[2025 Tianshui Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuquanguan Scenic Area (Updated Jul)

Let me help you plan a more detailed 2-day itinerary for Tianshui Tianshui is truly an underrated gem! This ancient city boasts profound historical and cultural heritage, plus authentic Gansu cuisine. Two days is just perfect. Day 1: Morning: 📍Maijishan Grottoes (8:30-17:30) An absolute must-visit! About 40 minutes from downtown, leave early to avoid crowds. Buy the shuttle ticket or you'll need to hike 3km uphill. The cliff-carved grottoes are breathtaking - consider hiring a guide to better appreciate the cultural significance. Afternoon: 📍Fuxi Temple (8:00-18:00) Tianshui is Fuxi's hometown. This grand temple complex honors the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, with fascinating ancient mythology. 📍Yuquan Taoist Temple Right next to Fuxi Temple, this serene Taoist site is especially beautiful when ginkgo leaves turn golden in autumn. Evening: 📍Pedestrian Street Night Market Must-try local specialties: Guagua (buckwheat jelly), Cuoyuer (hand-pulled noodles), and spicy hot pot - all authentically delicious! Day 2: Morning: 📍Xianrenya Cliff (8:00-17:00) Near Maijishan, this scenic area combines Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian elements. The moderate hike offers beautiful views. Afternoon: 📍Nanguo Temple One of Tianshui's "Eight Scenes", famous for its ancient cypresses dating back millennia - perfect for a leisurely stroll. 📍Hu Family Residence Well-preserved Ming Dynasty mansion offering glimpses into ancient aristocratic life. Food Recommendations: 🍜 Tianshui's "Big Three": Guagua, Liangfen (cold noodles), Niangpi (wheat gluten) 🍜 Beef noodles: Try Lao Hai's - rich broth 🍜 Jiangshui noodles: Refreshing summer dish Transportation: 🚌 City attractions accessible by bus 🚕 Affordable taxis (¥5 starting fare) 🚗 Recommended to charter a car to Maijishan (¥200-300/day) Tips: 1. Maijishan gets crowded during holidays - visit off-peak 2. Strong UV in Gansu - bring sunscreen 3. Large temperature swings - pack a jacket

Welcome to beautiful Qinzhou, a place rich in history, culture, and natural scenery. Here is a detailed travel guide for Qinzhou: • Historical and Cultural Journey: • Tianshui Ancient City @ Qinzhou District, Tianshui City: As a national historical and cultural city, Tianshui Ancient City boasts the largest and best-preserved ancient residential courtyards from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Strolling through them feels like traveling back in time. We recommend visiting Fuxi Temple, the most completely preserved temple dedicated to Fuxi from the Ming Dynasty, known as "China's First Temple." • Yuquan Temple @ Qinzhou District, Tianshui City: As an AAAA-rated scenic area, Yuquan Temple is not only a Taoist sacred site but also features ancient and elegant architectural styles, making it a great place for hiking and enjoying the scenery. • Natural Scenery Journey: • Qingjuanshan International Leisure Tourism Resort @ Qinzhou District, Tianshui City: This national 4A-rated tourist attraction integrates folk experiences, health and wellness retreats, and sports and leisure activities. Here, you can enjoy entertainment projects like jungle crossing and rafting slides, and revel in the vibrant spring scenery. • Suwan Folk Culture Village @ Qinzhou District, Tianshui City: As a national 3A-rated tourist attraction, Suwan Folk Culture Village features a folk museum, traditional handicraft workshops, and more, allowing you to deeply understand the local folk culture while having fun. • Food Experience: • In Qinzhou, you can taste a variety of authentic local delicacies, such as Ha Haiying Malatang. This restaurant's Malatang has a unique flavor and is highly popular among tourists. • Accommodation Recommendations: • Star WanHui Hotel (Tianshui Railway Station Branch): Located near Tianshui Railway Station, it features newly renovated environments, cleanliness, and excellent value for money. • Tianshui Haixing Business Hotel: Located near Maijishan Airport, it offers complete facilities and services, making it an ideal choice for business travelers.

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.

Yuquan Temple, also known as Chengbei Temple and Chongning Temple, is located at the foot of Tianjing Mountain in the north of the city in Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. It is about 1 km from the city center square, with Qing Mountain to the north and Zhou City to the south. The altitude is 1,230 meters. It is named after a jade spring on the mountain, which is clear and sweet, and a verse by Liang Gongbi, the Qin State Education Officer of the Yuan Dynasty, who built the temple, "The mountain temple is in the northern suburbs, and the famous mountain is the jade spring." Yuquan Temple covers an area of more than 90,000 square meters, and most of the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple is close to the city wall and rises along the mountain. It is built along the mountain gully, cliff, and platform. Inside Yuquan Temple is the "Jade Spring Fairy Cave", one of the eight scenic spots in Qinzhou, which is said to be the burial place of the three immortals, Lu, Liang, and Ma. Every year on the ninth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, there is a temple fair at Yuquan Temple, which locals call "Chao Guan". The architectural art style of Yuquan Temple is based on the inheritance of traditional architectural art, and it also integrates local architectural features. The entire building revolves around Yuquan Hall and Sanqing Hall.

Yuquan Temple is located at the foot of Tianjing Mountain in the north of Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. It is a national 4A-level scenic spot and a key national cultural relic protection unit. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and got its name because of the clear and sweet Yuquan spring on the mountain. It enjoys the reputation of being a famous temple in Longshang. Yuquan Temple covers an area of more than 90,000 square meters, and most of the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The main attractions include Yuquan Spring, Jade Emperor Hall, Sanqing Hall, Paifang, Sacrificial Hall, Temple Hall, Spring Pavilion, Stele Corridor, etc. Yuquan Fairy Cave is one of the eight scenic spots in Qinzhou, and the Yuan Dynasty's Four-Sided Daoist Stele is extremely precious. It records a series of events of the Quanzhen Sect of Taoism and is a holy place of the Quanzhen Sect. There are also Wuhou Temple, Guan Di Temple, Dai Temple, and other places to visit. Address: No. 69 Yuquan Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 Ticket: Free admission in 2024 Transportation: Accessible by bus routes 9, 21, 26, etc.

Yuquan Temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, later destroyed in wars, rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty, and now mostly consists of architecture from the Ming and Qing periods, well-preserved. Named after the sweet and clear spring water on the mountain top, the content of the faith is not well understood, so it will not be discussed here. The main attraction is the ancient wooden architecture left from the Ming and Qing eras, with its dougong brackets, flying eaves, supporting columns, and bright colors adorned with decorative patterns. Despite the cracks and peeling, these features add a sense of antiquity, making it all the more precious. Wooden structures are difficult to preserve, and the existing three and a half Tang Dynasty wooden buildings are all in Shanxi, which may well be my next destination for an in-depth tour. Stone sculptures, mostly dragons, can be seen on the eaves, showing that the dragon is a common symbol in the hearts of Chinese people, regardless of region, belief, or ethnicity. Nanzhaizi, also known as the Hu Family Residence, is large in scale, with courtyards for various functions, none missing. Although it lacks the gardens of the south, its level of luxury is by no means inferior. It mainly displays the daily life of the Hu family, customs such as weddings and funerals. Tianshui Ancient City, a historical and cultural district, mostly consists of buildings from the Ming and Qing periods 🇨🇳 Experience the five thousand years of Huaxia, inheriting Chinese civilization

Yuquan Temple in Tianshui, Gansu, should be the most beautiful Taoist temple I have ever seen. With red walls and green tiles, surrounded by green trees, the whole Taoist temple looks like a painting from afar and near, no wonder many students sketch and paint here. Yuquan Temple is located at the foot of Tianjing Mountain in the north of Qinzhou District, Tianshui City, covering an area of about 90,000 square meters. The Taoist temple is built along the mountain and spirals up along the mountain. It cleverly uses cliffs, gullies, terraces and other terrains to make the construction of the Taoist temple well-arranged. The Taoist temple is named for a sweet spring. Yuquan Temple has many temples and ancient buildings, basically rebuilt on the original basis during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The earliest form of Yuquan Temple is said to have been built during the Tang Dynasty. At that time, although Taoism was a native religion, it did not have as much influence as Buddhism, which was imported. Therefore, Emperor Gaozong of Tang called for the construction of Taoist temples nationwide to promote Taoism twice. Approaching the mountain gate of Yuquan Temple, turn right and you can see a wooden bridge. The upper end is hung with plaques such as 'The mountain is not high' written by Guo Moruo and others. Climbing up the steps, what comes into view is a series of ancient buildings - Jade Emperor Pavilion, Jade Emperor Hall, Sanqing Hall, etc., each with an ancient charm and carved beams and painted buildings. On the western slope, there is a Yuquan Immortal Cave, which is said to be the burial place of the three real people of Lu, Liang, and Ma. In addition to the large and small ancient buildings, Yuquan Temple also has more than 50 ancient trees and 58 steles, especially the four-sided Taoist stele from the Yuan Dynasty, which is the must-visit place in Yuquan Temple. The content carved on the four-sided Taoist stele is all related to Taoism and Quanzhen Sect. Because it is extremely precious, a tall stele pavilion has been specially built, named 'Xuansheng Pavilion'. In the early autumn, avoid holidays and go to Yuquan Temple for a visit. The whole Taoist temple is beautiful with few people. Sometimes climbing the steps, sometimes looking at the halls, sometimes stopping to enjoy the scenery, it is very comfortable. The most eye-catching thing in the Taoist temple is seven or eight students sketching under the guidance of the teacher. The Yuquan Temple on their drawing board has a poetic beauty. In addition, on a big hall on the top of the mountain, I met a young Taoist priest. He was very simple and held a mobile phone bracket in his hand, also looking for angles to shoot ancient buildings. Because I don't understand Taoist culture very well, I want to ask some questions, but I'm afraid I can't express myself, so I can only smile and say goodbye. Yuquan Temple is a big surprise of the trip to Tianshui. Such a beautiful Taoist temple, such a large-scale Taoist temple built along the mountain, really makes people overjoyed, and the harvest is great.

The entrance fee for the Yuquan Scenic Area is twenty yuan per person. Not far from the entrance is the Lingguan Hall, which is the first hall inside the Taoist palace gate. The hall worships the highest protective deity of Taoism, King Lingguan, who is the leader of the five hundred Lingguan, and is said to be able to suppress demons and demons. Crossing the Tongxian Bridge is the Heavenly Gate, with the Holy Mother Hall and the Luban Hall on both sides, and the Jade Emperor Palace further up. The Jade Emperor Palace is composed of the Jade Emperor Hall, Jade Emperor Pavilion, left and right side halls, two bell and drum towers, and the 'Human and Heaven' archway. The Jade Emperor Hall enshrines the Jade Emperor. It is said that the ninth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, and the Yuquan Taoist Temple will hold a large-scale temple fair 'Shangjiu Meeting' at that time. On the left are the Three Immortals Cave, the God Immortal Cave, the Jade Spring, the Doumu Hall, as well as the stele corridor and the Wuhou Shrine. I just took a serious look at the Jade Spring. The Jade Spring is the origin of the name of the Yuquan Taoist Temple. It was called 'Stone Pool' in the Tang Dynasty and 'Jade Spring' in the Song Dynasty. It was later called 'Ming Eye Spring', 'Bagua Spring', 'Three Flavor Spring'. For thousands of years, the spring water has been full and never dried up, clear and sweet, and has always been known as a famous spring in Longshan. There is a Guandi Temple in the distance on the right, but I didn't go there, I left the scenic area.

Jin Yong, a master of martial arts novels that has written a lot of people, has recently passed away, and countless people miss it. How many people have done a martial arts dream of walking in the rivers and lakes, and most of this dream comes from Jin Yongjin heroes. Although the novel is fictional, some of the martial arts characters in Jin Yongs works do have their own people. For example, in the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", the Taoist priest who passed through Niujia Village actually existed in history. Whether he has received Yang or not is clear, but he does have a disciple named Liang Zhitong, the famous Taoist Yuquan view of Tianshui in Gansu. The place where Liang Daochang practiced. Yuquan View is built at the foot of Tianjing Mountain in the north of Tianshui City. It is built on the mountain. In fact, the history of this Taoist temple is far earlier than the era of Qiu Chuji. It was built in the Tang Gaozong period. In the Song Dynasty, it flourished for a while, but then it was destroyed in the Song and Jin Dynasties in the late Northern Song Dynasty. Until the end of the Song Dynasty, the disciple of Qiu Chuji, Liang Zhitong, traveled to this place and was attracted by the landscape here. He rebuilt the Yuquan view and practiced here. The name of Yuquanguans name is that the Qingquan has been flowing for thousands of years. Legend has it that this spring comes from the depths of the mountain. "Prayers can make people sick." It means that this spring can cure diseases. The spring water of Yuquan is quite strange. It is said that there are three flavors in the day - salty, sweet, bitter, and we also tasted the cup with water. It really has a faint salty taste, and it really deserves its name!