[2025 Tianshui Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuquan Temple (Updated Apr)

#Mainland Travel Tianshui, Gansu, China is a world-famous tourist resort city. Every day, thousands of tourists come here for sightseeing and vacation. There are many scenic spots in Tianshui. This time I will introduce a very famous local attraction: Yuquan Temple. Yuquan Temple is located at the foot of Tianjing Mountain in the north of Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, with Qingshan Mountain to the north and the city to the south. The altitude is 1230 meters. The mountain got its name because there is a Jade Spring on the mountain with clear and sweet water and because Liang Gongbi, a Qinzhou teacher in the Yuan Dynasty, chanted the line "The northern suburb of the mountain temple is the famous Jade Spring" when he built the temple. Commonly known as Chengbei Temple, also known as Chongning Temple. The ticket price for Yuquan Temple is 20 yuan. It covers an area of ​​more than 90,000 square meters, and most of the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Inside the Yuquan Temple is the "Yuquan Fairy Cave", one of the eight scenic spots in Qinzhou. It is said to be the place where the three immortals Lu, Liang and Ma were buried.

Recommended Attractions - Maijishan Grottoes: One of the four largest grottoes in China, created during the Later Qin Dynasty of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, over 1,600 years ago. The grottoes are located on cliffs and are accessible by suspended walkways. There are 221 caves, over 10,632 statues, and over 1,300 square meters of murals. The exquisite clay sculptures have earned it the reputation of "Oriental Sculpture Museum". - Fuxi Temple: Located on Fuxi Road, West Gate, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, it was first built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. It is the most completely preserved Ming Dynasty temple dedicated to Fuxi, known as the "First Temple of China". The annual Fuxi Grand Ceremony is held on June 22nd. - Yuquan Temple: A national 4A-level tourist attraction, located at the foot of Beishan Mountain in Qinzhou District. It got its name from the Jade Spring on the mountain and a poem by Liang Gongbi of the Yuan Dynasty, "Mountain temple in the northern suburbs, famous mountain and jade spring". Covering over 90,000 square meters, with over 90 magnificent temples and palaces, it has a history of over a thousand years and enjoys the reputation of "Famous Temple of Longshang". - Nanzhaizi: Located on Minzhu West Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, it has a typical Ming Dynasty architectural style and is part of the Hu family's ancient residential buildings. The layout of the houses is rigorous, and the wood, brick, and stone carvings are exquisite. Recommended Food - Tianshui Guagua: Made with buckwheat flour, served with sesame paste, chili oil, and other seasonings. It has a spicy and soft texture. Chang Ji Guagua and Wu Da Shi Guagua Noodle Skin are worth trying. - Tianshui Mala Tang: Fragrant, numbing, and spicy, with a rich sauce and a variety of ingredients. Hai Ying Mala Tang and Yuan Nü Mala Tang are popular choices. - Tianshui Nuanguo: Similar to hot pot, with a variety of ingredients including meat, vegetables, and tofu. It's a warm and delicious dish for winter. Li Ji Lao Wei Nuanguo is recommended. - Potato Jituan: Potatoes are steamed and mashed, then served with soup and seasonings. It has a soft and glutinous texture and can be found in both Longnan and Tianshui. Accommodation Recommendations - Luxury: Tianshui Jiufu Hotel, close to the ancient city; Gong Hang Lv Maijishan Pearl Hotel, with views of Maijishan. - Upscale: Borlin Effie Hotel, Mercure Tianshui Wanda Plaza Hotel, and Wanxin Zhige Hotel offer complete facilities and excellent locations. - Budget: Tianshui Kunyi Time Hotel, near Fuxi Temple, Yuquan Temple, and Tianshui Ancient City; Xinghuo Minsu, affordable and conveniently located. Transportation Guide - External Transportation: Tianshui has an airport with direct flights from some cities. Tianshui South Railway Station is a high-speed rail station connecting to many cities nationwide. Tianshui Railway Station also has many train connections. - Internal Transportation: Tianshui city has extensive bus routes covering major attractions. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also convenient.

| Three-day history and nature tour]. Day 1｜Maijishan Grottoes: The shock and artistic beauty of the thousand-year-old Buddha statues The morning mist had not yet dissipated when we drove to Maijishan. The fresh mountain air blows in your face, and the solitary peak of Maiji Mountain stands like a haystack, looking like an ink painting from a distance. Climbing along the cliff plank road, more than 7,800 clay Buddha statues in 194 caves gradually appear before your eyes - some are solemn and majestic, some are kind and benevolent, and the mottled murals complement the wisdom of the craftsmen thousands of years ago. Tips: It is recommended to set out early in the morning to avoid the crowds, as the view of the caves from the top of the mountain is more stunning. Day2｜Fuxi Temple and Tianshui Ancient City: Cultural Imprints that Pass Through Thousands of Years The afternoon sun shines on the glazed tiles of Fuxi Temple. This Ming Dynasty building complex is solemn and majestic. The thousand-year-old cypress trees in the courtyard are verdant and tall, and the statue of Fuxi is filled with incense, which makes people think about the origin of Chinese civilization. Take a stroll through the ancient city of Tianshui in the evening, where the blue brick and gray tile houses of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the red lanterns complement each other. In a small shop at the corner of the alley, a bowl of steaming Tianshui Guagua (jelly) with chili oil is sour and spicy, which is appetizing and instantly captures the taste buds. In the antique shop, the hand-painted Maijishan Grottoes postcards and "Tian Xiaoxian" cultural and creative ice cream became the most special souvenirs of this trip. Day 3｜Yuquan Temple and Hu Family Residence: Taoist Culture and Longshang Countryside Get up early and climb up to Yuquan Temple. The ancient buildings are looming in the morning mist. Taoist temples are scattered around in an orderly manner. Winter plum blossoms are just beginning to bloom in the courtyards, and the curling incense seems to have traveled through a thousand years. We visited the Hu family residence in the afternoon. The green tiles and white walls concealed the flavor of the rural life in Longshan. The owner warmly invited us to experience the traditional threshing ground. The sound of wheat grains flowing in the stone mill slowed down time. Tips 1. Transportation: The high-speed rail takes 2 hours to reach Tianshui South Station, and taxis or buses are convenient in the city. 2. Clothing: There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, so it is recommended to bring a thin jacket. 3. Food: In addition to Gua Gua, don’t miss Tianshui Niangpi and Jiangshui Noodles. There are many old shops in the ancient city that are worth a try. P.S. The most touching thing about the trip to Tianshui is the charm of "history and fireworks intertwined" - the Buddha statues on Maiji Mountain have been silent for a thousand years, and the laughter of diners in front of the spicy hot pot stall at the entrance of the alley in the ancient city is still enthusiastic. This Jiangnan in Longshan is worth your personal experience! ✨ (Photo suggestions: Close-up of Buddha statues in Maijishan Grottoes + Ancient cypress trees in Fuxi Temple + Red lanterns in the ancient city + Close-up of Guagua Food)

Route: Fuxi Temple-Yuquan Temple-Nanzhaizi-Night View of Tianshui Ancient City Fuxi Temple, formerly known as Taihao Palace and commonly known as Renzong Temple, is one of the famous ancient building complexes in northwest China. It was built in the 19th and 20th years of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1483-1484). It is the largest Fuxi sacrificial building in China. group. There is Tianshui City Museum inside. Yuquan Temple faces Qingshan Mountain to the north and Zhoucheng to the south. It got its name because there is a jade spring on the mountain with clear water and sweetness. When Liang Gongbi, the emperor of Qinzhou in the Yuan Dynasty, recited the sentence "The northern suburbs of the mountain temple are famous for the jade spring" when he built the temple. Nanzhaizi was built in the 17th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1589 AD). Mr. Luo Zhewen, a well-known expert on cultural relics and ancient architecture, called it "the only group of ancient residential buildings with typical Ming Dynasty architectural style in Gansu Province and rare in the country." Tianshui Ancient City is a large-scale and relatively well-preserved residential courtyard group from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the northwest region, with beautiful night views.

Among the attractions in Tianshui City, the one with the longest history and most worth seeing is probably Yuquan Taoist Temple. It is within walking distance from Sanxin Lane in the ancient city of Tianshui. The first thing that comes into view is the huge archway of "Yuquan Taoist Temple". The visitor center and ticket office are on the left side of the archway. After passing the archway, there are two attractions on the left side of the road. The first is "Yao Sheng Palace", which blesses good health and the elimination of all diseases. The second is "Dai Temple", which enshrines Mount Tai in the East. The buildings from the late Qing Dynasty inside are worth seeing. There is a "Five Road God of Wealth Temple" on the right side of the road, which welcomes wealth and blessings. There is a large parking lot next to the gate, and there is a small bridge on the right. There are some attractions going up and to the right. You can see the "Guan Di Temple" from the viewing platform on the mountain. There is a huge stone lion squatting on each side of the steps at the entrance of "Yuquan Taoist Temple". From here, the journey to Yuquan Taoist Temple officially begins!