Things to do in Jincheng

This was my second visit to Tiefo Temple, and this time I felt much better than before. This time, some time had passed since its peak popularity, and there weren't many people, so I could spend more time there and properly explore the place. The lighting was better in the morning, but when I arrived in the afternoon near closing time, the lighting inside the large store was noticeably dim.

If you had visited Jincheng many years ago, this attraction might not have been highly recommended by many people. After all, its location is relatively remote, and there wasn't much promotion. However, after the Black Monkey King Myth became popular, you'll find that it's really worth a visit.

An ancient temple as famous as Shaolin Temple, Qinglian Temple, named after the Buddha Shakyamuni seated on a lotus throne within, is a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site. Not only is the area scenically stunning, but it also boasts the "Six Wonders of Qinglian": painted sculptures, steles, Song Dynasty architecture, the Shadowless Pagoda, the Rudou Spring, and the Mother-and-Child Cypress. Founded during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Qinglian Temple has earned the reputations of "the Capital of Buddhism," "Literary Qinglian, Martial Shaolin," and "the First Temple in the Mountains and Rivers of the Jin and Wei Dynasties." Its founder, the renowned Buddhist genius Tanshi, was the first Chinese missionary to Goguryeo, one of the founders of the Pure Land religion in northern my country, and a pioneer of Chinese Buddhist martial arts. Therefore, Qinglian Temple holds a crucial position in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Qinglian Temple is divided into two buildings: the lower one, known as the "Ancient Qinglian Temple," dates back to the early period; the upper one, known as the "New Qinglian Temple," dates from a later period. The main hall of the ancient Qinglian Temple is also known as the "Big Buddha Hall". On the waisted Sumeru-style square altar in the hall, there are 7 Tang Dynasty colored sculptures including Sakyamuni. "The essence of Qinglian Temple lies here." The sculptures were probably made no later than the eighth year of Tang Xiantong (867 AD). It is the only one of its kind in the country and has extremely high artistic value.

The temple is located on a very quiet mountainside, requiring a long climb up a flight of stairs 😴. The main hall containing the murals is inaccessible; you can get a general view from the entrance, and for more details, see the replicas in the side halls. It closes at 12 noon and may reopen at 2 pm, so please be aware of the time.

It feels so worthwhile to drive along the Taihang No. 1 Tourist Highway once in my life. I was even moved to tears while driving through the Taihang Grand Canyon. The rivers of our motherland are so magnificent!

I think the highlight of Jincheng Museum is not the number of cultural relics in its collection, nor the profound historical culture and the superior geographical location in ancient times. What impressed me most in Jincheng Museum were the volunteer tour guides. Although they spoke in dialect, they spared no effort in explaining. Especially the elderly people over 50 years old, they paid attention to interaction and listening. While explaining the historical anecdotes of the cultural relics, they also explained that the cultural relics in the museum specifically corresponded to the current geographical location of Jincheng, the traffic conditions, and how to get there as soon as possible. They mobilized the emotions and learning desire of us tourists very well. In many museums, I appreciate them by myself, and when I encounter tour guides, I cover myself for fear of being heard by others. This is the first time I have encountered such an open explanation like Jincheng, with interaction and discussion. It is great!

There is a parking lot with poles at the Yan Emperor's Mausoleum in Gaoping, Jincheng. Fortunately, parking lots in Shanxi usually charge by the time rather than by the hour. It's 2502. I didn't see any tickets for sale. There is also a Spring Festival temple fair, a flat road with many huge pillars, and then steps up to a huge hall. When I went there, I saw people coming back from burning incense and offering sacrifices.

The Guandi Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi, namely the Fucheng Guandi Temple, is an ancient building with a long history and rich cultural connotations. The following is some information about the Jincheng Guandi Temple: 1. Location and scale: The Fucheng Guandi Temple is located in Fucheng Village, Jincun Town, Zezhou County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. It faces south and is a group of huge buildings consisting of upper, lower, outer, middle and front courtyards, covering an area of ​​dozens of acres [^0^]. On the central axis are the mountain gate, stage, Guandi Hall, Sanyi Hall, and the west side buildings include corridors, bell and drum towers, and monk buildings [^1^]. 2. History and protection: The Fucheng Guandi Temple has a history of at least 800 years. It was awarded the "Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit" in January 1996 and the "National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit" in March 2013. 3. Architectural features: • Stone carving art: Guandi Temple is famous for its exquisite stone carvings, and the stone carvings in each courtyard are unique. The stone carvings in the second courtyard are particularly childlike, such as the carvings of goats and horses, as well as the stone carvings of a lion family[^2^]. • Dragon pillars: Each stone dragon pillar in the Guandi Shengjun Hall in the third courtyard is entwined with two giant dragons, and the entire hall seems to have become a dragon palace on the water[^3^]. • Figure pillars: The four figure pillars in the front porch are carved with stories and figures from the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, showing a rich cultural integration[^4^].

It's just a general scenic spot. There are still many residents in the scenic area. The scenic area is not very popular and the signs are not clear. There is mainly one street (Guhe Street) with some old houses on both sides. Wangfu is the residence of Wang Guoguang in the Ming Dynasty. Go there when you have time, no need to go specially. It's not far from the Imperial City Xiangfu, about 15 minutes by car.

The essence of the Jade Emperor Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi, lies in its Yuan Dynasty colored sculptures! Especially the statues in the Twenty-Eight Mansions Hall, which are unique in China. These masterpieces of the Yuan Dynasty personify the gods of the stars, with distinct personalities, vivid postures, flowing clothes, and lifelike, and have extremely high artistic value. The entire temple has a rigorous layout, and the Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasty architecture and exquisite colored sculptures complement each other. It is a treasure house for studying ancient sculptures, architecture, and Taoist art. Although it is not the largest in scale, this group of peerless colored sculptures alone is absolutely not to be missed. It can be called a pearl in the history of ancient Chinese sculpture!