Flying Dragons and Radiant Pillars｜Guandi Temple in Fucheng, Jincheng, Southeast Shanxi

【Jinshan Jinmei·Jincheng·Flying Dragons and Radiant Pillars】The gate of Guandi Temple, which is just a stone's throw away from the Jade Emperor Temple, was tightly closed. However, this was a small case. After calling the department responsible for cultural management in Jincheng, the gate was opened shortly, as it was temporarily closed due to rain. Thus, we enjoyed the privilege of a private tour. The Guandi Temple in Fucheng is not small in scale, but what makes it a national treasure is not its size, but the large number of exquisite wood and stone carvings from the Qing Dynasty that have been preserved. The four stone pillars in front of the Guansheng Hall are four flying dragons, imposing in their grandeur. The most remarkable are the four stone pillars in front of the Sanyi Hall, filled with carvings depicting stories and legends from Chinese folklore, such as the Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Investiture of the Gods, and Guo Ziyi's son-in-law paying respects on his birthday. The lower parts of the stone pillars are somewhat damaged and destroyed, but most of the upper and middle parts have been well preserved, which is quite rare. The four stone pillars are intricately carved with numerous characters, detailed and vivid, making the stories lively and interesting, keeping us engrossed. However, don't forget to look up and admire the exquisite wood carvings and colorful paintings between the beams, which are equally splendid. Urged by the cultural preservation staff to leave as they were off duty, we left the Guandi Temple. Guandi Temple, don't miss it when you come to Jincheng! 📝Note tips: Free admission, closes at 5 PM in the afternoon