[2024 Taiyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Jinci Scenic (Updated Dec)

Jinci Temple, located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, 25 km southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, is not only a scenic tourist destination, but also a precious historical and cultural heritage site that combines ancient Chinese sacrificial architecture, gardens, sculptures, murals, and stele art. As the earliest existing royal garden in China, Jinci Temple attracts visitors from all over the world with its rich historical and cultural background and beautiful architectural style. The history of Jinci Temple: The history of Jinci Temple can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century BC. Originally named Tang Shuyu Temple, it was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding marquis of the Jin State. Tang Shuyu worked hard to govern the country and used the Jin River to build farmland and water conservancy projects, so that the people of the Tang State could live and work in peace and contentment. Therefore, later generations chose this beautiful place with mountains and rivers in his fiefdom to build a temple to worship him. After Shuyu's son Xie Fu succeeded to the throne, he changed the name of the country from "Tang" to "Jin" because of the Jin River flowing through the territory, which is also the origin of the abbreviation "Jin" for Shanxi. The cultural characteristics of Jinci Temple: Jinci Temple is not only a place of ancient sacrificial offerings, but also an intensive carrier of ancient Chinese architectural art. On the central axis of Jinci Temple, there are four majestic iron-cast warriors from the Song Dynasty, who have stood the test of time for 900 years and still stand tall and imposing. The colored clay sculptures in the Hall of the Holy Mother, especially the 33 maidservants, are vivid and lifelike, showing the superb skills of Song Dynasty sculpture art. The beauty of Jinci Temple is not limited to this, as its natural beauty adds to its magical charm, earning it the reputation of "Little Jiangnan of Shanxi". The clear and bottomless Nanlao Spring water flows through the pavilions and halls; more than 20 ancient trees over a thousand years old, especially the Zhou cypress and Sui locust, leave a lasting impression. In addition, the stele of "Jinci Temple Inscription and Preface" written by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and the stone pillar of "Jinci Temple Huayan Sutra" written by Empress Wu Zetian in the second year of the Shengli era of the Tang Wu Zhou Dynasty, are also national treasures of Jinci Temple, with important historical and artistic research value. Jinci Temple, a historical and cultural heritage that combines natural scenery and cultural richness, not only showcases the splendor of ancient Chinese architectural art, but also carries a rich history and culture. Whether you are a traveler in pursuit of natural beauty or an explorer curious about history, Jinci Temple has the answers you seek. Embark on this journey and start a journey through a thousand years of history and culture.

Step into the Jin Temple and it's like stepping back in time. The ancient buildings are scattered around, with beautiful carvings and paintings. The colored sculptures in the Holy Mother Hall are lifelike and breathtaking. The sound of the water at the edge of the Nanlao Spring adds a touch of tranquility and elegance. As you stroll around, every step is filled with a sense of history and culture.

Jinci Temple (Jinci Museum), originally known as Jinci Wang Temple and initially named Tang Shuyu Temple, is a temple dedicated to the first marquis of the Jin State in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Ji Yu. Tang Shuyu, whose surname was Ji and given name was Yu, was the son of King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, and his mother Yijiang was the daughter of Jiang Ziya. In the tenth year of King Cheng of Zhou (1033 BC), King Cheng of Zhou enfeoffed the ancient Tang State (now the area around Taiyuan, Shanxi) to his younger brother Shuyu, who thus became the ruler of the Tang State and was called Tang Shuyu. Jinci Temple is a unique architectural complex in China that combines a temple and an ancestral hall, with a history of over 3,000 years. It has been listed by the State Council as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The most famous aspects of Jinci Temple are the Three Treasures, Three Wonders, and Three Plaques. The "Three Treasures" include: - Shengmu Hall: This is the main hall of the entire temple, built during the Tian Sheng period of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the most well-preserved national treasure-level building among the existing Song Dynasty buildings in China. - Fish Pond Flying Bridge: Located in front of Shengmu Hall, it was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is a cross-shaped stone bridge, known as the "oldest overpass in the world." Liang Sicheng once praised it as a "unique example," meaning it is unparalleled and unprecedented. - Xian Hall: Located east of the Fish Pond Flying Bridge, it is where sacrificial offerings are displayed. It was first built in the eighth year of the Jin Dynasty's Dading period and is a purely wooden structure. The "Three Wonders" include: - Shengmu Statue: Inside Shengmu Hall, there are 43 painted clay sculptures from the Song Dynasty. The main statue is Shengmu Yijiang, and the other 42 are eunuchs, female officials, and maids. These maid statues have different costumes and postures, with high artistic value. - Zhou Cypress: A cypress tree planted during the Western Zhou period, over 3,000 years old, located north of Shengmu Hall. - Nanlao Spring: Also known as the South Sea Eye, it is the first spring of Jinyang, built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, with a history of 1,500 years. It is the source of the Jin River, with a continuous flow and a constant water temperature of around 17°C throughout the year. The "Three Plaques" include: - Shuijingtai: This plaque hangs on the main hall of Shuijingtai, written by Yang Eryou, the teacher of Emperor Qianlong. - Duiyue: This plaque is on the Duiyue Archway, inscribed by Gao Yingyuan, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It means to repay and highlight the merits of the ancestors. - Nanlao Spring: Located in the pavilion of Nanlao Spring, inscribed by the famous calligrapher Fu Shan from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, symbolizing the eternal flow of youth and the source of water. During the peak season, the opening hours are from 08:30 to 18:00, and the ticket price is 80 yuan. Visitors need to take an electric car to the entrance of Jinci Museum (10 yuan for a round trip, and the return ticket must be shown for the return trip). The visit usually takes 2 to 3 hours.

👍Recommended Reason: Jinci has a majestic appearance, integrating various buildings, and is one of the earliest existing royal sacrificial gardens, allowing you to fully appreciate the beauty of historical culture. 🌻Attraction Address: Located in Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City. 🚗Attraction Transportation: - From Taiyuan South Station, you can take bus No. 79 directly. - You can also take bus No. 308 or No. 856 directly. 👍Must-visit Attractions: - Shengmu Hall: The core main hall of the entire Jinci, a wooden structure building from the Northern Song Dynasty, with wooden dragon carvings and Northern Song Dynasty colored sculptures. - Xian Hall: Used to store tributes, with a unique architectural layout, relying entirely on mortise and tenon joints without nails, considered an ancient "refrigerator". - Fish Pond Flying Bridge: Located between Xian Hall and Shengmu Hall, a cross-shaped bridge built over a square pond. - 43 Northern Song Dynasty Colored Sculptures in Shengmu Hall: Graceful and natural postures, the main figure is Shengmu Yijiang. - Nanlao Spring: The water temperature remains at 17-18 degrees Celsius all year round, with an exquisite octagonal pointed pavilion. - Zhou Cypress and Tang Locust: The cypress tree over 2800 years old is located on the north side of Shengmu Hall, and the Tang locust trees are on both sides of the main gate of Jinci. - Three Plaques of Jinci: Shui Jing Tai plaque, Dui Yue Fang plaque, Nanlao Spring Pavilion plaque. - Jinci Iron Man, the "Jinci Inscription" stele personally written by Emperor Taizong of Tang, and the Longxing Jinyang sculpture group. 🎫Ticket Information: 80 yuan ❤️Other Tips: - Jinci is divided into Jinci Park and Jinci Museum, you need to pass through the park to reach the museum. - Opening hours are from 8:30 to 18:00.

Taiyuan is really great, I will definitely travel here again Travel by train🚄 Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang train 35.5 There are no trams in Taiyuan, only shared bicycles! Try to hail a taxi through a platform. There are direct buses to many places, including from the train station to Jinci and the Botanical Garden. Bus 308 can take you to many places, refer to Amap for details. Delicious food🍜 I've eaten a lot of snacks, but didn't get to try the old Taiyuan restaurant because it was too crowded and I couldn't get a number. If you really want to try it, make sure to go early. It's near the entrance of Zhonglou Street, very close. Snack recommendations 1⃣️ Leaky Fish: Sour, spicy, and smooth, very delicious, it doesn't feel like super sour vinegar, it's sweet and slippery. Only six yuan!!! 2⃣️ Bowl Tuo: You can split it yourself, it has a very unique texture, and the sauce is more or less the same, also quite tasty. Five yuan 3⃣️ Sea Buckthorn Juice: Sour and sweet, I really like it, feels very appetizing, and you can find it in many places on the street. Five yuan 4⃣️ Cold Cake, Egg Fermented Rice Wine: Bought at the Mouse Hole, only three yuan, tastes similar to zongzi, but also topped with a layer of osmanthus sauce. The egg fermented rice wine is not sweet, very nice to drink, I didn't order the sweet rice balls because I read in the travel guide that they are too sweet, but this fermented rice wine is really good and only six yuan. 5⃣️ God's Fried Chicken: Two people can just buy one, I thought it was small and bought two, but it's bigger than a face!!! 56 for two. My first impression was that it's expensive, but it took a long time to finish eating, the skin is crispy, just a bit salty. Avoid these🙅🙅🙅 1⃣️ Dipped Skewers Not very tasty, two people ate twenty-one, I didn't see what was written on it, the first line was one yuan for three skewers, the following was three yuan per skewer, and then it turned out to be three yuan, and the sauce, besides the vinegar being very sour, everything else tasted the same. The one I ate at wasn't good. 2⃣️ Knife-Cut Noodles Maybe I didn't choose the right one, it tasted like homemade noodles, the noodles were chewy, just the sauce on top wasn't tasty. Attractions top1 Jinci It's really super big, Jinci Park is already very large, free of charge, and super beautiful, with lakes, flowers and grass, and pavilions, very photogenic.📷 top2 Taiyuan Botanical Garden🎆 The starry sky elevator is absolutely beautiful, but be sure to note that once the lights are on, it's basically impossible to go up because many people are queuing. You can also take beautiful photos from below. The indoor pavilions are also very good, but it's very crowded during holidays, so the experience isn't that great. It's pretty good in itself, you can take a car in the scenic area, ten yuan for a round trip. Be sure to note⚠️ if you're not driving there, it's best to leave early, because everyone comes out around eight or nine o'clock, and it's impossible to get a taxi. We tried for a long time, and then walked back, a strenuous five kilometers, luckily the exit wasn't too far.

🔔Introduction: Jinci is located in Jinyuan District of Taiyuan City, built to commemorate the founding nobles of the Jin state, Tang Shuyu and his mother, Lady Jiang. It is the earliest existing royal ancestral garden in China, and its unique 'Three Uniques' and 'Three Treasures' are the best testimony to Taiyuan's thousand-year history. ---- 📷Tour Guide: ✅Jinci is divided into two parts, Jinci Museum (admission fee 80 yuan) and Jinci Park (free admission), and you need to pass through the park to reach the museum. ✅Recommended tour route: Jinci Shengjing Archway➡️Yingxi Gate➡️Feilong Pavilion➡️Fulong Garden➡️Jinci Main Gate➡️Shuijing Platform➡️Huixian Bridge➡️Jinren Platform➡️Duiyue Fang➡️Xian Hall➡️Yuzhao Feiliang➡️Holy Mother Hall➡️Nanlao Spring➡️Dazhong Pavilion➡️Sheli Shengsheng Tower➡️Fengsheng Temple➡️East Garden➡️Jin Wengong Art Museum➡️Xiangxi Gate ✅Three Uniques: 1⃣️Zhou Cypress: Planted during the Zhou Dynasty, located north of the Holy Mother Hall, it has a history of nearly three thousand years. 2⃣️Song Dynasty Colored Sculptures: There are 43 colored sculptures from the Song Dynasty inside the Holy Mother Hall, with Lady Jiang sitting in the center, dignified and elegant. Among the attendants, the most classic is a maid wearing a red flower, with her facial expression half smiling and half crying, as if telling her life story. 3⃣️Nanlao Spring: One of the three sources of Jin water, it flows all year round, with a pavilion above the spring, and the words 'Nanlao Spring' written by Fu Shan hanging in the pavilion. ✅Three Treasures: 1⃣️Xian Hall: Surrounded by no walls, only straight lattices, this beam frame design not only saves materials but is also sturdy, and can play a role in ventilation and anti-corrosion, considered to be the 'refrigerator' of ancient times. 2⃣️Yuzhao Feiliang: Located between Xian Hall and Holy Mother Hall, a cross-shaped bridge is added above the square pond, pioneering the precursor to ancient China's overpass bridges. 3⃣️Holy Mother Hall: The main hall of the entire temple, the surrounding corridor is the earliest example of 'auxiliary steps around' in China's existing ancient buildings, with eight wooden carved dragon pillars being particularly spectacular, and the plaque hanging in the center is the true handwriting of Emperor Song Zhenzong. ✅Other important cultural relics: 1⃣️Shuijing Platform: A stage from the Ming and Qing dynasties, integrating the architectural styles of buildings, platforms, halls, and pavilions, with a majestic shape. 2⃣️Jinren Platform: Located in front of Xian Hall, with a Song Dynasty iron-cast warrior standing at each of the four corners. 3⃣️Duiyue Fang: The plaque was inscribed by Gao Yingyuan, a calligrapher from the Ming Dynasty, with two characters in gold, written in a powerful and vigorous style, like a roaming dragon. ---- 📍Address: Ancient Tang Road, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City. ---- 🚗Transportation: Take bus No. 79 or 856, get off at Jinci Xinzhen Station. ---- 🕙Opening Hours: 8:30-18:00. ---- 💰Admission Fee: 80 yuan.

"Among the victories of the three Jin, Jinyang is the best, and the victory of Jinyang lies entirely in Jinci." Jinci is not only the oldest and richest temple architectural complex in China, but also one of the most beautiful classical gardens in China . Location: Jinci Scenic Area, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City 🎫 Ticket: 80 yuan /person Touring time: 1–3h The scenic area has a shuttle service for 10 yuan /person About transportation Taiyuan Station - Jinci Museum Bus: No. 856 direct, 27km, about 2h Taxi: about 50 yuan, 37min Taiyuan South Station - Jinci Museum Bus: No. 79 direct, 24km, about 2h Taxi: about 35 yuan, 27min Taiyuan Wusu International Airport - Jinci Museum Bus: Airport Express - No. 79, 26km, about 2h Taxi: about 40 yuan, 25min Recommended attractions Jinci is divided into two parts, Jinci Park and Jinci Museum. Main attractions The three wonders of Jinci: Zhou Cypress, Song Dynasty colored sculptures, Nanlao Spring The three treasures of Jinci: Holy Mother Hall, Fish Pond Flying Bridge, Xian Hall The three plaques of Jinci: Shuijing Platform, Duoyue, Nanlao Others: Tang Shuyu Temple, Guandi Temple, Shifang Fengsheng Zen Temple Recommended attractions around Jinci Tianlong Mountain Grottoes (Northern Qi grottoes, Buddha head national treasure returned) Taiyuan Ancient County (climb the city wall) Mount Tai (vegetarian meals) Longshan (the most concentrated Taoist grottoes in the country) Mengshan (Mengshan Giant Buddha) Botanical Garden (popular photo check-in spot)

Jinci, also known as Fongsheng Temple, is officially named 'Shifang Fongchan Temple', located in Taiyuan, Shanxi. Jinci is a must-visit place when you come to Taiyuan! It is a worthwhile attraction for both history and culture enthusiasts and general tourists.

❤️Recommended reason: The first stop in Taiyuan is of course Jinci Park. Entering the gate of Jinci, there is a feeling that is quite marvelous. Before the Qingming Festival, there are not many tourists, the weather is warm, the breeze is not dry, the trees have new leaves, and the flowers are blooming brilliantly. It feels like the ancient people's aesthetic is truly irreplaceable, and I feel as if I am in an ancient painting that has lasted for a thousand years. Living here, I feel I could never tire of it even after a thousand years. Jinci Park is also extremely beautiful, and I feel that I will definitely come to experience its beauty in different seasons. What force has allowed the dust of history to remain steadfast over a millennium? As for all the must-see spots, there are plenty of people to introduce them, so I won't mention them one by one.

🏞️ Exploring Jinci, a one-day tour of ancient charm and modern style! Hey friends! I went to Jinci last weekend, and it was a trip well worth it. Follow me and experience this mysterious place with a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci starts with the clear waters that surround it, as if traveling through time, instantly calming the mind. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients are frozen between these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop to appreciate. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci, the lights add a touch of mystery and romance, it's simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired of walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they will definitely satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help thinking, shouldn't everyone have a longing for a place full of history and culture like this in their hearts? Would you, like me, also be full of curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣

🏞️ Exploring the Jinci Temple, a one-day tour of ancient charm and modern style! Hey friends! I went to Jinci last weekend, and it was a trip well worth it. Follow me and feel the mystery of this place that holds a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci first has to mention the surrounding clear waters, as if traveling through time and space, instantly calming the mind. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients are frozen between these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop to appreciate. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci, the lighting adds a touch of mystery and romance, simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired from walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they will definitely satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help but think, shouldn't everyone have a longing in their heart for a place full of history and culture like this? Would you, like me, also be full of curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣