Rated a "World Cultural Heritage Site," this is a seriously underrated national treasure temple.

✅ Shuanglin Temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It has three courtyards and a history of over 1,400 years. The temple has been repaired and expanded many times. The current buildings were mainly built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple houses 2,052 painted sculptures and is known as the "Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculpture Art." UNESCO has called it a "true and unique treasure." ❇️ Front Courtyard Shijia Hall, Luohan Hall, Garan Hall, Tudi Hall, Dizang Hall, and Tianwang Hall ❇️ Middle Courtyard Daxiong Hall, Qianfo Hall, and Pusa Hall ❇️ Rear Courtyard Niangniang Hall and Zhenyi Temple ❇️ East Zen Courtyard and Sutra House ✨ The most famous halls are Shijia Hall, Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall, and Qianfo Hall. 1⃣️ Shijia Hall: One of the main halls, it houses a sculpture of Sakyamuni and sculptures of the stories of the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni. 2⃣️ Tianwang Hall: Tianwang Hall is also the mountain gate of Shuanglin Temple. Outside the hall are the Four Heavenly Kings, and inside are sculptures of the Four Heavenly Kings and the Eight Bodhisattvas. In the center is a sculpture of Maitreya Guanyin. 3⃣️ Luohan Hall: Known for its unique style and exquisite craftsmanship, the hall houses sculptures of the Eighteen Arhats. 4⃣️ Qianfo Hall: The painted sculptures in Qianfo Hall account for one-fourth of the temple's sculptures. There are more than 500 painted sculptures. The Weituo statue among these more than 500 painted sculptures is known as the "Best Weituo Statue in China" and represents the highest level of painted sculpture in Shuanglin Temple. 📍 Location: Qiaotou Village, 6 km southwest of Pingyao County, Shanxi Province ⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00–19:00, last entry at 18:30 🎫 Tickets: CNY 33 for adults, half price for students, free for children under 1.2 m and seniors over 60 ✅ Nearby Attractions 1⃣️ East and West Tomb Towers in the South of the City: Ming Dynasty buildings, Liang family tomb towers 2⃣️ Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple, and Pingyao Ancient City are collectively known as the "One City and Two Temples." 3⃣️ Pingyao Ancient City: Built during the Western Zhou Dynasty, it is one of the four existing ancient cities. 🍜 Food Recommendations ✨ Pingyao Beef: Pingyao beef is a signature dish of Shanxi, known for its rosy color and tender meat. ✨ Knife-cut Noodles: Shanxi's noodle culture has a long history, and knife-cut noodles are one of them. ✨ Guoyou Meat: A traditional Shanxi dish, known for its golden color and crispy outside and tender inside. ✨ Vanilla Meat: Made with chicken or beef as the main ingredient, wrapped in a layer of tofu skin, and steamed to give it a light vanilla flavor. It is a specialty street snack in Pingyao.