[2025 Jishan Attraction] Travel Guide for Macun Tile Carving Tomb (Updated Apr)

📍Shanxi · Yuncheng · Jishan The unknown always holds a certain allure, beckoning us to explore. Now, we'll transform into tomb raiders and delve into the only open Song-Jin Dynasty tombs in the country. 💫Stunning Brick Carvings: Deep beneath the magical loess of Macun Village in Jishan County lies this exquisite underground palace. The tomb complex consists of 14 tombs, of which 9 have been excavated and 4 are open to the public. 💫Stepping into these tombs feels like entering a beautifully crafted courtyard house, except that all the Dougong brackets, houses, flowers, plants, and figures are rendered in brick carvings. Each tomb is a self-contained, imitation wooden-structured, brick-carved courtyard. The top of each tomb features a square, inverted-dou-shaped roof, while the surrounding walls are adorned with single or double-eaved pavilions and palace-style structures. The four walls are built on Xumizuo bases, and at the very bottom lies a kang-like burial bed. There are no coffins in the tombs; the bodies were buried directly, making the tomb itself a coffin. Few burial objects were unearthed, contrasting sharply with the intricate and ornate brick carvings. This suggests the tomb owners' desire to preserve their world in the afterlife. 💫Who created this intricate underground world? A small brick inscription on the wall of Tomb No. 7 provides the answer, revealing the identity of the tomb occupants. The inscription, "Duan Ji's Pre-Prepared Tomb Record," indicates that the tomb was gradually constructed from the late Northern Song Dynasty to the 21st year of Dading in the Jin Dynasty (1181). Tomb No. 2 is the oldest, belonging to Duan Yongcheng. The Duan family's ancestor, Duan Xian, was a renowned local physician who amassed wealth through his practice. 🎯Tomb No. 1: Famous for its "Woman Opening the Door" depiction. A woman with a left-side bun, dressed in Song Dynasty maid attire, stands behind a vermillion gate, peeking out cautiously. This image symbolizes various meanings, including vast family wealth, a guide for the deceased, and the hope of reincarnation. 🎯Tomb No. 2: Known for its "Hosting a Banquet" scene. The male and female tomb occupants sit facing each other across a tea table, hands clasped within their sleeves, attended by male and female servants. The table displays teacups, a teapot, and a fruit platter. This banquet style was prevalent during the Song-Jin period. 🎯Tomb No. 8: The most complete and luxurious tomb in the complex, featuring two enclosed walkways and the earliest example of a pavilion-style courtyard house. 💫Behind this grand tomb lies the strong financial backing of the Duan family, a wealthy family known for their medicinal cuisine. The numerous theatrical scenes depicted within the tomb reveal the family's love and admiration for drama, offering valuable insights into the theatrical arts of the Song-Jin period. 🚗 Transportation: Driving or hiring a car is recommended. (After visiting the Macun Brick Carvings, you can visit the murals at Qinglong Temple next door. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations during our visit.) 🎫 Tickets: 20 yuan (purchased at the entrance) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, Summer (8:30 am–5:30 pm) / Winter (8:30 am–5:00 pm) ✅As these are ancient tombs, the underground environment is cool and damp. Those with frail health are advised against visiting. If you're curious but apprehensive, consider bringing some protective charms.

1⃣The things over there were so good that I felt nothing at all when I saw Yuan Gou in the end, my heart was as calm as still water. 2⃣The places are really too remote. Sometimes you can only see one attraction after driving on the national highway for more than an hour. You need to have expectations for the intensity of the trip. 3⃣ If you don’t have enough time, you can either drive yourself or charter a car or join a tour group. Taking public transportation is too unrealistic. ⭕️We stayed in Yuncheng, Linfen for four days. I had planned to visit many places, but I was limited by my physical strength and time. For example, Hou Tu Temple (I still had time to go on the third day, but I felt I didn’t have the energy to go back to Yuncheng), Yongle Palace (I originally planned to go on the fourth day, but I didn’t want to move after lying in the hotel. Fortunately, I had visited it a year ago, so I don’t regret it) 🔥The entire journey takes four days (the fourth day can be basically ignored) 1⃣At 10:18, we arrived at Linfen West, picked up the car and headed straight for Xiaoxitian. Seeing that it would take more than 50 kilometers to take the highway, we took the Linyan Line. There were a lot of large trucks in the first half of this road, so we must pay attention to safety. We took this route back again, and visited the Dongyue Temple in Pu County (very worth it), and also went to Fenshang Village which I accidentally saw when passing by (a pleasant surprise on the self-driving trip). 2⃣At 9 o'clock, we went to Dayun Temple to see the Iron Buddha Head, and then to Guangsheng Temple (the stay time seriously exceeded expectations, and the original plan to stay in Jishan did not come true). After a simple fast food meal in Hongdong County at around 2 o'clock, we rushed to Xinjiang. It was almost 6 o'clock when we finished visiting Fusheng Temple and Longxing Temple. Considering physical strength and time, we stayed in Xinjiang. 3⃣ Give up other attractions in Xinjiang, start from Baitai Temple, Dafo Temple, Jishan Jiwang Temple, Fawang Temple, Macun Brick Sculpture, Qinglong Temple one by one, and finally go to Wanrong Jiwang Temple and stay in Jishan. The attractions on this day are very close and not far apart, but most of them are country roads and village roads, so the time on the road is not short. What we saw at the tourist spots that day were basically a group of tourists. From the high-spirited people at the beginning to the people holding their waists and beating their legs at the end, you can imagine how intense the exercise was. In fact, it was just past 4 o'clock when we finished visiting the Wanrong Jiwang Temple, and we were fully qualified to go to the Houtu Temple. However, our energy was only enough to go there, not to go back. The accommodation there seemed to be a little worse, so we gave up and went back to Yuncheng directly. 4⃣ We didn’t go to Yongle Palace as originally planned. We visited Chishen Temple and Guanwang Temple in Yuncheng and returned to Xi’an early. ✅The total mileage of this trip is about 600 kilometers, and I almost never took the highway (only 24 hours on the highway). The total time on the road is about 11 hours, which means an average of 4 hours and 200 kilometers per day. Those who have self-driving plans can refer to this. I feel that it is very sunny and windy there these days. It is cold if I take off my coat, and stuffy with my coat on. It is easy to catch a cold if I am not careful. If I catch a cold, it will greatly affect my travel condition (don’t ask me how I know). The road conditions are generally good, but some village roads may be too wide, so you need to pay attention. Although Gaode often directs you to unnamed roads, it is generally reliable and can be trusted.

[○] I went to Jishan to see the Macun Brick Carving Tomb. I was impressed by how interesting this family was. They turned a place that should have been cold and gloomy into an underground brick carving museum that is both artistic and storytelling. It is so fascinating! 📍The Macun Brick Carved Tomb is the only Song and Jin Dynasty tomb open to the public in the country, dating back about 800 years. The entire tomb complex has a total of 14 tombs, 9 of which have been excavated and 4 are open to the public. The tombs are all brick chamber tombs imitating the structure of a quadrangle courtyard. Although only a few burial objects have been unearthed, the tombs themselves are of great research value! 🖊️The tomb owner's Duan family was a local herbal medicine family during the Song and Jin Dynasties. They established the concept of "connecting the meridians, balancing yin and yang, and strengthening the foundation with herbal medicine", and compiled a book "Guantong Food Tonic Recipes" to save the world. They were praised by the people as "Duan Bulao" and were once designated by the King of Song as the royal family. The Duan family later became a prominent local family with their medical skills and medicated food. "Filial piety to support the family, food to maintain health, and play to nourish the mind" is the "Three Virtues Culture" proposed by the ancestors of the Duan family, which is also engraved on the brick carvings and has become a historical mark passed down from generation to generation in the family. 🖊️Let’s talk about the most classic brick carvings in the tomb. The most eye-catching is naturally the "Woman Opening the Door" in Tomb Chamber No. 1, which has long been famous. Half of a woman's figure is sticking out from the red door, her clothes fluttering and her expression relaxed. No one knows whether she is welcoming the owner to a home in another world or leading the owner to ascend to become an immortal. However, the half-open red door embedded in the entire blue-gray brick wall has aroused people's imagination for hundreds of years. The drama-loving tomb owner might also be a master of writing storybooks. At this moment, he should be very satisfied that one picture has achieved the desired suspense effect. [DoubleHearts] "The Woman Opening the Door" is just an appetizer, and the walls are filled with amazing stories. The "Kaifang Banquet" in Tomb No. 2, at first glance, is a scene of a couple feasting and watching a play. It seems that the tomb owner has interpreted "treating death as life" to the extreme. Upon closer inspection, I burst out laughing, because there is a play within the play. The wife seems to be glancing at the unhappy concubine beside her, as if the two are competing secretly. On the stage, the four characters of Fu Jing, Fu Mo, Mo Ni and Zhuang Gu are all available, with different costumes, expressions and props, which is very interesting. [!] Tomb No. 8 is the most luxurious tomb in the entire tomb complex. It has two floors of verandas and is the prototype of the earliest loft-style courtyard house. Looking up, one can see a world composed of stone-carved brackets. It is also a rare source of material for studying ancient buildings. 🖊️Look at the flowers, plants, animals and others, they all have their own stories. The direction of the wind is hidden in the swaying of flowers and plants. I can't help but explore other patterns, always feeling that there are unspeakable little thoughts hidden in them. There is also the classic "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars", which is lifelike. In this way, the brick-carved tombs of Macun contain both traditional culture and romance and interest. No matter the tomb owner or the craftsmen, I find them very interesting. It is not wrong to say that they are the literary and artistic youths of ancient times! [!][!]Tips: It is strongly recommended to ask for an explanation, otherwise you will inadvertently miss a lot of details [CoolGuy]

There are many places to recommend in Shanxi, but this one is a must-see: the Macun Brick Tombs, a hidden gem that will leave you in awe. Stepping into this mysterious family cemetery is like opening a historical blind box. The atmosphere of the Song and Jin dynasties is palpable, and each brick carving is a mark of time. The brick carvings here cover a wide range of themes, including life, mythology, and architecture. There are vivid depictions of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, as well as stunning imitations of wooden architectural components. From doors and windows to brackets and beams, the details are exquisite, and you can't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the ancients. Compared to the crowded popular attractions, this place is quiet and off the beaten path, allowing you to fully appreciate every detail and feel the weight of history. You can also hire a professional guide for CNY 30 (for individual visitors) to learn more about the stories behind the tombs and enhance your experience.

| Macun Brick Tombs. Step into a mysterious and niche treasure land - Macun Brick Tombs. Located in Macun, Jishan, Shanxi, it is a family cemetery from the Song and Jin dynasties. Each brick tomb is like a miniature art palace. The brick carvings in the tombs are rich and diverse in themes, with vivid scenes of daily life, labor, play, and banquets, vividly presenting the life of the ancients; there are also exquisite floral patterns, with delicate and smooth lines, lifelike. The expressions of the characters and the textures of the costumes are clearly carved, making people marvel at the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Compared with popular attractions, there are few tourists here, allowing you to calm down and savor the weight of history and the charm of art. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 🔖Name｜Macun Brick Tombs 🚇Transportation｜Car rental or self-driving is recommended🚗 🈺️Time｜8:30-17:30 💰Ticket｜20

|Brick Carvings at the End of Life. The Macun Song-Jin Duan Family Brick Carving Tomb is the family tomb of the Duan family, a wealthy family and medicinal food family from the Song to Jin dynasties. The tomb is 160 meters long from east to west, 140 meters wide from north to south, and covers an area of 22,400 square meters. There are 14 tombs in total, 9 of which have been excavated, all of which are brick chamber tombs. The Macun Brick Carving Tomb unearthed one or two large porcelain bowls or porcelain lamps and some Northern Song Dynasty copper coins, and individual tombs unearthed porcelain pillows. The 24 filial piety sculptures on the eaves of the Xumizuo in Tomb No. 4 are vivid and beautiful, and are precious works of art. The architecture of the Macun Brick Carving Tomb mainly shows the luxurious residence of the tomb owner during his lifetime. The lower part of the four walls is built with waist-bound Xumizuo, carved with flying horses, running deer and other animals, and the carvings are exquisite. The house is surrounded by corridors, and the column heads and interstitial dougong under the eaves are four or five sets, with a 60-degree slope. The roof is either single or double eaves, with simple tiles and hooks, and the hook heads and drips are decorated with animal face patterns. The four walls of the tomb chamber are generally arranged in a courtyard layout with a front hall, a back hall, and left and right wing rooms. The north wall opposite the tomb door is mostly carved with panel doors, with imitation wooden door towers, and the next room is equipped with broken lattice windows. There are also a few tombs with the tomb owner "holding a banquet" in the middle, and the next room is equipped with a screen carved with filial piety pictures. The east and west walls are mostly symmetrically carved with six lattice doors, and the south wall is mostly a wide door tower and stage corresponding to the north wall, with four or five people performing miscellaneous dramas inside. Address: Macun, Xiadi Township, 2.5 km west of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province Tickets: 20

[Jinshan Jinmei·Jishan·A Woman Opens the Door, Life is Like a Play] In a small village in Jishan County, there is a beautiful treasure - the Macun Brick Carving Tomb. Entering the tomb, there is no sense of gloom and horror, but four exquisite and well-preserved Song and Jin brick carving tombs are displayed in front of you. Try to turn back time 800 years and see the life scenes of the Duan family, who were known for their medical skills! The exquisite and delicate carvings are truly amazing. The brick carvings depict many opera plots, indicating that the tomb owner loved watching operas. Among them, the two tombs of a woman opening the door and holding a banquet are the essence of the essence, YYDS! Tips: A total of 14 tombs were discovered in Macun, and 9 have been excavated. According to the "Duan Ji Pre-repair Tomb Record" and the judgment of the tomb shape, it is the Duan family cemetery before the Jin Dading period. The tombs are all in the north-south direction, with an area of about 7 to 10 square meters. The tomb architecture mainly represents the luxurious residence of the tomb owner during his lifetime - the courtyard. The Macun Jin Tomb is a brick carving imitating wooden structures, with exquisite carvings, complex structures, luxurious decorations, and rich cultural connotations, which are of great significance for the study of architecture, sculpture, and drama history. 📝Note tips: 1. Currently, photography is allowed inside the tomb, and the experience is great. 2. Next to it is Qinglong Temple, which has Ming Dynasty murals and can be visited together.

The cover photo is my favorite picture taken at the Machun brick carving tomb, with the sunlight on the ground passing through the gatehouse. It reminds people of the Kobolds in fairy tales—they only come out to hunt at night, turning everyone they encounter into deer to hunt. Then they stand on the ancient sandy ground, back to the moon, cutting the shadows on the ground with their feet, and the soul is clearly visible. 😊 The most interesting part of the brick carving tomb is the second picture of the woman opening the door in the tomb. She has a smiling face, kind and amiable. The ancients used the 'woman opening the door' as a metaphor for a symbol of a happy life, with a woman waiting at the door to welcome the male master, the family must be full of happiness and harmony. In the Machun brick carving tomb, this 'woman opening the door' contains the ancients' beautiful expectations for a good life and reincarnation in the next life, and can also be seen as a metaphor for the door as the central hub connecting the world of the living and the dead. 🚗🚗 tips: It's very convenient to drive from Yuncheng, about an hour's drive. There is parking available on the open ground. There is also the Qinglong Temple nearby (currently not accessible due to maintenance, said to open after the National Day). There is a restroom at the entrance of the brick carving tomb, but I didn't see it when I went in. The underground tomb is very cool, and the tombs are very narrow, so be careful.

[The goodness of Jin, the beauty of Jishan, the woman opens the door, life is like a play] In a small village in Jishan County lies a beautiful treasure - the Macun brick-carved tomb. When you enter the tomb, you don't feel eerie or scary. What unfolds before your eyes are four exquisite and well-preserved Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty brick-carved tombs. Try to go back in time 800 years and take a look at the life scenes of the Duan family who practiced medicine to save the world! The beauty and delicacy of the carvings are truly amazing. Many dramatic plots are depicted in the brick carvings, which shows that the tomb owner loved watching plays very much. Among them, the two tomb chambers where the woman opens the door and the banquet begins are the essence of the essence, YYDS! Tips: A total of 14 tombs have been discovered in Macun, and 9 of them have been excavated. According to the "Duan Ji Pre-Tomb Renovation Record" and the judgment of the tomb shape, it is the Duan family cemetery before the Dading period of the Jin Dynasty. The tombs are all facing north and south, with an area of ​​about 7 to 10 square meters. The tomb chamber architecture mainly reflects the tomb owner's luxurious residence during his lifetime - the quadrangle courtyard. The Macun Jin Tomb has exquisite imitation wood-structure brick carvings, complex structure, rich decoration and rich cultural connotations, and is of great significance to the study of architecture, sculpture and drama history. 📝Note tips: 1. You can take photos in the tomb, which is a great experience 2. Next to it is Qinglong Temple, which has Ming Dynasty murals and can be visited together