[2025 Zhoukou Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhoukou Guanyu Temple (Updated May)

Explore the Guandi Temple in Zhoukou On the plain of eastern Henan, there is a shining pearl of history and culture hidden - Guandi Temple in Zhoukou It is known as "the best-preserved ancient building complex with high architectural and artistic value in the eastern Henan Plain" and is a national cultural heritage site, which is definitely worth a visit. On the west side of the scenic area, there is a monument that carries the memories of a special era, adding a unique sense of heaviness to this ancient land. History Zhoukou Guandi Temple, also known as Shanxi and Shaanxi Guild Hall, was first built in the 32nd year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1693). After continuous expansion and reconstruction during the reigns of Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing and Daoguang, it was not completed until the second year of Xianfeng (1852), taking a total of 160 years. It is a large commercial hall built with funds raised by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi living in Zhoukou. This Guandi Temple is not only a temple dedicated to Guan Yu, but also a witness to the prosperity of Zhoujiakou's business at that time. It is a historical witness to the hard work and struggle of Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants in Zhoukou, and it embodies their business wisdom and cultural heritage. 📍Address: No. 111, Fuqiang Street, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, with superior geographical location and convenient transportation. ⏰Opening hours: 08:30 - 17:00. Reasonable opening hours allow visitors to fully enjoy the daytime sunshine and appreciate the beauty of ancient buildings. 🎫Ticket price: Free🆓, such a reasonable ticket price allows more people to enter this historical treasure house without any burden. Honor and experience the profound historical value✅ Zhoukou Guandi Temple is not only a national key cultural relic protection unit, but also a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national third-level museum, with many honors in one. Its architectural and artistic value cannot be underestimated. It is well-known for its exquisite wood carvings, stone carvings, colored paintings and iron art. Walking through it, you feel like you are in a palace of ancient architectural art. Every detail demonstrates the superb skills and aesthetic taste of the ancients. Exquisite layout, explore the unique charm of ancient buildings✅ Rigorous and orderly layout The entire building complex is spread out along the central axis, symmetrical on both sides, regular and grand. From the screen wall, mountain gate, to the iron flagpole, stone archway, stele pavilion, etc., the three courtyards are layered. Covering an area of ​​21,000 square meters and a building area of ​​more than 4,000 square meters, it is grand in scale, fully demonstrating the solemnity and majesty of the past. Wonderful wood carvings Wood carvings are a highlight of the Guandi Temple architecture, and are found throughout the temple's beams, brackets, corbels and other components. The themes are rich and varied, the myths and legends are fantastic and mysterious, the historical stories are magnificent, and the flowers, birds, fish and insects are lifelike. The craftsmen use delicate knife skills and smooth lines to create lifelike shapes, as if each wood carving is telling a touching story. Exquisite stone carvings The stone archway can be regarded as an outstanding representative of the Guandi Temple's stone carving art. It is carved with patterns of auspicious dragons and phoenixes, auspicious beasts such as unicorns, and character allusions. The craftsmanship is so exquisite that it is amazing. The exquisite texture seems as if every cut was made with the painstaking efforts of the craftsmen, making people marvel at the superb stone carving skills of ancient times. Colorful glass art The glazed screen walls and ridge decorations in the temple, despite having gone through the vicissitudes of time, are still brightly colored. The colored glaze sparkles with charming brilliance under the sunlight, as if telling people about the temple's former splendor and glory. The Zhoukou Guandi Temple is like a three-dimensional history book, with every page filled with historical memories and cultural heritage. Come here and feel the charm of ancient buildings.

📍Address: Guan Di Temple Scenic Area, Zhoukou City 🚗Transportation: Convenient public transportation and shared bikes are available nearby 👍️Must-visit: A must-visit in Zhoukou City, a place with a rich history and culture 🎟️Tickets: Free admission 💗Other tips: Prepare your ID card or Alipay QR code for scanning. You need to make a reservation at the entrance

In the vast central plains of China, there is a city quietly telling a thousand-year-old story, and that is Zhoukou. Not only is it one of the important cradles of ancient Chinese civilization, but it also holds countless heart-stirring natural landscapes and cultural sights. As an experienced travel expert, I have planned this Zhoukou travel guide to take you through the past and present, to appreciate that unique charm. Attractions • Taichu Tomb: As the mausoleum of Fuxi, the progenitor of Chinese culture, Taichu Tomb is not only a solemn place of worship, its architectural art and historical value are also breathtaking. Every year from February 2nd to March 3rd, a grand Fuxi worship ceremony is held here, which is an excellent opportunity to experience traditional folk culture. • Guandi Temple: Located in Chuanhui District of Zhoukou City, Guandi Temple is famous for its exquisite woodcarving and stone carving art. Wandering through it, one can not only feel the inheritance of Guan Yu's spirit of loyalty and righteousness but also appreciate the style of ancient Ming and Qing architecture. • Longhu National Wetland Park: If you want to get close to nature, Longhu is undoubtedly the best choice. This wetland park, which integrates ecological protection, scientific research, education, and leisure entertainment, offers different scenery in each season, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts and a great destination for family trips. Itinerary Day 1: Depart from Zhoukou city center in the morning, first head to Taichu Tomb to participate in the morning worship ceremony and feel the solemn atmosphere. In the afternoon, move to Guandi Temple to savor the beauty of ancient architecture. In the evening, you can stroll around Zhoukou old street, taste authentic snacks, and experience local life. Day 2: Head to Longhu National Wetland Park early in the morning, it is recommended to rent a bicycle to cycle around the lake, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful natural scenery. In the afternoon, you can choose to participate in the park's ecological tour activities to gain a deeper understanding of the wetland ecosystem. Return to the city in the evening, and you can choose a highly-rated restaurant to enjoy Zhoukou's special dishes. Food Recommendations • Zhoukou Roast Chicken: Crispy skin, tender meat, and aromatic, it is a must-try local delicacy. • Hu La Soup: Have a bowl of hot Hu La Soup for breakfast, paired with fried dough sticks or buns, to start a day full of energy. • Hui Mian: Henan's special wide noodles, with fresh soup and smooth noodles, adding beef or mutton makes the flavor even richer. Transportation Tips • Arriving in Zhoukou: Zhoukou has its own train station and long-distance bus station, making it easy for outside visitors to arrive by train or long-distance bus. The nearest airport is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, after which you can take a high-speed train or bus to Zhoukou, with a journey of about 2 hours. • City Transportation: The public transportation system in Zhoukou is quite complete, and taxis and ride-hailing services are also very convenient. If you want to explore more freely, it is recommended to rent a car or use shared bicycles or electric motorcycles. Zhoukou, a city with profound cultural heritage and natural scenery, is waiting for every traveler to explore. Whether it is the tracing of history or the embrace of nature, this place can leave you with unforgettable memories. Take this travel guide with you, let's embark on this journey of seeking roots together, and discover more unknown beauties!

It was established in the 32nd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1693), funded and built by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, and served as a gathering place for fellow townsmen, also known as 'Shan-Shaan Guild Hall'. Its wood carvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings are numerous, rich in content, and exquisite in craftsmanship. It is the ancient architectural group of Guandi Temple in the country with the highest artistic value of stone and wood carvings and the most complete preservation. It is the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, and in 2019 it was listed as a candidate for the 'Guandi Cultural Heritage' World Cultural Heritage list of eight heritage sites in four provinces and six places. Try to go as early as possible. I went a bit late and had to leave before I had time to visit. They start preparing to close around 5:30. I highly recommend checking out the photography works hanging inside. Many of them are very beautiful. The effects of some photos taken after the lights are turned on at night are very beautiful, you must go and see. The Hulatang on the right hand side near Guandi Temple is also very delicious, not spicy. The old street of Jianye Guandi Temple not far away is also worth a visit at night. It is a good place to take pictures in Hanfu in the style of an ancient town.

It is said that the Guan Di Temple in Zhoukou is the most beautiful, so I specifically stopped in Zhoukou. Hidden in the food street, as soon as I entered, I was indeed a bit amazed by its beauty, and it is very well preserved. Regardless of its architectural structure and the exquisiteness of the stone carvings, it can definitely rank among the top in the many Guan Di Temples across the country. I have also visited many Guan Gong Temples in various places, but I have never seen the clay sculptures of the Five Tiger Generals lined up. The most important thing is that it is free and not crowded. No admission fee, no parking fee

| The most beautiful Guandi Temple in China. Guandi Temple in Zhoukou, Henan | The most beautiful Guandi Temple in China The Zhoukou Guandi Temple is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is the best-preserved ancient building complex with high architectural and artistic value so far. Its original name was "Shanxi and Shaanxi Guild Hall". It is said that the Zhoukou Guandi Temple is the most beautiful Guandi Temple, with a large number of wood carvings, stone carvings and brick carvings with rich content and exquisite craftsmanship. It is the most complete and most valuable ancient Qing Dynasty building complex in terms of stone and wood carvings among all Guandi Temple buildings in the country. It is the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2019, it was listed in the list of eight heritage sites in four provinces and six places for application for the "Guan Sheng Cultural Historical Sites" World Cultural Heritage. The Zhoukou Guandi Temple was founded in the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1693). It was funded by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces and was a gathering place for fellow townsmen. It is also known as the "Shanxi and Shaanxi Guild Hall." It was expanded and renovated several times during the reigns of Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Jiaqing, and was fully completed in 1832 during the reign of Emperor Daoguang, a total of 145 years. The entire building complex is arranged along the north-south central axis with three courtyards in depth, imitating the palace style. The screen wall, mountain gate, second bell and drum tower, left and right iron flagpoles, stone stele room, stele pavilion, Medicine King Hall, Kitchen God Hall, east and west corridors, God of Wealth Hall, Drunken Immortal Hall, east and west watchtowers, east and west veranda halls, Laojun Hall, Horse King Hall, Wenshen Hall as well as guest houses and workrooms are arranged on both sides of the central axis and correspond to each other. The temple has towering ancient cypresses, a quiet environment, numerous steles and beautiful halls. It is the largest Guandi Temple in Henan Province. The layout is rigorous and exquisite, the halls are magnificent, the carvings are exquisite and gorgeous, the red, blue and green colors complement each other, and the decorations are rich and gorgeous. It is famous for its ingenious artistic carvings. Standing in it and gazing at this silent ancient building, it seems as if a piece of solidified history is diffusing outward from its mottled brick joints from time to time, telling the story of Zhoujiakou's prosperous business and economic prosperity in the past, and the intriguing vicissitudes of life behind it. Play time: 30 minutes. 🎫Tickets: Adult ticket: 13 yuan; Student ticket: 6 yuan 🚗Transportation: (1) Take a taxi or bus No. 4 from Zhoukou Railway Station to Guandi Temple. (2) Take bus No. 1, 9, 4 or 5 from Zhoukou Bus Station. (3) If you are driving, you can use navigation to Guandi Old Street or Guandi Temple Cultural Square, or take a taxi directly to Guandi Temple. 📍Location: Guandi Temple, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. Free roadside parking is available at the door.