[2025 Pingyao Attraction] Travel Guide for Chenghuang Temple (Updated Apr)

🌿Xinzhou Ancient City Private Hot Spring Courtyard | A Millennium Journey of Hot Spring Healing, a Couple's Retreat in an Oriental Aesthetic Painting✨ 💡【Preface】In this thousand-year-old city of Xinzhou, Shanxi, blessed by time, I unexpectedly discovered a hidden paradise beyond imagination - a private hot spring courtyard with gray tiles and white walls, a zen-like space filled with hot spring mist that completely healed my urban anxiety! This comprehensive guide will help you unlock the experience of "staying in a historical hot spring retreat." ### 🌟【The Perfect Location】 📍Location: Deep in Wutong Lane, South Street, Xinzhou Ancient City 🚗Transportation: 1.5h drive from Taiyuan/15min taxi from Xinzhou West High-speed Railway Station ✨Secrecy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When the GPS indicated arrival, a breathtaking view unfolded: Ming Dynasty city walls meandering like a dragon, a thousand-year-old Chinese scholar tree casting dappled shadows at the lane entrance, and our destination - "Qiyun Hall" hot spring guesthouse, nestled within this living historical texture. The moment the butler welcomed us with an oil-paper umbrella, it felt like stepping into a Zhang Yimou film's oriental aesthetic scroll. ### 🏡【Living in an Oriental Courtyard of Intangible Heritage Craftsmanship】 Pushing open the heavy carved wooden door, the 270° panoramic courtyard left us speechless - bamboo shadows dancing on bluestone slabs, Taihu rocks adorned with moss, and most impressive, an outdoor hot spring pool in the courtyard center! The pool is lined with old kiln bricks from northern Shanxi, with traditional Chinese medicine bags floating on the surface - the butler explained it's a daily fresh-made angelica and astragalus bath. ✨Room Options: ▫️"Cloud View" Loft: Two-story panoramic glass room + stargazing pool ▫️"Rain Listening" Private Courtyard: Ultra-private Japanese rock garden ▫️"Moon Embrace" Panoramic Suite: Private calligraphy tea room + heated tatami Our chosen "Drunk in Flowers" private villa was stunning! In the three-section courtyard, hand-tied-dyed curtains sway in the breeze, old elm furniture gleams with a warm luster, and surprisingly, there's an incense burner made from intangible heritage Jiangzhou Chengni inkstone by the bed. The best part is the retractable glass roof above the private pool - perfect for stargazing on clear nights or listening to rain, simply romantic beyond words! ### 🌸【24-hour Hot Spring Healing Schedule】 🕖7:00 Morning Soak: Immerse in 42°C natural spring water as sunrise colors the ancient corner tower 🍵14:00 Tea and Zen: Brew aged white tea on charcoal stove, paired with wild sea buckthorn cake from Mount Wutai 🌙21:00 Starlight Bath: Soak with butler's special blend of rose salt + mugwort pack for complete muscle relaxation 💤23:00 Sleep Mode: Drift into deep sleep on buckwheat pillows with cypress aroma Secret tip❗Book in advance for "Traditional Acupuncture + Hot Spring Therapy" - the Chinese medicine doctor's customized 12-hour herbal bath feels like a full-body spa treatment! ### 🍜【Mind-blowing Northern Shanxi Cuisine】 The guesthouse dining exceeded all expectations - we had three bowls! ▪️Breakfast: Fresh soybean milk pudding + yellow rice cake + Pingyao beef stuffed pancakes ▪️Lunch: Dingxiang steamed meat with oat noodles (butler teaches how to roll them!) ▪️Late Night: Copper hot pot with pickled vegetable tofu soup, featuring premium Youyu Salt Pool lamb! Highly recommend the "Mount Wutai Vegetarian Feast": stuffed bitter gourd with mushrooms, zen eight-treasure rice, golden lotus flower with snow fungus... each dish comes with a Buddhist story, leaving you feeling spiritually cleansed. ### 📸【Perfect Photo Spots】 1️⃣ Hanfu photos under the eaves: Free traditional Shanxi merchant's wife-style embroidered robes 2️⃣ Moon gate silhouette: Use lantern lighting at dusk for Wong Kar-wai movie vibes 3️⃣ Aerial pool view: Drone shots of the ink painting-like courtyard 4️⃣ Calligraphy in study: Grind ink on Chengni inkstone to practice Fu Shan's calligraphy ### 🚶【Ancient City Secrets Within Walking Distance】 🌅5:30 Watch sunrise at Xiurong Academy's city wall 🕯19:00 Food tour in Taishan Temple Lane: Bowl holders, Daona cake, date cake fragrance for miles 🎭20:30 Watch intangible heritage shadow puppetry "Yang Family Generals" at City God Temple 📿Special experience: Night exploration of Yuan Dynasty ancient theater with the innkeeper, listening to stories about Liang Sicheng's architectural surveys ### 💌【Honest Tips from Experience】 ✅Best time to visit: Late autumn to early spring (stunning snow scenes with hot springs! Avoid summer peak) 💰Value: 500+ per person including breakfast + free Hanfu experience (200+ cheaper than certain platforms) 👫Suitable for: Couples/honeymoons/friend retreats/cultural deep dives ⚠️Tips to avoid pitfalls: Book view rooms 1 week ahead! Be cautious with standard rooms on rainy days (some rooms have limited natural light) Gazing at stars from the courtyard, I suddenly understood: true luxury isn't about price tags, but about having healing moments for two within the 1,400-year pulse of an ancient city. Xinzhou, this underrated treasure of a city, is absolutely worth a special trip❤️

Pingyao Ancient City Super Guide ✨ A journey through the thousand-year-old Jinyun splendor 🎈Preparation before travel: - ID: Mainland China ID card, student ID card (with discount) - Clothing: Bring appropriate clothing according to the season. A jacket is needed in spring and autumn as it is cool in the morning and evening, sunscreen is needed in summer, and thick cotton clothes are needed in winter. - Items: comfortable shoes👟, power bank, sunscreen, rain gear 🚗Transportation Guide: - Plane: Fly to Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, then take the airport bus or taxi to Taiyuan South Railway Station, transfer to the high-speed rail to Pingyao Ancient City Station, about 1.5 - 2 hours. - Train: Pingyao Railway Station is close to the ancient city. Pingyao Ancient City Station is a high-speed railway station. There are buses and taxis to the ancient city. - Car: There are long-distance buses from surrounding cities directly to Pingyao. After arriving at Pingyao Bus Station, take a taxi or bus to the ancient city. 🏠Accommodation recommendation: - Inns in the ancient city: Tianyuankui Inn and Zhengjia Inn are recommended for experiencing Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture and convenient for visiting scenic spots. - Characteristic B&Bs: such as Qiao Family Manor, which is quaint and has good service. 🌟Must-visit attractions: - Ancient City Wall: Ticket price is 30 yuan, you can overlook the panoramic view of the ancient city, and take beautiful photos at sunrise and sunset🌅 - Rishengchang Piaohao: China's first Piaohao, understand the glory of Shanxi merchants💰 - Pingyao County Yamen: the ancient county yamen, watch the court performance. - Shuanglin Temple: A treasure house of colored sculpture art, admission price NT$35, "Oriental Colored Sculpture Art Museum". - "See Pingyao Again" performance: an immersive performance with ticket prices starting from 238 yuan, allowing you to experience the spirit of Shanxi merchants. 🍱Food tips: - Pingyao beef: The meat is tender, fragrant and not greasy. - Pingyao bowl tray: can be eaten cold or fried, with a smooth taste. - Oat noodle kuoluoluo: eaten with marinade, a special noodle dish. - Recommended restaurants: Hongwuji Restaurant, Dongji Chaowantuo. 🕙 Tour route planning: - Day 1: South Gate of the Ancient City → City Wall → Rishengchang Bank → Xietongqing Bank → Ming and Qing Street (eat delicious food) - Day 2: Pingyao County Government → City God Temple → Confucian Temple → Shuanglin Temple - Day 3: Get up early to watch the sunrise over the ancient city → Ma Family Courtyard → "See Pingyao Again" performance 🎁Shopping recommendations: - Pingyao lacquerware: exquisite craftsmanship, you can buy jewelry boxes, etc. - Pingyao Beef: Vacuum packed and available to take away. Tips: - Buy the Ancient City Pass for 125 yuan, which includes more than 20 attractions and is valid for three days. - Avoid holidays, as there are fewer people and the experience is better.

#favouriteitinerary Chenghuang Temple was a popular destination for people to visit during temple fairs held on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month in ancient times. The temple is dedicated to the City God (Chenghuang) and the God of Wealth (Caishen), making it a significant place for worship and cultural activities. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Chenghuang Temple provides a unique glimpse into the spiritual and cultural practices of ancient times. The temple fairs and rituals associated with it offer a rich and immersive experience, allowing visitors to connect with the traditions and beliefs of the past.

Pingyao City God Temple is a typical Chinese official Taoist temple and a national key cultural relic protection site. In Taoism, the City God Temple is the patron saint of the city, and is responsible for ensuring the peace of the people. It has very strict regulations, and the Pingyao City God Temple was built in the style of local government offices. The founding date of the City God Temple is unknown, but it was rebuilt in the 33rd year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1554). The entire building consists of three groups of buildings: City God Temple, Kitchen God Temple and God of Wealth Temple. There are three courtyards along the central axis, with archways, mountain gates, stage, offering hall, City God Hall, sleeping palace, as well as the Six Ministry's Mansion and Land God Temple. In front of the front yard are the stage and the bell and drum tower, and on the east and west sides are corridors. The central courtyard is the Xiandian and Chenghuangdian. The east side hall houses the Liucao Mansion. At the south end of the Liucao Mansion, next to the bell tower, is the Zhong Kui Hall. There is a land temple in the west side hall, and a reincarnation hall is located at the southern end of the land temple, close to the drum tower. The offering hall is five bays wide, with a hip roof and a gabled roof, a hip-and-gable porch in front, and transparent walls on all four sides. The main hall, the City God Hall, is five bays wide, a seven-purlin front porch-style building with five-step double-lower brackets. A statue of the City God is enshrined in the main hall, with little devils and judges standing on both sides, and a picture of the City God on patrol is painted on the wall. The east side hall is the Liucao Mansion, where statues of the six judges, the Black and White Impermanence and other hell beings are sculpted; the west side hall is the Tudi Temple, where statues of 40 land gods from the 40 districts in Pingyao during the Ming and Qing dynasties are enshrined. The backyard is the sleeping palace, and on the east and west sides are the Kitchen God Temple and the God of Wealth Temple respectively. The sleeping palace is the bedroom where the City God rests. It is a building with a cave dwelling below and a pavilion above. The walls of the palace are painted with murals of "City God Reporting on His Duties" and poems by literati. The main deity in the lower cave is the City God, with the Judge of Life and Death and the Judge of Good and Evil on his left and right. The statues of the City God and his wife are enshrined in the upper pavilion. The main hall of the Kitchen God Temple is the Kitchen God Hall, where the Kitchen God and his wife are enshrined. The Temple of the God of Wealth is located on the west side of the Offering Hall, with two courtyards in front and back. It is a temple within a temple and consists of the mountain gate, the Temple of the God of Wealth, the Zhenwu Tower, the Offering Hall of the God of Wealth Temple, the stage of the God of Wealth Temple and the viewing tower. In the Temple of the God of Wealth are statues of Bigan, the civil god of wealth, and Zhao Gongming and Guan Yu, the military gods of wealth. The Kitchen God Hall is located on the east side of the City God Temple. It has two courtyards, the first courtyard is the temple area and the second courtyard is the Taoist temple. Pingyao City God Temple is extremely rich in historical and cultural content. It integrates traditional Confucianism, Taoism, and folk culture to form a unique scene of "all gods living in the same temple and receiving incense together". It is a well-preserved cultural relic and historical site with rich cultural connotations among the existing county-level City God Temple sites in the country, and is worth appreciating and savoring.

It is unclear when the Pingyao City God Temple was first built. It was renovated in the mid-Ming Dynasty and the late Qing Dynasty, and is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. The Chenghuang Temple is located in the bustling streets of the county, echoing the county government and the Confucian Temple, and ranking first. It faces south and has three courtyards. The temple has a regular layout, symmetrical axis, simple and spectacular, exquisite and gorgeous, with a mountain gate, stage, The Xian Hall, the City God's Hall, the Bedroom, etc. are built on both sides of the Liucao Mansion, the Earth Temple, the Caishen Temple, the Zao Lord Temple, etc. There are temples in the temples, and the three religions are integrated into one. It perfectly integrates ancient official offices with temple architectural art, and has great significance. With its profound historical and cultural heritage, it is one of the main attractions in Pingyao Ancient City. The meticulous light-color murals and glazed tile decorations in the Chenghuang Temple are outstanding examples of Ming and Qing architectural craftsmanship and have high artistic value. It is recommended to watch them carefully. You need to buy a ticket to visit the Pingyao City God Temple. You can buy a pass for the ancient city scenic spots or a ticket for a single attraction. There are two doors for entry and exit. When you visit the innermost "sleep hall", you must climb up the stairs on both sides. Not only can you get a closer look The exquisite and bright glazed roof can also overlook the rows of ancient city houses.

Mysterious cultural heritage The City God Temple is a traditional religious building in China, a temple used to worship the city god. It is one of the important places of folk belief and is considered to be able to protect the peace of the city and the residents. The City God Temple has been established in many cities and towns in China, and its scale varies, but all carry people's respect and prayer for the city god. I am an atheist, but I do not reject the customs rooted in the people. I respect different religious cultures and like to find traces of history in ancient buildings. Therefore, I have been interested in visiting many city god temples in China. Pingyao City God Temple is one of the few county-level city god temples in China that are best preserved. It was listed as a national cultural relic protection unit in 2006. For me who is keen on "brushing protection", I must check in at the City God Temple. Pingyao City God Temple is located in the east section of Chenghuang Temple Street in Pingyao Ancient City. According to research, Pingyao City God Temple was built in the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,100 years. Pingyao City God Temple is a temple of three temples. It is merged with the Stove King Temple and the God of Wealth Temple to form a unique temple in the temple. Its layout reflects the multi-element integration of ancient Chinese religious culture in function. Not only is the layout of Pingyao City God Temple unique, but its architectural style and artistic value are also very high... Shanghai, China

The ancient city itself is free of charge and does not require reservations. The internal attractions require a combined ticket system, which is valid within three days after purchase, and each attraction is limited to one entry. The recommended places to visit are: Chenghuang Temple (5A scenic spot), Xietongqing (the earliest bank and underground money house), Rishengchang Bank, Pingyao County Government (there are three performances every day, the 9:30 show is recommended ⌛️ as it is longer). Walk inward from the New East Gate to the homestay we booked (Pingyao Yueting Jishe Inn). This home has a travel photography service at the lobby, which seems to be the best. The scenery and makeup look pretty good, but because there is really no choice of boys' clothes, we did not experience this. There is a reception desk in the atrium, where a dedicated service butler will help introduce the more worthwhile attractions and delicacies in the ancient city. The room we booked is the 🧑‍🧑‍🧒 family suite, which has a kang and a large bed. The room has good hygiene and smart facilities. The only drawback is that it is on the first floor and may be a little noisy from 8:00 to 21:00. There will be a light show at the Yingxun Gate on the south side. The show starts at 21:00 and lasts for 18 minutes (⚠️This gate is closed from 20:00 to 6:00 every day), so you can either go out early to wait or take a detour from another exit. There is a Luckin Coffee ☕️ near this door. If you are afraid of encountering coffee 🥷 in the scenic area, you can come here to drink. There is a Tingyu Tower in the west, next to the county government office. It is similar to the City Tower. Just choose one to take a photo. We happened to meet a group of "Jin Merchants' Ladies" passing by, and the photos we took actually gave us a feeling of "travel through time"... There is a city building on the north side (very suitable for taking photos), and there is a Qingzhi hand cream store on the road. It is a chain store with Pingyao's special packaging that can be used as a souvenir. The price is the same as 🍑. A short distance across the street, there is a small stall selling millet cakes, which are hollow and filled with brown sugar. They are considered local specialty mooncakes and are very delicious! The food recommended by the B&B is also on this road: Renren Beifang, Baishanxi, and Hongwuji (the queue is quite long) If you don't want to eat at a restaurant that's too complicated, you can choose a snack shop: Dongji Chaowantuo (open kitchen is clean, you can also try the improved version of oil tea, which has a nutty paste feeling), Jinshenglu Food Shop (single-person set meal (small-portion special snack platter, old vinegar egg 👍), Siniu Noodles (20 meters next to the B&B, a very small shop, home-style taste within 100 yuan, delicious!) The performance of See You Pingyao was well-made and immersive, with a lot of interaction between the audience and the actors. The whole process was moving around following the changes in the scene. The actors had a strong sense of conviction and the experience was very strong. (However, the storyline is not suitable for young children. There is a flour-sprinkling segment at the end, so it is best to wear a mask) So was scared, so we left midway. In general, the ancient city of Shanxi is worth a visit, and it has a different charm compared to the ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River!

The City God Temple in Shaxian District is the largest and best-preserved county-level City God Temple in central Fujian. It is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit. The Shaxian City God Temple is located in the eastern part of the county. The existing buildings were constructed in the ninth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1744 AD) and were repeatedly repaired during the Jiaqing and Guangxu periods. The Shaxian City God Temple has a grand architectural scale, covering an area of more than 6,000 square meters, with a building area of 2,890 square meters. Along the central axis of the City God Temple, from front to back, there are the mountain gate, the middle hall, the inverted hall, the side hall, the corridor, and the main hall. The main hall has a width of five rooms, with a total width of 23.27 meters. The beam structure is a combination of platform beams and bucket arches, with a hip-and-gable roof. The City God Temple is structurally solid and reasonably laid out, with distinctive local craftsmanship and artistic features in its construction. It is the most complete and largest Qing Dynasty building preserved in Shaxian. This building not only has certain historical value but also has high architectural value.

|Three treasures of ancient architecture. Changzhi is a clean and beautiful garden city, where there are 3 historical sites hidden. If you come here, you must go! Chenghuang Temple, Shangdang Gate and Guanyin Hall! Chenghuang Temple: Lu'an Prefecture Chenghuang Temple, which was built for the worship of the city god, is one of the larger and better preserved ancient architectural complexes among the known prefecture Chenghuang Temples in the country. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty. Shangdang Gate: It is the gate of the Shangdang County Office in the Sui Dynasty. It was built in the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty once carried out large-scale construction in this yamen, adding the Feilong Palace and De Feng Pavilion. At its peak, there were more than 280 pavilions and palaces. It was destroyed by war during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. The gate of Shangdang Gate was rebuilt in the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1370), and it was renovated in the third year of Hongzhi (1490). It was renovated again in 1932. Guanyin Hall: The core is the Guanyin Hall. The three walls inside, the roof beams above, and the top of the doors and windows are all gilded and painted clay sculptures and hanging sculptures. Inside the small three-room hall, there are about 500 existing statues, with colored sculptures and hanging sculptures alternating, and the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist, either sitting on the altar, leaning against the mountain wall, or hanging from the eaves. You need to find a commentator for a close look!

I will thank you here..🌈🌈🌈 Pingyao is a city very suitable for tourism, but you must make a good strategy before you set off, so you can have more fun, hurry up and take a look! 📖Travel tips 1⃣The weather has recently become cooler, and the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so you must prepare thicker clothes 2⃣Wear a pair of flat shoes, the comfortable kind, the ancient city is not small and the attractions are scattered 3⃣Don't be greedy for cheap, there are often pitfalls. Ask for the price when buying things, compare the goods with three, and remember to bargain! 🌇Travel essentials list 📣Documents: ID card, student card, driver's license and other valid documents 📣Electronics: mobile phone, charger, headphones, power bank, camera, tripod, etc. 📣Daily necessities: cosmetics, makeup remover, face towel, sunscreen, lotion, toothbrush 📣Shoes: Wear comfortable shoes, you have to walk about 2 steps a day 📣Others: umbrella, sunglasses, band-aids, hat 【Transportation📍】 🚂Train: To Pingyao Station Navigate to 'Xiximen' of Pingyao Ancient City 🚄High-speed rail: To Pingyao Ancient City Station You can choose bus (108 1r) or taxi to any city gate of Pingyao Ancient City 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to the parking lot of the ancient city scenic spot Visitor Center 🔻Below is a brief introduction to the route: 🙈D1 Arrive at Pingyao Ancient City-Check in to the hotel or free activities→Yingxun Gate has a light show at 8 pm 🙈D2 County Yamen→City God Temple→Confucius Temple→South Street (Biaoju and Xietongqing)→Qingxu View→Zhenguo Temple→Rishengchang→Erlang Temple→Ancient City Wall (Go up from the north gate and come down from the west gate)→See Pingyao again→Shuanglin Temple→Return 🙈D3 Rishengchang→Erlang Temple→Ancient City Wall (Go up from the north gate and come down from the west gate)→See Pingyao again→Shuanglin Temple→Return 🔴PS: You can adjust the direction of the itinerary according to your starting point 【Must-visit attractions】 Pingyao Ancient City Wall: Suitable for taking pictures! You can climb the city wall to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pingyao. Rishengchang Piaohao: Understand the history of ancient banks Xietongqing: China's Money House Museum Biaoju: The earliest logistics industry, the first Biaoju in North China County Yamen Museum: The largest existing county yamen City God Temple: The temple where the people worship the local temple Ming and Qing Street: The busiest street in the ancient city, many attractions, literary and artistic shops, etc. are all concentrated here 📍Visit various gardens Student ticket 64🎫 (half price) There are Rishengchang, Piaohao, Money House…. I think the most shocking is the underground money house, it's really shocking, and there is a ticket made by myself in Rishengchang, although I can't tell what it's called but the old man is really good 10 yuan per person I think it's worth it, you can try it. There are many attractions, and the two of us didn't finish visiting. Pingyao Ancient City Accommodation⛩ 🌈Most of the accommodations in the ancient city are guest houses, with various styles, you can choose your favorite style, we chose the one in the ancient city, if you want to stay in a hotel, you can choose the accommodation at the city gate, it is also very convenient to travel 🌈Recommended food: Pingyao Beef Youmian Luoluo Copper Hot Pot, Fried Bowl Tuo, Knife Shaved Noodles, Over Oil Meat, Cao Family Smoked Elbow Recommended restaurants should choose old brands, good reputation, such as: Yaogong Mansion Restaurant

The entire Pingyao Ancient City is a world cultural heritage. The Chenghuang Temple in the middle section of Chenghuang Temple Street is a relatively special building. The building covers an area of 7,302 square meters. It is magnificent and exquisite. Pingyao Chenghuang Temple was built in the early years of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty. It is a bureaucratic Taoist temple with rich historical and cultural connotations and complete religious regulations. Centered on the main hall of the city, it consists of six major parts, namely Liu Cao House, Land Hall, Zaojun Temple and Caishen Temple (with Zhenwu Building). It is a treasure in the county-level city-level temple. This temple integrates Confucianism, Taoism and folk culture. Various clay sculptures, murals, Yuetai Lelou and woodcut brick carvings show the cultural connotation and artistic features of the northern temple architecture. The buildings of Pingyao Chenghuang Temple pay attention to the carved and painted buildings, which are amazing and exquisite!