 50 yuan. Features: There are probably two to three hundred thousand Guan Di temples nationwide, but this place is called the Guan Di General Temple, making it worth a visit. As soon as you arrive at the high-speed rail station in Yuncheng, you can see a large statue of Guan Gong. Guan Gong is depicted holding a sword and reining in his horse, with his left hand holding the reins and his right hand holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, showcasing his heroic and majestic demeanor. Main Attractions: This Guan Di General Temple covers a total area of 260,000 square meters and has more than 200 rooms, making it the largest one I have ever seen. It is the ancestor of temples commemorating Guan Gong. The Guan Di Temple is divided into two parts: the main temple and the Jieyi Garden. It is the largest existing palace-style Taoist architectural complex and martial temple, known as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples" and the "Crown of Martial Temples". Inside the Guan Di Temple, there are plaques inscribed by Emperor Kangxi with "Righteousness Shines Through the Universe", Emperor Qianlong with "Divine Courage", Emperor Xianfeng with "The Ultimate of Humanity for All Ages", and Empress Dowager Cixi with "Majestic and Awe-inspiring", all of which are extremely solemn and dignified. The representative building of this Guan Di Temple is the "Spring and Autumn Tower". The "Guan Gong Belief and Customs" has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. There is also a large relief sculpture introducing the life of Guan Gong at the temple gate.

🌟Yuncheng Guandi Temple Hiking Travel Guide🌟 👣 Hiking Route Planning Starting Point: Jiezhou Guandi Temple 🏯 Start from the main gate of Guandi Temple, walk along the paths around the temple, and feel the historical sediment and natural tranquility. Highlights Along the Way 🏞️ Chunqiu Tower: A treasure among ancient buildings, the suspended beam and column structure is not to be missed. Statue of Guan Yu: Majestic and solemn, a holy place for blessings and wishes. Kangxi's Calligraphy 'Righteousness Shines Through the Universe' and Qianlong's Inscription 'Divine Courage': A dual enjoyment of calligraphy and history, an excellent background for photography. 🍽️ Food Recommendations Jiezhou Lamb Pao Mo 🍲 Made with high-quality lamb and flour, the bread is soft, the meat is tender, the soup is rich and flavorful, a specialty of Yuncheng area. Beixiang Lamb Hupo and Lamb Offal Stew 🍲 Also worth trying, savor the authentic Yuncheng flavors. 📅 Best Time to Visit Spring and Autumn 🍂🍃 The weather is pleasant, the scenery is beautiful, making it the best season for hiking. 🚗 Transportation Self-driving or Chartering a Car 🚗 Yuncheng Guandi Temple is a certain distance from the city center, self-driving or chartering a car is more convenient. 💡 Tips Respect local beliefs and customs 🙏 Keep the environment clean, pay attention to sun protection and hydration.

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The Guan Di Temple in Jiezhou was first built in the Sui Dynasty and has a history of more than 1400 years. After the Guan Di Temple was burned down by a fire, it took eleven years to rebuild in the 52nd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1713), and the main structure is a Qing Dynasty building. As of 2023, it is the earliest, largest, highest-ranking and best-preserved Guan Di Temple. The total area of the Guan Di Temple in Jiezhou is 220,000 square meters, divided into the main temple and the Sworn Brotherhood Garden, with the Sworn Brotherhood Garden in the south. During the Xuanhe period of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Guan Gong was included in the objects of official worship. According to the 'Song History·Volume 58·Ritual Eight', in the fifth year of Xuanhe (1123), after Guan Yu was conferred the title of 'Yiyong Wu'an King', he was worshipped in the 'Wucheng King Temple'. The lions of the Guan Di Temple in Jiezhou hold their heads high and chest out, mighty and strong; the iron men are in the image of foreigners, with high noses and deep eyes, and are foreigners who feed lions, which are exquisite castings of the Ming Dynasty. Not only does it have high value for studying the casting technology of the Ming Dynasty, but it also provides important physical evidence for studying ancient costumes. In 1988, the Guan Di Temple in Jiezhou was announced by the State Council as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2005, the Guan Di Temple in Jiezhou was rated as a national AAAA level tourist attraction.

[The goodness of Shanxi, the beauty of Jin, Yuncheng, great righteousness and undying loyalty] The last stop of the trip to Shanxi was a visit to Lord Guan. Yuncheng is the hometown of Guan Gong, where is located the largest Guandi ancestral temple in the country - Jiezhou Guandi Temple (rebuilt during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty). When I visited, the sky was gloomy and there was a drizzle. I suddenly felt that such weather was very consistent with Guan Gong's tragic life. Guan Yu has been revered by the people since the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and emperors of all dynasties have conferred titles on him. It was not until the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty that he was finally canonized as a saint, a thousand years after his death. The Xiezhou Guandi Temple is very big. You can walk around and look around, recalling the scenes of the Three Kingdoms. Whether Guan Gong was canonized as a saint or not is not the point; his loyalty and courage are the reasons why the common people admire him. Tips: The Guandi Ancestral Temple in Jiezhou has been expanded and renovated in all dynasties. Most of the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is adjacent to the majestic and beautiful Tiaoshan Mountain in the south and the vast blue Silver Lake in the north. The temples and pavilions complement the scenery of the lake and mountains. It is a well-preserved, large-scale ancient building complex with a traditional Chinese "courtyard in front and bedroom in the rear" and a palace-style layout with central axis symmetry. On the central axis are arranged Duanmen, Zhimen, Wumen, Imperial Library, Chongning Hall, and Chunqiu Tower in sequence. On both sides are wooden archways, stone archways, stele pavilions, bell pavilions and east-west corridors. The towering buildings are matched with towering pines and cypresses, giving it a royal style. Hanging in the temple are plaques written by Emperor Kangxi himself, "Yi Bing Qian Kun", Emperor Qianlong's "Shen Yong", Emperor Xianfeng's "Wan Shi Ren Ji", and Empress Dowager Cixi's "Wei Ling Zhen Die", which are truly treasures. The "Spring and Autumn Tower", the most important building in the temple, is a treasure among ancient Chinese buildings.

The Xiezhou Guandi Temple was founded in the ninth year of Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty (589 AD), and was expanded and rebuilt in subsequent dynasties. It reached its peak in the late Ming Dynasty! The existing building was rebuilt after a fire in the forty-first year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1702), which took ten years. The total area reaches 220,000 square meters! Compared with the 720,000 square meters of the Forbidden City, it can be seen that the scale of the Temple of Martial Arts is huge! Therefore, the Xiezhou Guandi Temple is the largest, best-preserved, and highest-level palace-style temple complex among the existing martial temples in my country. It is known as the "ancestor of Guan Temple" and the "crown of Wu Temple"! The temple faces south and consists of three major parts: the Jieyi Garden, the main temple courtyard, the side courtyards and the Imperial Garden. The main temple courtyard follows the palace-like layout of "court in front and bedroom in the back", with a total of 10 palace gates, 7 archways, 6 halls, 5 pavilions, 2 pavilions and 1 screen wall. This kind of layout and scale is unique among all Guandi Temples, which shows the respect that Jiezhou people have for this historical figure! The temple has plaques written by Emperor Kangxi, "Yi Bing Qian Kun", Emperor Qianlong, "Shen Yong", Emperor Xianfeng, "Wan Shi Ren Ji", Empress Dowager Cixi, "Wei Ling Zhen Die", etc., and the "Chongning Hall" and "Chunqiu Building" are representative buildings! The archway, high walls and gates all enhance the majesty of Guandi! The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has spread Guan Yu's reputation for loyalty and righteousness for a thousand years! But unlike other heroes of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu was gradually deified in later generations and was revered by the people as "Guan Gong", also known as the man with beautiful beard. He was honored by the imperial courts of all dynasties, but they were all granted the title of duke. Since the Ming Dynasty, his status has gradually increased, and he was named "The Great Emperor of the Three Realms, the Godly and Powerful, the Heavenly and Powerful, the Guan Sheng Emperor"! During the Qing Dynasty, he was even worshipped as "the loyal and righteous god, the benevolent and brave Guan Sheng Dadi", and was revered as the "Martial Saint", on par with the "Literary Saint" Confucius! At this point, Guan Gong's status in Chinese history reached its peak. Travel tips: 1. The parking lot fee for a small car is 10 yuan per time. After parking, if you don’t want to walk to the scenic area, you can wait for the free electric car to take you there. It takes no more than 10 minutes to walk from the nearest parking lot (it seems to be Parking Lot 2) to the entrance, and it is an easy walk. 2. Tickets: Shanxi Cultural and Tourism Tickets are free; tickets purchased one day in advance are 54/person, tickets purchased at the door are 60, and children are half price. 3. You must hire a tour guide to visit the cultural landscapes, which costs 80 yuan and takes more than 2 hours. You can get a stamp collection manual for free at the entrance, and you can collect three large stamps.

It is said that Jiezhou Guandi Temple was built in the late Chen Dynasty and early Sui Dynasty, and by the late Ming Dynasty, the temple was almost built according to the level of the court. However, most of the ancient buildings could not escape the fate of being repeatedly built and destroyed. The existing buildings are mostly left over from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Although the scale is not as large as before, it is still admirable. Jiezhou Guandi Temple was established in the ninth year of Sui Kaihuang (589 AD), and was expanded and renovated during the Song and Ming Dynasties. It was destroyed by fire in the forty-first year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1702 AD), and it took more than ten years to restore. Jiezhou Guandi Temple has a total area of 260,000 square meters, with more than 200 rooms, divided into the main temple and the Jieyi Garden, it is the largest existing palace-style Taoist building group and martial temple, known as the 'ancestor of Guan Temple' and 'crown of martial temple'. The temple is hung with plaques such as Kangxi's imperial pen 'Yi Bing Qian Kun', Qianlong's imperial 'Shen Yong', Xianfeng's imperial book 'Wan Shi Ren Ji', and Cixi's handwritten 'Wei Ling Zhen Die', the representative building is 'Spring and Autumn Building'. You can take bus No. 11 from Yuncheng Railway Station to Jiezhou Guandi Temple The journey takes about 40-50 minutes