The Collision of History and Relics - Guanlin in Luoyang

⛰【Travel Guide】 📍Detailed address: No. 2, Guanlin South Road, Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province 🚗Transportation Guide: About 22 kilometers from Luoyang Beijiao Airport, approximately a 25-minute drive; about 12 kilometers from Luoyang Station, approximately a 20-minute drive 🕙Opening hours: 08:30 to 17:30 💰Ticket price: 40 yuan 🌟Highlights: The burial place of Guan Yu's head 📌Little Tips: Guanlin Temple is one of the three major Guan temples at home and abroad (Luoyang Guanlin Temple, Dangyang Guandi Temple, Jiezhou Guandi Temple), and it is the only ancient classic architecture in China that combines tomb, temple, and forest worship. In front of Guanlin Temple, there is Guanlin Square (with a dance tower directly opposite the temple gate on the square, which is a theater tower built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty). The main attractions inside Guanlin Temple (from south to north) include the Main Gate, Yi Gate, Stone Lion Path, Qisheng Hall, Five Tigers Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Lady's Hall, Spring and Autumn Hall, and Guan Tomb. On both sides of Guanlin Temple, there are attractions such as the Knife Pavilion, Horse Pavilion, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Sworn Brotherhood Pavilion. The walls in front of Guanlin Temple are inscribed with the four characters 'Loyalty', 'Righteousness', 'Benevolence', and 'Courage', which are also the best appraisals of Guan Yu by the world. Upon entering the main gate, you can see a pavilion on each side, with the Knife Hall on the left and the Horse Pavilion on the right. The Knife Hall displays Guan Yu's weapon - the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and the Horse Pavilion displays Guan Yu's steed - the Red Hare. Continuing forward, you will come to the Yi Gate, built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, where civil officials would dismount from their sedan chairs and military officers from their horses. After passing the Yi Gate, you will walk through a path (35 meters long and 4 meters wide) flanked by stone railings with 36 lookout pillars and 104 stone lions, hence it is called the Stone Lion Path. After the Stone Lion Path, you will reach the Worship Hall (where officials worshipped during the Spring and Autumn grand sacrifices), with relief wood carvings on the main door (stories such as the Oath of the Peach Garden, the Three Heroes Battle against Lü Bu, etc.). Behind the Worship Hall is the Qisheng Hall, located at the center of the entire Guanlin Temple, with the main deity being Guan Sheng Di Jun, flanked by Guan Ping, Zhou Cang, Wang Fu, and Liao Hua. Behind the Qisheng Hall is the God of Wealth Hall, with the statue of Guan Gong (Guan Yu as the Martial God of Wealth), flanked by Guan Ping, Zhou Cang, the God of Wealth Boy, and the Profitable Market Boy. To the left of the God of Wealth Hall is the Five Tigers Hall, enshrining Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong. To the right of the God of Wealth Hall is the Lady's Hall, enshrining Guan Yu's wife, Lady Hu. The hall is decorated with paintings for dispelling illness and praying for blessings, and for praying for children and fulfilling vows. Behind the God of Wealth Hall is the Spring and Autumn Hall, also known as the 'Sleeping Hall', with statues of Guan Gong reading the Spring and Autumn Annals and Guan Gong sleeping. In front of the Spring and Autumn Hall are two cypress trees, known as the Twisted Cypress and the Sworn Brotherhood Cypress. Behind the Spring and Autumn Hall is the Guan Tomb, where Guan Gong's head is buried. The tomb is 17 meters high and covers an area of 2,600 square meters. In front of the tomb is a stone tomb gate (built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty), with a couplet that reads 'His spirit roams the imperial garden riding a celestial crane, his bones rest in the heavens hidden like a sleeping dragon'.