[2025 Pinglu Attraction] Travel Guide for Emperor Guan Temple (Updated Mar)

Family, this Yuncheng trip was so enjoyable, all thanks to this hotel! I have to recommend it to you all! 📍Amazing Location It's right in the bustling downtown area, surrounded by tons of great food. Just a short walk away, you can find authentic Dapanji (Big Plate Chicken), Yang Rou Pao Mo (mutton stew with bread), a carb lover's dream come true. It's also very close to attractions like the Jiezhou Guandi Temple and Yongle Palace, just a short taxi ride away, saving you time so you can visit more places. 🛏Super Comfortable Rooms The rooms are simple yet cozy, with soft, skin-friendly bedding that feels like lying on a cloud. The bathroom has a separate shower and the amenities are top-notch. The room has a fantastic view of Yuncheng's beautiful cityscape. In the morning, opening the curtains and letting the sunshine in is so relaxing. 💁‍♂️Excellent Service From the warm welcome at check-in to the helpful staff who assisted with planning our itinerary, everyone was incredibly patient. They also offer free luggage storage, so you can continue exploring even after checking out.

Although there are thousands of Guan Di Temples, the one in Jiezhou is the oldest, largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved, covering a total area of 220,000 square meters. It truly deserves its title as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples"👍 The temple is divided into two parts: the Jieyi Garden and the main temple. The main temple has a complete layout, with the front hall and the rear palace. Along the central axis are the screen wall, Duan Gate, Zhi Gate, Wu Gate, Yushu Tower, Chongning Tower, and Chunqiu Tower. On both sides, there are bell and drum towers, stele pavilions, and corridors. A popular photo spot is the horizontal plaque with the inscription "Shen Yong" (Divine Valor), written by Emperor Qianlong. The matching fridge magnets were sold out at the souvenir shop😭, but luckily, I found one at the Yuncheng Museum. However, the quality wasn't great for 38 RMB, so buy with caution. Guan Di Temple boasts two beautiful caissons, one in Yushu Tower and the other in Chunqiu Tower. The chrysanthemum caisson in Chunqiu Tower is truly breathtaking👏 There's a fee to go upstairs, but it's worth it‼️

Yuncheng is truly a treasure trove of a city, worthy of being the first city of national treasures. You can't see it all in one visit. You have to take your time to savor the details left behind by our ancestors. I went for two days this time and only visited Jishan, Wanrong, Ruicheng, and Jiezhou, leaving the other places for another time. ✅3-day, 2-night itinerary Day 1 Yuncheng Airport ➡️ Wanrong Feiyun Tower ➡️ Houtu Temple ➡️ Qiufeng Tower ➡️ Beixin Relic Pagoda ➡️ Li Family Courtyard ➡️ Yuncheng City Day 2 Yuncheng ➡️ Yongle Palace ➡️ Guangrenwang Temple ➡️ Ruicheng City God Temple ➡️ Yuncheng Day 3 Yuncheng ➡️ Jiezhou Guan Yu Temple ➡️ Chi God Temple ➡️ Yuncheng Museum ➡️ Yuncheng Airport The cultural relics in Yuncheng are a bit far apart, so if you're short on time, driving is the most convenient option. Picking up and returning a car at the airport is relatively convenient. There are now flights to Yuncheng from all over the country, and the tickets are not expensive. I highly recommend everyone to go and see it. Every ancient building is beautiful, and each one leaves you wanting more. I'll share a detailed guide for each spot later.

Come to Yuncheng, Shanxi, and come to Jiezhou, the hometown of Emperor Guandi. In addition to visiting Guandi Temple, you must not miss the delicious food This Wang Jian mutton hotpot is said to be an intangible cultural heritage, and there are many customers visiting. In addition to the must-eat mutton dip, some cold dishes are also good

Yuncheng Jiezhou Guandi Temple is located in Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It was built in the Sui Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,400 years. It is the earliest, largest, highest, and best-preserved Guandi Temple in China. It is known as the "ancestor of Guan Temple" and "crown of martial arts temple." The main structure is a Qing Dynasty building with a total area of 220,000 square meters. It is divided into two parts: the main temple and the Jiyi Garden, with the Jiyi Garden in the south. The main temple is the main part of the temple, adopting the traditional central axis symmetrical palace-style architectural pattern. Jiezhou Guandi Temple is dedicated to "Guandi," also known as "Guan Gong." It is said that Guan Gong loved reading Confucian classics and was deeply righteous since childhood.

Yuncheng Guandi Temple, located in Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, is the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Guandi Temple in China, known as the "ancestor of Guandi Temple". It was built in the Sui Dynasty, and most of the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple houses imperial plaques from past dynasties, such as Kangxi's "Yi Bing Qian Kun" and Qianlong's "Shen Yong". The annual Guan Gong Culture Festival attracts many believers and tourists to come for pilgrimage and sightseeing.

There are 30,000 Guan Di temples worldwide, and in Shanxi, the hometown of Guan Yu, worshiping Guan Di is very common. According to the elderly, it used to be said that 'every county has a Confucian temple, and every village has a martial temple.' ◾You can even find a Guan Wang Temple, built in the Yuan Dynasty, on Beida Street in the bustling downtown area of Yuncheng. One of its unique features is its east-facing west layout. It is said that when the Guan Wang Temple was built, people considered that Guan Gong's hometown was not far to the west in Changping Village, Jiezhou. By choosing an east-facing west layout, Guan Di could always gaze at his hometown and protect the local people. ◾Another unique feature is that the Guan Wang Temple faces a Qing Dynasty Catholic church across the street, with Guan Er Ye and Jesus separated by just one road, representing two different beliefs. 💡The Guan Wang Temple was built in the Yuan Dynasty and expanded during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It faces east and has two courtyards. Along the central axis are a wooden archway, the main gate, the offering hall, the main hall, the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, and the sleeping palace. On both sides are the White Horse Shrine, the General's Shrine, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and corridors. Originally covering more than ten acres, it was a grand and magnificent building, the largest Guan Di temple in the city. ✅Must-see guide: 1⃣️The Guan Wang Temple was rebuilt by Ming Dynasty Salt Inspector Wu Kai and wealthy salt merchants as a temple of the God of Wealth and Righteousness. 2⃣️It preserves the 'Great View of the Holy Work' stele written by Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Ji. 3⃣️Above the main hall is a gilded plaque from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, inscribed with 'Righteousness of Heaven and Earth.' 4⃣️On both sides of the offering hall are stone carvings of the 'Guan Di Signature Book.' 5⃣️The offering hall also preserves a stele with the 'Four Good' admonitions by Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian master Zhu Wengong (Zhu Xi). 6⃣️The offering hall preserves a large square bronze mirror from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. 7⃣️The traditional morning bell and evening drum rituals have been restored. 8⃣️It breaks the old custom by facing east. 📍Address: No. 61, Hongqi West Street, Zhongcheng Street, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City. 💴Ticket: Free 🚗Tour time: 1~2 hours 🇨🇳Five thousand years is far away, but ancient buildings are close. ✔️Follow the author to explore meaningful ancient buildings and touch the warm history.

Jiezhou Guan Di Temple is known as the 'Ancestor of Guan Temples' and 'Crown of Martial Temples'. It has a history of over 1400 years and is the highest level imperial palace-style architectural complex in China. The architectural structure and carving art of Guan Di Temple are very complex, featuring many characteristics related to ancient Chinese architecture, including: - The Jieyi Archway, a Ming Dynasty structure, is the most magnificent archway in Guan Di Temple. It has a plaque inscribed with 'Jieyi Garden' by Yan Si, the governor of Jiezhou during the Qianlong period. - The Sanfen Dizhu Stone in front of the Jieyi Garden screen wall is a meteorite, said to be the incarnation of Guan Di. The Jieyi Garden Stele, preserved since the 27th year of Qianlong, is extremely precious. - The Four Dragon Wall in front of the Duan Gate is a glazed screen wall made in the Ming Dynasty. Unlike the Nine Dragon Wall of the true dragon emperor, it reflects Guan Yu's transformation from a mortal to an emperor after his death. - The three intersecting iron pillars called 'Dangzhong' in front of the Duan Gate were bestowed by Emperor Yongzheng to remind 'civil officials to dismount from their sedan chairs and military officials to dismount from their horses'. From any angle, they form the character 'Yi' (righteousness). This official road used to lead directly to Chang'an and was the route taken by Empress Dowager Cixi when fleeing from the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion. - The Zhi Gate was exclusively for emperors, while civil and military officials used the Wenjing Gate and Wuwei Gate. The glazed roof of the Zhi Gate is a classic representative of the glazed products in Guan Temple. - The roof of the Wumen Gate adopts the most prestigious palace roof style in ancient Chinese architecture and is the only palace roof structure within Guan Temple. - The Yushu Tower, originally named 'Bagua Tower', was renamed by Emperor Qianlong to commemorate Emperor Kangxi's inscription of the 'Qiankun' plaque. - The Qisu Qianqiu Archway in front of the Chunguang Tower is the largest archway, with the inscription 'Qisu Qianqiu' written by Empress Dowager Cixi. The building's layout, with the dragon below and the phoenix above, is rarely seen outside Beijing.

Guandi worship is a unique cultural aspect of Chinese folk belief. This real-life character from the Three Kingdoms era, known for his loyalty and valor as well as his wisdom and martial prowess, has been consecrated by emperors over the ages as a great emperor. He is revered alongside Confucius as one of the two saints of literature and martial arts, and is also honored as the god of wealth. He is a deity worshipped without controversy by all three teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Wherever there are Chinese people, there is almost certainly a Guandi temple. Guan Yu's hometown is Yuncheng in Jiezhou, hence the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou is considered the ancestral temple. It was first built during the Sui dynasty, and its main structures have been repaired, expanded, and rebuilt multiple times during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple's architecture is of a very high rank, with wood carvings and stone sculptures, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and dragons soaring powerfully and majestically. The most beautiful sights are the two caissons in the temple. One is the octagonal wooden caisson above the Imperial Book Tower, topped with a Bagua pattern (Image 2); the other is the unique chrysanthemum caisson on the roof of the Spring and Autumn Pavilion (Image 1), which houses a statue said to be the most resembling the true likeness of Lord Guan. A caisson, in modern terms, is a decorative ceiling and a symbol of splendor in ancient architecture. The ancients believed it symbolized a 'passage from the human world to heaven', embodying the concept of 'the unity of heaven and man, and the coexistence of heaven, earth, and humanity'. The more prestigious the ancient building, the more likely it is to have a caisson. Every time one looks up at the caisson for a long time, it's like looking through a kaleidoscope in childhood, feeling dizzy as it spins 360 degrees, extending into the infinite unknown mystery. The caisson inside the Guandi Temple is not the common upward bulging well shape, but an inverted floral column made of more than 200 pieces of wood interlaced in a mortise and tenon structure, resembling a blooming chrysanthemum hanging upside down above the beams. The petals stretch out, blooming to their fullest, extremely beautiful. It is said that there used to be a mechanism to rotate the petals, but for preservation, it is now immovable. This is the only place in the country where such a feature exists, very rare.

🏞️ A journey through ancient buildings, captivated by the beauty of China! 💖 😌 The years I spent living in Taiyuan have deepened my love for Shanxi like a fine wine that gets better with age. 🍷 Whenever Shanxi is mentioned, I feel a sense of 'unfinished business' regret. 😭 This summer, I finally fulfilled my dream and set foot on this land rich in historical charm once again, feeling fortunate—what a blessing it is to be born in China! 🎉 🚩 My trip to Yuncheng was not only about the splendor of Yongle Palace, 💎 but the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou was another gem in my heart. 🌟 Holding that exquisite fridge magnet, 🎁 I couldn't help but marvel at the charm and thoughtfulness of cultural and creative products. 👏 1️⃣📜 Guandi Temple in Jiezhou This temple, built during the Sui Dynasty, has withstood the test of time and revealed its new beauty in the 52nd year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1713). 🌺 Stepping inside, it's as if I'm traveling through time, conversing with the ancients. 👥 2️⃣🏛️ Sworn Brotherhood Garden The tall archway stands like a guardian of history, 🛡️ witnessing the deep bond and loyalty between Guan Yu and his brothers. 👬 Each stone brick and carving seems to tell the tales of their bravery. 🗡️ 3️⃣🐉 Four Dragons Screen The four dragons on the glazed screen are vividly depicted, soaring through the clouds. 🐲 Each piece of glaze shines with the splendor of the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. ✨ 4️⃣🏰 Chongning Hall The grand hall is majestic and imposing. 🏛️ The 26 stone-carved dragon columns, with ascending and descending dragons intertwined with auspicious clouds, are both rough and delicate, stunningly beautiful. 😍 5️⃣🌼 Spring and Autumn Pavilion The chrysanthemum caisson on the second floor is breathtaking. 👀 The components, all connected by mortise and tenon, form a blooming chrysanthemum. 🌸 It is said that it used to rotate with the wind, as if the chrysanthemum swayed gracefully in the breeze. 🌬️ 📍 Address: No. 145, Wuyi Road, Jiezhou Town, Yancheng District, Yuncheng City 📍 🚘 If you also love ancient architecture and history, then this is a place you definitely cannot miss! 👀🎈

Yuncheng Quanzhang Guandi Temple A somewhat 'terrifying' Guandi Temple I discovered this Guandi Temple after visiting the Baitai Temple and looking for food in the town. It is a national heritage site from the Ming Dynasty. This building with a width of five rooms and a double-eaved hipped roof looks ordinary at first glance, but it's full of wonders inside, especially those 20 coiled dragon pillars, which are solemn and terrifying. The dragons' claws are holding fish (with human faces), turtles, and even human heads. These people all have their hair done up in buns, wearing earrings, with cherry-like small mouths and bound feet. There are young women as well as old women over the age of sixty... 🏯 About Guandi Temple The temple was initially built during the Yuan Dynasty, and the main hall is a relic from the Ming Dynasty, with a plaque hanging above that reads 'Wu Sheng'. The statue of Lord Guan inside is newly made. The temple doors are closed all year round, and to open them, one must find the cultural heritage officer in the village. 🐉 The 'terrifying' coiled dragon pillars According to the elders in the village, these 20 coiled dragon pillars were made in different periods. The one on the far left has bas-relief carvings of dragons and phoenixes dancing. The other dragon pillars feature peonies, lotuses, children, and mythical beasts. The pillars in front of the main hall are particularly exaggerated. At first glance, they are somewhat terrifying, with the intention of punishing evil, promoting good, and warning the world. It is a local custom. 📍 Location: Next to the village committee of Quanzhang Village, Xinjiang County, Yuncheng, Shanxi This theme of Guandi Temple Is the only one in Shanxi‼️

The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou and the Yuncheng Guan Gong Hometown Cultural Tourism Area (hài zhōu guān dì miào) are known as the ancestral temple of martial temples, located in the west of Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is backed by the salt pond and faces the Zhongtiao Mountains. The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou was founded in the ninth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (589 AD), and was expanded and renovated during the Song and Ming dynasties. It was destroyed by fire in the forty-first year of the Qing Emperor Kangxi's reign (1702) and took more than ten years to restore. The total area of the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou is 260,000 square meters, with more than 200 rooms, divided into the main temple and the Sworn Brotherhood Garden. It is the largest existing palace-style Taoist architectural complex and martial temple, known as the 'Ancestor of Guan Temples' and the 'Crown of Martial Temples'. Inside the temple, there are plaques such as Kangxi's imperial writing 'Yi Bing Qian Kun', Qianlong's imperial endorsement 'Shen Yong', Xianfeng's imperial writing 'Wan Shi Ren Ji', and Empress Dowager Cixi's personal writing 'Wei Ling Zhen Die', with the representative building being the 'Spring and Autumn Pavilion'. The Guandi Temple scenic area in Jiezhou is a national key cultural relics protection unit and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. 'The Belief in Lord Guan' has been included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage, and the 'Lord Guan Culture Festival' has been rated as one of China's top ten character-themed festival activities. In 2012, the 'Guandi Cultural Building Complex' was included in China's tentative list for World Cultural Heritage. Bus 21 in Yuncheng City🚌 goes directly to the Guandi Temple.

🏰 As the former residence of Guan Yu, the Guandi Temple remains majestic and imposing! The most spectacular part is the flying eave architecture, which is the most amazing sight I've seen on this trip! The temple was built in the ninth year of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang period, and after expansions and renovations during the Song and Ming dynasties, it was destroyed by fire in the forty-first year of the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi era. After more than ten years of restoration, it was rebuilt. It has withstood the test of time and witnessed countless changes through the years. 🏯 The architecture inside the temple is elegant and grand, with exquisite wood and stone carvings. Every detail reflects the superb craftsmanship of contemporary art, designed very vividly! 👀 Guan Gong Hall: This is the heart of the temple, where a mighty statue of Guan Gong is enshrined, commanding respect. 🏠 Bell and Drum Tower: Climbing the tower offers a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Yuncheng city. 🖼️ Mural Corridor: A series of murals tell the legendary stories of Guan Gong, captivating visitors. 🎫 Ticket: 60 yuan (usable with the Shanxi Year Card, half price on Qingming Festival day) ⌚️ Visiting Time: 2H 🚗 Transportation: It's quite close to the city center, about 20 kilometers away. People usually visit it along with Yongle Palace, which is also more than 20 kilometers away. Visit Guandi Temple first and then Yongle Palace. 🏜️ Explanation: You can join a tour group or listen in on a guide to hear about the temple's history, which enhances the experience! Not only can you appreciate the ancient architectural art, but you can also feel the spirit of loyalty and righteousness that transcends time and space, which is very meaningful. More travel tips in the next article, stay tuned.

| You always have to come to Jiezhou to pay your respects to Lord Guan. Jiezhou, where the character '解' is pronounced 'hai', was historically known as 'Jieliang'. In ancient times, the city of Jieliang was like an eye in the midst of the ocean, surrounded by large bodies of water such as salt ponds, Wu Lake, and Sushui River. This is the origin of the pronunciation 'hai' (亥) for 'Jiezhou', 'Jiexian', and 'Jiechi'. The earliest, largest, most regulated, and best-preserved temple of Guandi in our country is located right here! ⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00 Ticket🎫: 60 yuan 📍: Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng, Shanxi 🤏: Third batch of national protected units The Jiezhou Guandi Temple was founded in the ninth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (589 AD) and is known as the 'Ancestor of Guan Temples' and the 'Crown of Martial Temples', with a history of over 1400 years. The temple's layout adopts a 'front court and rear sleeping quarters' and a symmetrical palace-style arrangement. The main buildings include the End Gate, the Zhi Gate, the Wu Gate, the Imperial Book Tower, the Chongning Hall, and the Spring and Autumn Tower, etc.

The Quanzhang Guandi Temple covers an area of 411.6 square meters, was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, and was renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Only the main hall of the Quanzhang Guandi Temple remains. The main hall is well-preserved, facing south with the back to the north, measuring 19.6 meters in length from east to west, and 21 meters in length from south to north, covering an area of 411.6 square meters. It is built on a brick and stone base that is 0.9 meters high, with five bays in both width and depth, and has a nearly square floor plan with a double-eaved hipped roof. The main body has three bays, surrounded by subsidiary steps. The upper eaves brackets are of a five-stepped double-lowered ang type, with the main bay featuring 45-degree slanting ang. The lower eaves brackets are of a three-stepped single-tilted heart-shaped design. Under the eaves of the main hall of the Quanzhang Guandi Temple, there are 20 coiled dragon stone columns, 11 of which are relief coiled dragon columns, and the other 9 are shallow flat-carved dragon columns, with all column heads featuring inverted-basin-style volutes. Uniquely, each column is adorned with dragons' claws grasping human heads, legs, fish, turtles, etc. In front of the hall, there are 11 Ming and Qing dynasty stone lions preserved. These are masterpieces of ancient Chinese stone carving art. The temple is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

The atmosphere here is very sacred, making people feel the nobility and greatness of Guan Gong's spirit. Yuncheng, a city with countless stories. Come here, listen to the ancient charm, feel the charm.