Hancheng Dayu Temple | Exquisite mural stories

| Exquisite mural stories. There are many temples along the Yellow River in Hancheng that commemorate Yu the Great's flood control efforts, but the Zhouyuan Dayu Temple is the best preserved. It was built in the 5th year of the Dade era of the Yuan dynasty (1301). The existing buildings include the Xian Hall, Qin Hall, West Wing, and Rear Hall. The main statue is a seated statue of Yu the Great, sitting solemnly in the center of the hall. On the east side is a statue of the three-headed, six-armed Juling God, and on the west side is a statue of the Tang general Guo Ziyi and his wife. The murals in the hall and the niches are vivid. The east wall depicts the story of Sun Wukong subduing the Red Boy in Journey to the West, while the west wall depicts Guo Ziyi's "Banquet Celebration" and "Surrender" paintings, with two scenes combined into one painting in a clever way. The temple also preserves 6 cultural relics and 30 statues of various shapes. Address: Dayu Temple is located north of Zhouyuan Village, Xincheng Street, Hancheng, Shaanxi Province Opening hours: 9:00–18:00 Tickets: 20