2025 Linyou Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

📍Location: Linyu County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province ------ 📅Itinerary: A One-Day Journey, A Feast of History and Nature In the morning, bathed in the dawn light, depart from Xi'an on a spontaneous trip. The destination—Linyu, a small town hidden in the crevices of time, awaits every traveler to unveil its mysteries. • 8:00 Gather in Xi'an: Bring your curiosity, and we'll depart on time, heading into the depths of history. • 10:00-11:30 Jiucheng Palace Ruins: Stepping into Jiucheng Palace is like traveling through time, back to the glorious Sui and Tang dynasties. This was the imperial summer resort, where every brick and tile tells of past prosperity. Stroll through it, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and feel the tranquility and coolness that spans thousands of years. • 11:30-12:30 Linyu Food Exploration: How can you miss Linyu's specialties at lunchtime? A steaming bowl of Linyu blood noodles, spicy but not overpowering, fragrant but not greasy, will definitely awaken your taste buds and fuel your afternoon itinerary. • 12:30-13:30 Tang Well Ruins: After lunch and a short rest, head to the Tang Well Ruins. This thousand-year-old well has witnessed the changes of countless dynasties. The exquisite patterns on the well's railing seem to tell ancient stories, inviting you to stop and listen. • 13:30-15:00 Tongshan Ancient City and City God Temple: Stroll through Tongshan Ancient City and experience the ancient city style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Inside the City God Temple, incense lingers, ancient trees tower, and especially the two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, which have witnessed the vicissitudes of history, inspire awe. • 15:00-17:00 Cishan Temple Grottoes: The last stop is the Cishan Temple Grottoes. Although there are not many statues here, each one is a treasure of Sui and Tang Buddhist art. The delicate lines and vivid expressions make one marvel at the wisdom and craftsmanship of the ancients. • 17:00-19:00 Return to Xi'an: Return with a rewarding experience, concluding a day's journey through time. Back in the familiar city, your heart will be filled with a deep attachment to Linyu. ------ 🌄Must-See Spot 1: Jiucheng Palace Ruins As one of the four major imperial summer resorts of the Sui and Tang dynasties, Jiucheng Palace not only boasts magnificent architecture but also a rich historical and cultural heritage. Here, you can get up close and personal with the traces of history and experience the dignity and luxury that belonged to the imperial family. 🌄Must-See Spot 2: Cishan Temple Grottoes Cishan Temple Grottoes, a treasure trove of art hidden in the mountains. The statues here are diverse and lifelike, each carrying the beliefs and wisdom of the ancients. It is a rare place to understand Sui and Tang Buddhist art. 🌄Must-See Spot 3: Tongshan Ancient City and City God Temple Tongshan Ancient City, an ancient city bearing the memories of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The city walls, City God Temple, moat... every place retains traces of history. The two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees have witnessed countless storms and have become the most beautiful scenery in the ancient city. ------ 🚗Transportation Guide: Easy Self-Driving, Enjoy Linyu From Xi'an, drive west along the G30 Lianhuo Expressway, then transfer to Provincial Road S306 to easily reach Linyu. The whole journey takes about 2 hours. The road conditions are good, suitable for self-driving. If you choose public transportation, you can first take a bus to Baoji, then transfer to a bus to Linyu. However, pay attention to the bus schedule to avoid delays. ------ 💗Other Tips: • Clothing: Comfortable and easy-to-move-in clothing is recommended. Sun protection in summer and warmth in winter. • Photography: Jiucheng Palace, Cishan Temple Grottoes, Tongshan Ancient City, etc., are all paradises for photography enthusiasts. Don't forget to bring your camera to record this beautiful journey through time. • Food: Linyu blood noodles are a local specialty not to be missed. In addition, there are snacks such as Linyu steamed buns and walnut crisps worth trying. • Safety: Please follow the scenic spot regulations and pay attention to personal safety during the tour, especially in areas such as the ancient city walls and grottoes. Do not climb or touch cultural relics. • Environmental Protection: Linyu's natural scenery and cultural landscape need our joint protection. Please keep the environment clean and do not litter. Linyu, a small town full of historical charm and natural scenery, is waiting for your exploration. Come and embark on this fantastic adventure through time with me, and let your soul soar freely between history and nature!

Not wanting to be in a crowd during the National Day holiday, I decided to take a different path and visit the small, unassuming county of Linyou. Upon arrival, I discovered that there are many historical sites here. On the eastern side of Linyou County, on the mountain wall by the Qishui River, there is a grotto from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Before coming, I thought this was just a grotto built by the people, but I later learned that it has a significant history. When Emperor Wen of Sui was spending the summer at Jiucheng Palace, he built a grotto here for convenience in worshiping Buddha. During the Tang Dynasty, it was an important place for Buddhist activities. Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong of Tang both left their footprints here, and Xue Rengui, who shot three arrows to determine the location of Tianshan Mountain, was responsible for the expansion and excavation of the grotto. It is the first royal grotto west of Chang'an. It is said that the main Buddha in the second cave here resembles Empress Wu Zetian, just like the Lushena Buddha in the Longmen Grottoes. 🏠Cishan Temple Grottoes 📍400 meters west of Guzhuangzi, Jiuchenggong Town, Linyou.

👍Highly recommended: Attend the Fuyang Festival, enjoy the earthly delights. The second Fuyang Festival and Beer Music Food Festival in Linyou County is ongoing. Are you still not visiting the festival during your trip? 🌟Highlights: Eating lamb in summer, a new healthy trend. During the Fuyang Festival, the main venue at Qinglian Mountain hosts a Linyou lamb food exhibition tent, as well as areas for goods exchange, children's play, specialty food, and cultural performances. ✅Must experience: Visitors cooling off in Linyou can attend the Fuyang Festival and encounter a unique feast of Linyou's food and culture. 📍Detailed address: Qinglian Mountain Square, Linyou County, Shaanxi Province 🚉Transportation guide: Parking at Qinglian Mountain Square is limited. It is recommended to drive to Jiucheng Palace Scenic Area Parking Lot, Water Conservancy Bureau (West Street) Parking Lot, or Jiucheng Palace Hotel Parking Lot in Linyou County, and then walk and enjoy the street views to Qinglian Mountain Square. The walk takes about 5 minutes. 🕙Opening hours: Ongoing

📍Detailed Address: Jinfo Temple is located about 270 meters northwest of the Central Health Center of Changfeng Town, Shichang Road, Linyou County, Shaanxi. 🌟Highlights: Jinfo Temple faces south and is built from connected small quadrangles. The main buildings include the Shanmen Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Caishen Hall. The temple features exquisite Buddha statues and is bustling with incense offerings. It is adjacent to farmhouses, surrounded by lush trees, and offers a panoramic view of the entire Changfeng area from a high vantage point, providing a beautiful environment. ❤Recommended Reason: Jinfo Temple is quite famous locally and in the surrounding areas. Every year during the temple fair in the sixth month of the lunar calendar, devotees gather in the temple to worship and study scriptures. 🚉Transportation Guide: Linyou Passenger Transport departs from the county town to Changfeng at 9:00 and 15:00; for self-driving , navigate via Provincial Road S311, and head south at the Shiyao intersection along Shichang Road to reach directly.

The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are located about 3 kilometers south of the Tun Tou group in Xifang Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyou County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, on the Lama Hat Mountain, and belong to the Tang and Song dynasties' carving style. The Qianfo Temple is situated on Dian Mountain, which has an altitude of 1600 meters and is the highest peak in Linyou. The top of the Baichi Cliff is slightly flat and round, with steep cliffs on both sides, resembling the shape of a hat, hence the local name 'Lama Hat Mountain.' This name itself carries a Buddhist connotation. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are carved on the cliffs of the Baichi Cliff of Lama Hat Mountain, collectively depicting the scene of a thousand Buddhas attending a sermon by the Tathagata. 🌟Highlight: The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings catered to the Tang dynasty's Buddhist beliefs. Buddhism flourished during the Tang dynasty, with Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong frequently visiting the Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat. Inspired by the Buddhist worship at the royal temple, the Cishan Temple Grottoes, numerous donations were made to build temples and carve cliff carvings near the palace, with the Qianfo Temple cliff carvings being a typical example. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings feature a thousand Buddhas with a thousand expressions, each delicately and vividly portrayed, with immense artistic value. The carvings face east and cover an area about 8 meters wide, with a total of 1021 relief sculptures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Kings, Warriors, and Arhats, with a large Buddha in the center, a smaller Buddha in a niche to the north, and two Bodhisattvas further north. Below the large Buddha is a small seated Buddha. To the left, right, and below the large Buddha, over a thousand small Buddhas are carved on several layers, each with a unique pose and expression, depicting joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, worry, grief, resentment, and hatred. The myriad of forms and expressions are unique and infinitely charming, making it a true treasure. The 'little black room' that cannot be approached is a huge temptation for tourists. About 50 meters north of the Qianfo Temple cliff carvings, there is a niche with four Buddha statues. To the south of the niche is a large Buddha statue and an inscription from the first year of Emperor Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1909). In the cliff beside the Buddha statue, there is a wooden niche with a painted arch, all made of wood, which people call the 'little black room.' This niche, with its upturned eaves and half-embedded in the cliff, is inaccessible today without a drone, reflecting the hardships of the craftsmen who carved and built it and their sincere devotion to Buddha. The cliffs of the Qianfo Temple are steep, the trees lush, vines grow wildly, the shade is dense, and the valley is filled with the fragrance of birds and flowers, and the sound of streams, offering a beautiful scenery. It is indeed a secret spot for sightseeing that combines cultural and natural ecological landscapes. Past photos show that the pagoda-like towers and eave-connected halls built against the cliff during the Tang dynasty have been destroyed, leaving only several oval tenon holes on the cliff. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are all exposed, severely damaged by natural weathering and human factors . ✅ During this field visit, it was discovered that a pavilion-style eave-connected hall has been built over the carvings to protect the cultural relics . 📍Detailed address: On the cliffs of Baichi Cliff, Lama Hat Mountain, about 3 kilometers south of Tun Tou group, Xifang Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyou County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. 🚉Transportation strategy: Take the Linyou No. 3 tourist bus from the bus station, get off at the Qianfo Temple scenic spot stop, walk across the Tun Tou Reservoir dam, and follow the gravel road to the foot of Lama Hat Mountain, then climb up the 'S' shaped path in the valley for about 30 minutes. Drive along Fenghuang Road to the gate of Xifang Village Committee, turn left and follow the cement road of Xifang Village to the Tun Tou Reservoir dam, then walk up the mountain, following the same route as above. 🕙Opening hours: All day 💰Ticket price: Free 📝Tips: Prepare hiking or sports shoes for outdoor activities; The paths between the cliffs are narrow and slippery, so bring a walking stick or find a stick on-site to serve as both a cane and a tool for clearing the way; Carry a bottle of mosquito repellent when walking in the mountains to prevent insect bites; Be highly vigilant in summer and autumn, watch out for attacks by poisonous snakes and other creatures; Bring a bottle of drinking water; Special reminder: Do not sightsee while climbing, stand still to enjoy the view, be careful near the cliff edges, and ensure a firm footing and grip.

The Caijia River Cliff Carvings are located between the cliffs of Caijia River Village in Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyun County. Attraction Features: The stone walls here are steep and stand opposite each other across the stream, creating a secluded and beautiful scenery that is accessible by road, suitable for visiting ancient mysteries, and is an excellent place for tourists to enjoy the view. 👍Most Recommended: The Caijia River Cliff Carvings are believed to date back to the Song and Ming dynasties, with the carvings facing east and west, mostly in high relief. On a cliff wall measuring 5.2 meters high and 4.5 meters wide, 23 niches and 41 statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and disciples, as well as engraved cloud dragon patterns, are irregularly arranged in a pyramid shape from top to bottom (4 niches on the upper layer, 8 niches in the middle layer, and 11 niches on the lower layer). There are six square tenon holes on the cliff face, which are likely remnants of niche pavilion structures. Below the carvings, there is a stone offering table and an incense burner filled with ash, presumably set up by local villagers for worship and blessings. ❤Recommended Reason: The Caijia River Cliff Carvings are skillfully carved with diverse forms and content, possessing unique artistic characteristics. The carvings are relatively well-preserved and have great ornamental value, making them precious material resources for studying the Buddhist culture of the Linyun area during the Song and Ming periods. 📍Detailed Address: Located 100 meters north of the Caijia River Village Group in Caijia River Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyun County, Shaanxi, on the east bank of the stream between the cliffs. 🚉Transportation Strategy: The drive is approximately 5.5 kilometers and takes about 12 minutes. From Linyun County Town, head west along Fenghuang Road to Caijia River Village Group, where a sign for 'Caijia River Cliff Carvings' stands. Turn right at the sign and follow the local cement road north for about 100 meters to reach the destination. 🕙Opening Hours: All day 💰Ticket Price: Free

Xihai Lake is the largest man-made lake in Xihai Garden, Lin You County, Shaanxi Province. The lake can accommodate more than ten boats, with pavilions of varying heights around it and a picturesque landscape of mountains and waters. In the center of Xihai Lake is the Lake Heart Pavilion, with a marble plank road winding its way to the pavilion. Xihai Lake is the most beautiful place for summer retreat, leisure, and recreation.

| A popular 'Instagrammable spot' during the Sui and Tang dynasties.📍📍'Instagrammable' location: Jade Maiden Pool Scenic Area is located about 5 kilometers south of Linzhou City in Shaanxi Province, in the Yutang Gorge. 🌟🌟Hotspot highlights: The high mountains on both sides of the Yutang Gorge enclose the valley, with strange rocks and precipitous cliffs. Looking up, only a sliver of sky is visible. The Jade Maiden Pool is shaped like a lotus flower, with clear, rippling blue waters. The surrounding green trees are lush, casting shade that blocks the sun, the grass is green and lush, and the birds chirp and twitter. A waterfall cascades from the top of the rocks into the pool. Beautiful legend: It is said that the goddess of Mount Hua—Jade Maiden and other fairy maidens bathed by the pool, grooming and dressing up, making the water clearer and more beautiful, hence the name Jade Maiden Pool. The Sui and Tang emperors and their stories with Jade Maiden Pool: Historical records show that the emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties visited the pool multiple times to escape the summer heat, setting up banquets by the pool to watch the waves. The 'Guan Tao Pavilion' by the pool still exists today. Empress Wu Zetian, emulating the goddess of Mount Hua, became even more charming after bathing in the pool. Literati and poets flock to 'check in' at Jade Maiden Pool: Since the Tang dynasty, poets and tourists have often visited Jade Maiden Pool, leaving behind many touching verses. Here is a poem by the Tang poet Du Fu as proof, which says 'In the secluded valley and silent mountains lies Jade Maiden Pool, from its deep source gushes forth blue lotuses. Bursting through the giant gorge are thousand-year-old rocks, pouring into a dragon-like hundred-foot surge. The startling waves flip the air like fleeting cicadas, the majestic wind shakes the earth with a thunderous roar. The emerald splendor of the past days' imperial visits, how often by the stream were played flutes and strings'. ❤❤Recommended reason: Today, the reservoir at the mouth of the gorge has raised the water level to Jade Maiden Pool, integrating it as part of the reservoir, becoming the source of drinking water for the county town. The pool has become a reservoir, but the scenery remains unchanged. Whether travelers come to enjoy the view by the pool or to indulge in elegance, it's all quite nice. 🚉Transportation strategy: Drive along Meilin Kilometer to Heishantou Group, Lichuan Village, Linyou County, where there is a parking lot on the side of the road. Descend from the gravel road on the west side of the kilometer, and walk about 2 kilometers along the water's edge. 🕙Opening hours: All day 💰Ticket price: Free 📝Attention tips: When entering the water source protection area, visit in a civilized manner, do not pollute the water source. When visiting the canyon area, avoid thunderstorm weather to prevent flash floods. Be careful when walking by the water to prevent mosquito bites.

📍Location: Pingshan, located northwest of Linyou County in Shaanxi Province, on the north bank of the Du River, facing Fengtai Mountain across the river. Origin of the scenic spot's name: At the southern end of Pingshan, there are precipitous cliffs that rise several dozen meters high. The cliffs fold like a screen, and from the belly of the cliff seeps a spring, flowing incessantly. In summer, water seeps from the cliff face, and droplets of red jade splash, glistening like jade under the sunlight. In winter, the water freezes, and icicles hang upside down, making the cliffs white and glossy like fat. During the Ming Dynasty, a person from Yunnan named Chen Ming inscribed on the cliff 'Pingshan Spouting Jade'. ❤Recommended reason: 'Pingshan Spouting Jade' is one of the twelve scenic views of Linshan. The cliffs of Pingshan unfold like a screen for over a hundred meters, with numerous 'screen' cliff folds, more than ten in total, which are very spectacular. It is suitable for sightseeing tours throughout the four seasons🗓. 👍Most recommended: Pingshan on a rainy day, with green pines and dark rocks, the rainwater staining the cliffs, transforming them into a series of ink-wash landscape paintings, creating a unique artistic conception in combination with the reality and illusion of Pingshan. At night, Pingshan, with the addition of modern elements such as sound, light, and electricity, displays a colorful outline, the screen full of golden light, becoming even more enchanting. 📍Detailed address: West Sea Garden of Linyou, opposite the cliff of Phoenix Mountain Square. 📝Note tips: There may be occasional falling rocks from the cliffs, so visitors should keep a distance from the cliffs and enjoy the view from afar.

Yixing's Portal to Yunv Tan (with Summer Heat Escape Guide) About the attraction: The scenic area tour is mainly divided into two parts: 'Yuyang Dongtian' and 'Yutan Ningbi'. The depth of the pool is 78 meters. It is a scenic spot with a long history and culture, mainly featuring natural forest landscapes. Attracted by the bursts of fresh fragrance, the clear lake water is the star of the show. It's a great place for a day trip to escape the heat with your parents, without too much physical exertion, just walking around at leisure! About escaping the heat: 1. Walking down the mountain, I heard the rushing water. The greenery in the mountains is the right way to escape the summer heat. 2. The mountains and clear waters monopolize the coolness of summer. Many parents bring their children here to play, and the water is crystal clear. 3. The greenery of the scenic area blocks the scorching sun, and there's a cool evening breeze in the mountains. Tour route: The overall terrain is semi-circular. Walking counterclockwise along the circular footpath next to it, you can basically cover the entire area. About tickets: 50 RMB per person Cooling spot: 23 kilometers southwest of Yixing City, Hufu Town About transportation: There is no public transportation yet, only self-driving is available. Recommendations for sightseeing nearby: 1. Zhanggong Cave Scenic Area 2. Yixing National Forest Park 3. Taozu Holy Land 4. Fuxi Jian Bridge Caring tips: 1. Be sure to protect the environment and take your trash with you. 2. The scenic area is large, so wear a pair of comfortable shoes. 3. There may be unknown waters in the wild during summer, do not swim.

Visiting Linyou, Cishan Temple is a must-visit spot. Cishan Temple was a royal temple during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, located six kilometers east of Linyou County on the west bank of the Qishui River. The Cishan Temple Grottoes were built by emperors of the Sui and Tang Dynasties for Buddhist activities during their summer retreats in Linyou. The Cishan Temple Grottoes were first carved during the period of Emperor Wen of Sui, and continued during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian. The area is densely vegetated, with the mountains staggered in relative positions, and the Qishui River meanders to form three 'Ji' characters, naturally creating a Taiji diagram that is a beautiful and tranquil feng shui treasure. Cishan Temple currently has three major caves and forty-seven statues, arranged from north to south along the cliff face, with the cave niches staggered in height. The main Buddhas in the north and south caves are both over 4.5 meters tall, with statues that are plump, skillfully crafted, and considered masterpieces of Sui and Tang Buddhist grotto art. The 'Jingfu Sutra' inscribed in the southern cave during the Tang Dynasty is the earliest inscribed secular Buddhist scripture in the country, with the most preserved characters and the most complete content, and is considered the best in China. As the fifth batch of 'National Protection' units, the county has set up the 'Linyou County Cishan Temple Cultural Relics Management Office' to be responsible for the management and protection of the temple. There is no full-time guide here, but Mr. Li, the cultural relics manager, is passionate about cultural preservation and has deep expertise. If he is free and tourists come forward to invite discussion, he will give an impromptu talk, and those tourists who encounter this are indeed fortunate ⛰【Attraction Strategy】 📍Detailed address: Yujia River Group, Chengguan Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyou County 🚗Traffic strategy: Take a taxi or drive by yourself, from the county town through Duyang Road—Provincial Highway 306—Cishan Temple, there is a scenic spot sign at the provincial highway intersection; take a bus from Beiting Scenic Area Visitor Service Center—Cishan Temple, there is a bus stop map in the text. 🕙Opening hours: 8:30 am—5:30 pm 💰Ticket price: Adult ticket price is 18 yuan 🌟Highlights: Sui and Tang Dynasties royal Buddhist temple, learn about the religious culture and art of the Sui and Tang periods, and a place for summer retreat and leisure. 📌Small Tips: No fire, protect against mosquito bites, and follow the scenic area's tour guide. Cishan Temple Grottoes

The Charity Temple Grottoes were carved during the Ren Shou years of the Sui Dynasty, and were extensively continued in the fourth year of Yonghui (654 AD) of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. The Charity Temple Grottoes have three caves. The first cave is oval-shaped with a dome top. Inside the cave, three Buddhas are carved, each over 4 meters high. The second cave is a large statue cave, horseshoe-shaped in plan, with a dome top. Inside the cave, a standing Buddha statue up to 4.7 meters high is carved on the main wall, and there is a pointed arch-shaped shallow niche on each of the left and right walls, with a Bodhisattva statue carved inside. The third cave is unfinished. On the south cliff, the 'Sutra of the Tathagata's Bequest in the Golden Coffin for Quiet and Solemn Respect and Blessing' is also engraved. On June 25, 2001, the Charity Temple Grottoes were announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the fifth batch of key national cultural relics protection units.