[2025 Ruzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Fengxue Temple (Updated Mar)

## A Two-Day, One-Night Nanny-Level Travel Guide to Pingdingshan **Day 1: History and Culture Tour** **Morning:** * **Arrive in Pingdingshan**. High-speed rail or train is recommended for convenient and fast travel. * **Check in to your hotel**. Hotels in the city center are recommended, with prices around CNY 200–300 per night. * **Visit Xiangshan Temple** (entry fee: CNY 50) to experience Buddhist culture and admire the ancient architecture. * **Lunch**: Enjoy local specialties such as Jiaxian Hele Noodles and Lushan Langguo Cai. Average cost: CNY 30–50 per person. **Afternoon:** * **Visit the Spring Temple Buddha** (entry fee: CNY 120). This is the tallest statue in the world and is truly awe-inspiring. * **Visit Yaoshan Scenic Area** (entry fee: CNY 80) to enjoy the natural scenery and experience the glass walkway (additional fee required). * **Dinner**: Try Baofeng Lamb Soup and Yexian Quezi Huimian. Average cost: CNY 40–60 per person. **Evening:** * **Enjoy a night tour of Baigui Lake National Wetland Park** to admire the night view and experience the city's charm. * **Return to the hotel and rest**. **Day 2: Natural Scenery Tour** **Morning:** * **Visit Huamei Valley** (entry fee: CNY 60) to admire natural landscapes such as waterfalls and canyons. * **Experience Huamei Valley Rafting** (additional fee required) to enjoy the summer coolness. * **Lunch**: Simple meals are available in the scenic area. Average cost: CNY 30–50 per person. **Afternoon:** * **Visit Sansu Garden** (entry fee: CNY 40) to learn about the lives of Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe. * **Visit Fengxue Temple** (entry fee: CNY 30) to experience the tranquility and solemnity of the ancient temple. * **Dinner**: Enjoy local snacks such as Wugang Hot Tofu and Ruzhou Fenpi. Average cost: CNY 20–40 per person. **Evening:** * **Return trip**, concluding your pleasant Pingdingshan journey. **Total Expenses:** * **Transportation**: Costs vary depending on your departure location. * **Accommodation**: CNY 200–300 per night. * **Food**: Approx. CNY 150–250 per person. * **Entry Fees**: Approx. CNY 380 per person. * **Other**: Optional activities such as rafting, approx. CNY 100–200 per person. **Total**: Approx. CNY 1,000–1,500 per person (excluding transportation). **Friendly Reminders:** * The above itinerary can be adjusted according to personal preferences. * Pay attention to sun protection in summer and keep warm in winter. * Book hotels and tickets in advance to avoid unavailability during peak seasons. * Pay attention to safety and keep your personal belongings safe. **Have a pleasant trip!**

Four-hour train ride to visit the ancient temple as famous as Shaolin Temple Location: Fengxue Temple, located in Fengxue Mountain, Ruzhou, about 1.5 hours' drive from Pingdingshan West Station, and half an hour's drive from Ruzhou City. Driving is recommended. Built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, famous all over the world Fengxue Temple was built in the first year of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and was rebuilt and expanded in successive dynasties. It is as famous as White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple, and Xiangguo Temple, and is known as one of the "Four Famous Temples in Central China." Also known as Xiangji Temple, Qianfeng Temple, and Baiyun Zen Temple, it has the most names among famous temples in China, and is now listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. Named after the mountain, with winding paths leading to secluded places When the temple was rebuilt in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the temple was located under Yindong Mountain in Baima Stone Valley. When the construction was about to start, a gust of wind blew the bricks and wood to the current site of the temple, hence the name "Fengxue Temple." The temple is hidden in the valley, with two mountains on both sides, green pines on the side of the mountain, gurgling water, winding paths, and the artistic conception of an ancient temple hidden in the deep mountains. Ancient architectural treasures, incense for thousands of years Fengxue Temple has preserved more than 140 buildings from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, and is known as the "Ancient Architecture Museum" of seven generations. The Tang Dynasty Seventh Patriarch Pagoda (Figures 9-11), there are only 6 well-preserved Tang Pagodas in China, and it is one of them. The Song Dynasty Bell Pavilion (Figures 12-13), located on the stone platform in the southwest of the temple, is a double-eave building with a hip-and-gable roof, with flying eaves and corners, majestic and spectacular. The pavilion houses a Northern Song Dynasty iron bell, which is very precious. The "Fengxue Bell" is also one of the eight scenic spots in Ruzhou. The Jin Dynasty Central Buddha Hall (Figures 4-8), which is more than 800 years old, is a single-eave building with a hip-and-gable roof, and is the best-preserved Jin Dynasty hall building in Henan Province. In addition, Fengxue Temple also has the Pilu Hall built in the Ming Dynasty, the third largest pagoda forest in China, the waterfall in the Shaolin Temple movie, and the steles of past dynasties, which are rare ancient cultural relics. The cover photo was taken from the back mountain of Fengxue Temple. Climb to the top and look far away to fully appreciate the magnificence of this ancient temple.

Qizu Pagoda is located in Fengxue Temple, No. 985 Fengxue Road, Ruzhou City, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, and is one of the three national treasures of Fengxue Temple. Qizu Pagoda was built in the 26th year of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty (738), and was named by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. It enshrines the relics of the seventh patriarch of Zen Buddhism, and is one of the six well-preserved Tang pagodas in China. It is located in the center of Fengxue Temple, with a height of 24.17 meters. It is one of the six well-preserved Tang pagodas in China, and is the earliest existing building in Fengxue Temple, which is called a national treasure by cultural relic experts. Ticket information: Free Opening hours: 8:00-20:00 Transportation: Take bus No. 7 or No. 19 from Ruzhou City. The walking distance from bus No. 19 is long, so it is recommended to take bus No. 7 or drive.

Xuan Zhong Pavilion is located in Fengxue Temple at No. 985 Fengxue Temple Road, Ruzhou City, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province. It is one of the main buildings of Fengxue Temple and one of the eight major attractions of Fengxue Temple. It was built in the Song Dynasty and has been repaired over the years, retaining the architectural features of the Yuan Dynasty and earlier. Some components were rebuilt or replaced in the Ming Dynasty. Xuan Zhong Pavilion has a unique architectural style, simple structure, and beautiful shape, making it an excellent example of ancient Chinese architecture.‌ It is one of the filming locations for the movie "Shaolin Layman Disciple," produced by San Yang Film Co., Ltd. and co-produced by China Film Co-Production Corporation, released on August 8, 1985. Ticket information: Free Opening hours: 8:00–20:00 Transportation: Take bus No. 7 or No. 19 from Ruzhou City. Bus No. 19 requires a long walk, so it is recommended to take bus No. 7 or drive.

Fengxue Temple, also known as Xiangji Temple, Qianfeng Temple, and Baiyun Zen Temple, is located on Fengxue Mountain at the southern foot of Mount Song in Ruzhou City, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province. Fengxue Temple was founded at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,800 years. Fengxue Temple, along with White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple, and Xiangguo Temple, is known as one of the 'Four Great Temples of the Central Plains.' The temple has been renovated and expanded through the Northern Wei, Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, preserving many ancient architectural remains, which experts call the 'ancient architecture museum' of seven generations under one roof. The temple's architecture follows the natural terrain, scattered and orderly, without a clear central axis, blending with the landscape to form a rare garden-style temple in the north. Among the many ancient architectural complexes in the temple, the most intact buildings are the Tang Dynasty Qizutower, the Song Dynasty Hanging Bell Pavilion, and the Jin Dynasty Central Buddha Hall, which are known as the three national treasures of Fengxue Temple. The Qizutower was built in the 26th year of the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era to commemorate the famous monk Zhen Chan Master of the Tiantai sect, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang bestowed the name 'Qizutower.' The tower is 24.17 meters high, a nine-story dense-eave square brick tower, and is the earliest existing building in Fengxue Temple, as well as the most intact Tang tower preserved in the country. The Hanging Bell Pavilion was built during the Song Dynasty and houses a large iron bell cast in the seventh year of the Song Dynasty's Xuanhe period, weighing 9,999 jin, known as the 'Number One Bell of the Central Plains,' and is one of the eight scenic spots of Fengxue. The Central Buddha Hall is a Jin Dynasty building with a history of over 800 years. The Central Buddha Hall is renowned both at home and abroad for its scientific wooden structure and exquisite Jin Dynasty colored paintings and is currently the best-preserved Jin Dynasty hall-style building in Henan Province. The filming location of the movie 'Shaolin Temple' is also here~