[2025 Dai County Attraction] Travel Guide for Daizhou Ancient City (Updated May)

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.

Standing beneath the mottled city walls of Bianjing Tower, I suddenly understood the weight of the words "Wei Zhen San Guan" (威镇三关). This military tower, built in the seventh year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, stands proudly in the morning mist outside Yanmen Pass. The iron horses hanging from the eaves clink in the wind, reminiscent of the armor of the border guards six hundred years ago. Dai County, an ancient border town polished by history, tells the legend of war and peace, and the intertwining of poetry and music with its blue bricks and black tiles. The Lingxing Gate of the Dai County Confucian Temple leads me into another time and space. The five courtyards unfold one by one, and the nine-ridge Xieshan roof of the Dacheng Hall glows warmly in the autumn sun. Touching the mane of the Yuan Dynasty stone lion smoothed by time, I suddenly see a flock of startled pigeons flying over the stele corridor. The stone tablets engraved with the names of scholars from past dynasties are silent, but I can clearly hear the recitation of the Book of Songs penetrating five hundred years of time. The old pine tree in front of the main hall has gnarled branches, and the cracks in the branches hide the dawn and dusk of hard study. Following the legend of the Yang family generals, I enter the village of Lutuijian. In front of the brick-carved screen wall of the Yang Zhongwu Temple, the story of loyalty and bravery flows in the light and shadow. The portrait of Yang Ye enshrined deep in the temple has eyes like torches, and the incense ash left on the mottled offering table carries the scent of incense lit by overseas travelers returning home to worship their ancestors. The old man guarding the temple rubs the Song Dynasty stone lion with his calloused fingers, telling the legend of the Yang family women generals. Outside the wall, children are practicing formations with wooden swords, and history and reality overlap into vivid rings of time. The white jade figure of the Ayuwang Pagoda emerges in the morning bell of the Bailin Temple. This Yuan Dynasty stupa has thirteen layers of wheels piercing the blue sky, and a few sparrows perch on the lotus reliefs at the base of the pagoda. Climbing the stone steps of the Bairenyan Temple, the Buddha statues in the Northern Wei Dynasty caves still have the solemnity of the Pingcheng era, while the old monk brewing tea in the pavilion halfway up the mountain continues the Zen spirit with a purple clay teapot. The Tang Dynasty locust tree of Bailin Temple, the suspended buildings of Zhao Gao Temple, and the Eight Trigrams caisson of Phoenix Temple, each corner hides the amber of time. As dusk falls on the Drum Tower, I find half a piece of Song Dynasty porcelain on the ruins of the ancient city wall. Did the soldiers six hundred years ago also gaze at the cold moon over the mountains? Dai County, a living border museum, has turned war and peace, strength and elegance into aged wine. When the wind outside Yanmen Pass rings the bronze bell of the Confucian Temple, I hear history rustling in the cracks of the bricks - this is not a specimen-like ancient city, but a living epic with a cultural pulse.

Dai County Ancient City When we arrived in Dai County, we chose to stay at Lihua Hotel. Standing at the entrance of the hotel, I felt like I was at an office building or school. There was no luxurious decoration, just a simple building. However, the hotel lobby was spacious and bright. During the holiday, the hotel had many guests. After we hurriedly checked in, we immediately started to visit the attractions in the ancient city. When we returned to the hotel, it was already evening. The clean and tidy environment and comfortable room made us feel at home after a long day. When the staff saw us return, they promptly brought us some snacks. There were many cultural and tourism products from Dai County Ancient City in the room. When we went to the restaurant for breakfast, we found that the hardware conditions were good. It seemed that the restaurant often hosted wedding banquets and large conferences. Compared with the other hotels we stayed at during this trip, the breakfast was simpler and had fewer varieties. It mainly consisted of local Shanxi food, such as millet porridge, steamed potatoes, boiled corn, and whole grain steamed buns. There was no Western food or drinks, which was a bit disappointing.

Bell and Drum Towers are traditional Chinese architecture, referring to bell towers and drum towers, and were mainly used for timekeeping in ancient China. There are two types of Bell and Drum Towers, one built in the palace and the other in the city center, mostly two-story buildings. The Dai County Bell Tower is a brick and wood structure built before the 14th year of the Chenghua period of the Ming dynasty. The interior of the bell tower is not open to the public, so you can only view it from the outside. It is worth mentioning that there is an iron bell in the bell tower, which was built in the Jin dynasty and was used to transmit messages and warn of military situations. The bell tower and the drum tower (Bianjing Tower) complement each other, forming the unique scenery of Dai County. The ancient is always a little sad. For more than 500 years, it has quietly spread over the vast land outside the pass, letting the wind and sand rage. Tile, eaves, roof ridge beasts, cross-hipped roof... I approached it quietly with awe, not daring to be presumptuous, not daring to be ostentatious, just a visit... With songs as a gift, I pay tribute to the mountains and rivers, to the years, and to the light of China. 📌TIPS: 📍Location: Search for Dai County Bell Tower in the navigation. 💰Ticket: Free 🅿️Parking: The bell tower is next to the county government, and there is a parking lot next to the county government, free parking. ⏱️Tour time: 15-20 minutes 💚Nearby: The bell tower is located in Dai County Ancient City, and the open attractions in the ancient city are not far away, so you can park your car in one place and walk around, which is more convenient. Ayuwang Pagoda - Mao Zedong's Residence - Glazed Well - Zhou Dai's Residence - Dai County Bell Tower - Bianjing Tower - General Temple - Dai County Confucian Temple You can visit them in one day. 🧡There are parking lots in front of Bianjing Tower and Confucian Temple, which charge 10 yuan for the first three hours, and 2 yuan per hour thereafter, with a maximum charge of 12 hours, and 24 hours as a billing cycle. 💚Dai County specialties: 🌈Dai County yellow wine, Dai County chili, Dai County crisp pear, Dai County sorghum noodles 🌈Dai County yellow wine is a major specialty of Dai County, with a long history and unique brewing process. It is golden in color, mild and mellow, and has enjoyed the reputation of "Dai County golden wave and jade crisp" since the Song dynasty. 🧡Clothing: In ancient times, the border area was 3-4 degrees lower than the south of Dai County, and it was windy, so bring a thick coat to keep warm.

Dai County Confucius Temple is located in the county seat of Dai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and was rebuilt in 1367 (the 27th year of the Yuan Dynasty). From 1983 to 1986, it was repaired with national funds. The Confucius Temple is oriented from north to south and is divided into three courtyards: front, middle, and back. Along the central axis, there are Wanrenfang, Lingxing Gate, Ji Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Temple. The Chongsheng Temple in the backyard is the place where Confucius' five generations of ancestors were worshipped. The Dacheng Hall in the middle courtyard is the main building of the Confucius Temple. It is seven rooms wide and five rooms deep. It has a single eave and a hipped roof. The hall and each square are covered with green glazed tiles. It is a magnificent and magnificent classical building. There are two ancient locust trees in the front yard of the Tang Dynasty. After experiencing vicissitudes of life, they are still lush. The heart of the ancient locust tree on the north side is already empty, but it is still full of vitality. For thousands of years, it has been regarded as the spiritual place of Daizhou culture by the people. It attracts many candidates from ancient times to the present to hang red wishes on the tree. Dai County Confucius Temple is the largest and best-preserved ancient building complex in Dai County, and the largest state Confucius Temple in North China. In 2006, Dai County Confucius Temple was designated as a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Daizhou Ancient City After visiting Xinzhou Ancient City in Shanxi, we drove for over 90 kilometers and headed straight to Daizhou Ancient City in Daixian County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. This ancient city has a history of over 2,300 years. In the ancient city, we visited Bianjing Tower, Ashoka Pagoda, Zhou Dai Official Residence, Daixian Confucian Temple, Martial Temple, Bell Tower, Daizhou Government Office, Ciyun Zen Temple, and tasted the newly opened Qiaoji Braised Noodles. It was a fruitful trip. Bianjing Tower, the first tower of the Great Wall, is also the face of Daizhou Ancient City. At the foot of the tower, the first two generals are dressed in armor and riding horses with spears. The ancient warriors behind them are also dressed in armor and holding spears, walking with their heads held high. This scene is like a time travel, taking people back to the ancient battlefield over 600 years ago. There are ten drums on the tower, symbolizing five grains harvest, peace and joy, all the best, peace and prosperity, good weather, beautiful moon, national prosperity and people's happiness, gold and jade full house, longevity, and leaping dragon. Three stone tablets standing silently for hundreds of years tell the stories of the past. Ashoka Pagoda, also known as the White Pagoda, is a stupa built by Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty to house the relics of the Buddha. It was originally a wooden structure and was rebuilt as a brick pagoda during the Yuan Dynasty. The appearance of this brick pagoda is unique. It is the northernmost pagoda among the nineteen pagodas in China that are highly respected by the Buddhist community. Therefore, it is very famous in the religious world. Zhou Dai Official Residence is located in a quiet alley in the ancient city. Zhou Dai was a famous political and military figure in modern China. He served as the artillery commander of Yan Xishan, the leader of the Shanxi clique. His official residence was built in the 1930s and is a typical northern building of the Republic of China period. Daizhou Confucian Temple, also known as Confucius Temple, was first built during the Tang Dynasty. It is the largest prefecture-level Confucian Temple in North China and a rare classical building in Shanxi. During the visit, we saw many tourists bringing their children here to pray devoutly. Martial Temple, also known as Guan Di Temple, is commonly called Laoye Temple. It has a history of 700 years and is a relic of the Yuan Dynasty. Ciyun Zen Temple, Daizhou Government Office, and Bell Tower are also attractions in the ancient city, not far from each other. Ciyun Zen Temple was originally Ciyun Nunnery, a quiet place for Buddhist practice in the bustling city. Daizhou Government Office is now the seat of Daixian Government. There is a Chairman Mao Residence Memorial Hall inside. The Bell Tower is located on the edge of a bustling commercial district and is also a key cultural relic with a history of 650 years. After a quick tour of the ancient city, we gained a lot. It was really worth the trip! Warm reminder: Bianjing Tower ticket: 20 yuan/person; Daizhou Confucian Temple ticket: 28 yuan/person; Zhou Dai Official Residence ticket: 20 yuan/person. Free admission for people over 60 years old. Ashoka Pagoda, Martial Temple, Bell Tower, Daizhou Government Office, and Ciyun Zen Temple are all free to visit.

| A living ancient city. 📍 Dai County, formerly known as Dai Prefecture, is under the jurisdiction of Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. It is 20 kilometers north of Yanmen Pass and has been a frontier fortress and military town guarding the north throughout the ages. "The Yinshan Mountains stretch north for 3,000 miles, and the first prefecture south of the Zise Pass", the small county has three national protected units: Bianjing Tower, Confucian Temple, and Ashoka Pagoda. Liang Sicheng once praised the Dai Prefecture Ancient City as "a wonderful plan", which is enough to show its profound historical and cultural heritage. 🏯 This is the last city inside Yanmen Pass, a historical and cultural city of China, and a severely underestimated treasure city. Stroll through the Dai Prefecture Ancient City and encounter historical civilizations scattered throughout the streets and alleys. 🎓 Confucian Temple 🎓 The Dai County Confucian Temple faces south, with three courtyards in front, middle, and back. It adopts a symmetrical layout on the central axis. From south to north, they are Wanrenfang, Lingxing Gate, Panchi, Jimen, Dacheng Hall, and Jingyi Pavilion. In front of Jimen, there are three temples: Minghuan, Xianxian, and Jiexiao. On both sides of Dacheng Hall, there are fifteen corridors. The Dai County Confucian Temple is large and well-preserved. It is a valuable material for studying the development of Chinese cultural education. The glazed dragon in the middle of the wall of the Lingxing Gate and the brick carvings below the flying eaves are of high historical and artistic value. 🍃 🌟 Martial Temple 🌟 The Dai Prefecture Martial Temple faces east. There are a pair of stone lions and a flagpole in front of the gate. Drum towers and bell towers are built in the north and south. There are five archways, with the words "Martial Temple" and "Zhuangmu Zhongwu" written on the plaque of the middle archway. The overall architecture is magnificent. The main hall of the Martial Temple is built on a one-meter-high platform. The architecture is magnificent, the structure is exquisite, and the atmosphere is solemn. It has a typical northern Jin and Yuan architectural style. It is the only existing and oldest hip-and-gable roof wooden structure in Dai County, with a history of 691 years. 🎖 🛡 Bianjing Tower 🛡 Bianjing Tower, commonly known as Drum Tower, also known as Qiaolou, means "pacifying the border and calming the people". It was a military facility in ancient times for watching enemies, beating drums, and commanding operations. It was built by Lu Zhonghe, Marquis of Ji'an, who was demoted to Dai County to arrest thieves during the early Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. Bianjing Tower is magnificent, simple, and ancient. The tower base is high, the beams are exquisite, and the structure is tight and reasonable. After hundreds of years of wind and rain erosion and multiple earthquakes, it is still intact. 🔭 🛡 Ashoka Pagoda 🛡 Ashoka Pagoda is located in the northeast of the county government in Dai County, facing Bianjing Tower. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit. Commonly known as the Pagoda, it was originally the pagoda of Yuanguo Temple in Dai County. The pagoda was first built in 601 AD during the Sui Dynasty. It was originally a wooden pagoda and was destroyed in 842 AD during the Huichang period of the Tang Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 847 AD during the Dazhong period. After several ups and downs, it was rebuilt as a brick pagoda in 1275 AD. Today's Ashoka Pagoda is located in the courtyard of the Dai County Government. Only the gate of this ancient government office is still in its original style. 🚶‍♂️ Tour route: Confucian Temple🔜 Bianjing Tower🔜 Ashoka Pagoda, the three attractions are very close, the whole journey is about 1.6km, no backtracking. 🎫 Tickets: Bianjing Tower + Confucian Temple joint ticket 40r, you can climb the Bianjing Tower city wall, very worthwhile. 🕘 Tour time: 2-3 hours Dai County·Xinzhou