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

📍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.

📍 Dafo Temple Sushige Dafo Temple or the Big Buddha of Guangzhou is located on Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street. It is another important religious and historical temple in Guangzhou that is over a thousand years old. With the beauty of architecture and painting of China, it can be said that it is worth visiting and worshiping at least once in your life. Most locals go during the day. In the evening, tourists like to come to see the beautiful night lights. Every sacred object in the temple is beautiful and delicate. It is very pleasant to walk around. I recommend coming at night when the lights are turned on. It is very beautiful. How to get there: Metro Gongyuanqian Station, Exit D #TravelChina

Jiwang Temple, built to commemorate Houji, the ancestor of agriculture, has a long history. The existing buildings, mostly in the Yuan and Ming Dynasty styles, carry the memories of ancient farming civilizations. The wood and stone carvings here are exceptional. Every pattern and design is vivid, as if telling stories of the past. The main hall is magnificent, and its layout and decoration showcase the exquisite art of ancient architecture. Standing in the square in front of the temple, take a panoramic photo with the whole temple as the background—it's sure to be a great shot. Inside the temple, take close-ups of people next to the ancient stone pillars, using the light and shadow to create a retro atmosphere. You can also take upward shots beneath the exquisite wood carvings to highlight the grandeur of the architecture.

| A journey of discovery through a thousand-year-old temple. Let me share with you a niche attraction that is well worth checking out—the Jishan Giant Buddha Temple. Located in Jishan, Yuncheng, Shanxi, it is a thousand-year-old temple built against a mountain. The temple's Sakyamuni Nirvana statue is known as the "world's largest clay-sculpted Buddha." Upon entering the temple, the magnificent Giant Buddha comes into view. The Buddha is 16.68m high and 6.8m wide, with a full figure and dignified presence. Its legs hang down, and its feet rest on a lotus throne. The entire form is ethereal, tall, and majestic, and the exquisite craftsmanship is breathtaking. The architectural style of the temple is simple and elegant, with the eaves and brackets showcasing the charm of the ages. Strolling along the stone steps, you can almost hear the echoes of history. 📷Photo Spots ✅Shooting upwards from the foot of the Giant Buddha highlights its grandeur and solemnity. ✅The corners of the temple, with their red walls and black tiles, are excellent spots for artistic photos. ✅Standing on the high ground of the temple allows you to take panoramic photos.

Jishan Giant Buddha Temple is located on a high cliff in Jishan County, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. It was built in the second year of Huangtong in the Jin Dynasty (1142). It is famous for a giant earthen sculpture of Sakyamuni Buddha with a height of 20 meters and a width of 6.7 meters. It is known as the "No. 1 Earthen Sculptured Buddha in the World". This was once an ancient temple in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Climbing to the top of the cliff, you can overlook the panoramic view of Jishan County. The thousand-year-old ancient charm and the mountain and river scenery are intertwined here🌄. ✨The world's largest earthen Buddha is carved from a loess cliff, with flowing folds and a majestic aura. It is known as one of the "Three Wonders of China" along with the Leshan Stone Buddha and the Tibetan Bronze Buddha. You can climb the wooden ladder to the top floor to admire the full view of the Buddha. Unfortunately, the ladder was not allowed when I went there😭. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 📍Address: Gaoya, 1 km northeast of Jishan County, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province🚌Transportation: Take a bus from Yuncheng Bus Station to Jishan, transfer to bus No. 1 to "Dafo Temple" station🎫Tickets: Free⏰Time: 8:30-17:30

The Nanyang Fawang Temple in Nanyang Village, Jishan, Shanxi, boasts a remarkable opera stage 🎭. Facing west, the square stage is encircled by a covered walkway. Its cross-gabled roof, adorned with glazed colored tiles, retains its grandeur despite the passage of time. The layered dougong brackets exude an aura of ancient simplicity and magnificence. Inside, the stage is free of exposed pillars, with the corner columns concealed within the walls, creating a spacious interior. Looking up, one sees the intricate beam structure, where corner beams, upward-sloping beams, and dougong brackets interconnect to form a Bagua coffered ceiling. This ingenious ceiling structure is said to have amplified the actors' voices in the past 👍. Murals adorn the back wall of the stage. The centerpiece is the timeless image of a blue dragon emerging from the clouds, flanked by the Eight Immortals. Though the colors have faded with time, the figures remain vividly depicted. The stage was renovated in the seventh year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty, yet its design retains characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty. This ancient treasure stands as a testament to the vibrant theatrical performances of bygone eras 🎉.

[○] 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

🌟 Jishan Great Buddha Temple is located on a high cliff 1 km northeast of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. Originally named "Qingliang Temple" and also known as "Foge Temple," it is commonly referred to as the "Great Buddha Temple" due to the presence of a giant earthen Buddha statue sculpted into the cliff. The temple was first built in the second year of the Jin Dynasty's Huangtong era (1142) and has undergone multiple renovations and expansions during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Jishan Great Buddha within the temple is a national key cultural relic protection unit and one of the tallest earthen Buddha statues in the world. 🎫 Ticket price: The ticket price for Jishan Great Buddha Temple is CNY 20 per person. However, the scenic area is sometimes open for free. ⌚ Opening hours: Open all year round, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. ✅ Location: Jishan Great Buddha Temple is located on Dafo Road, Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. ☀ Personal experience: My first impression of Jishan Great Buddha Temple was "awe-inspiring." Standing at the foot of the Great Buddha and looking up at the 20-meter-tall earthen Buddha statue, I was filled with reverence. This statue has withstood nearly a thousand years of wind and rain, standing tall as if telling the vicissitudes of history. Entering the main hall, the details of the Great Buddha are astonishing: the folds of the Buddha's robe are smooth and natural, the facial expression is solemn and dignified, and the corners of the mouth are slightly upturned, exuding compassion and peace. Standing at the top of the Buddha statue, overlooking the entire Jishan County, the view is wide, and my mood is suddenly brightened. In addition to the Great Buddha, the Ten Kings Cave and the Sixteen Arhats Cave in the temple are also worth visiting. These Yuan Dynasty clay sculptures of Buddha are vivid and showcase the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Although most of the buildings in the temple have been rebuilt in recent years, the overall style still retains the charm of the Jin Dynasty, and walking through it feels like traveling through time and space.

|Artificial reservoir from the 1970s. The water storage project in Hedong, Yuncheng City, has a long history. As early as the Dazhong Xiangfu period of the Song Dynasty (1008), there was already a water supply project for drinking water at Fusheng Temple in Qingrun Village, Hejin. It has been nearly a thousand years. In the sixth year of the Jiaqing period of the Ming Dynasty (1527), most villages in Wanquan County dug ponds to store water for household use and livestock irrigation. By the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), more than 280 water storage ponds had been dug in the county. The Jinjia Valley Reservoir, built in the 1970s, is a small reservoir mainly for flood control and irrigation. The dam is a masonry arch dam with a maximum height of 33.84m, making it a great place to visit. The source of Jinjia Valley is the top of Chenjia Mountain, which is also the only complete mountain valley in Jishan. The entire valley is within Jishan, and it is a beautiful mountain valley. Address: On the Jinjia Valley River, a tributary of the Fen River, north of Shandi Village, Xishe Town, Jishan County Transportation: Self-driving

|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

|The Disappeared Shaving Picture of the King of Langqia. Qinglong Temple in Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, was built in the second year of Longshuo in the Tang Dynasty (662 AD). After being rebuilt many times during the wars at the end of the Jin Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it finally became an ancient temple with a long history. The shaving picture of Fanmoyue at the lower left corner of the west wall of the main hall of the temple. The Buddhist scriptures once described that when Maitreya Bodhisattva came to the human world from the Tushita Heaven, he was born in the country ruled by the King of Langqia, with Fanmoyue as his mother. Later, Maitreya Bodhisattva became a monk and became a Buddha, and the King of Langqia and Fanmoyue also shaved their heads. Scholars speculate that the destroyed part of the mural on the right side of the west wall is the shaving picture of the King of Langqia, but it is no longer visible. This theme also appears in the Yuan Dynasty mural "Maitreya Buddha Meeting Picture" in the back hall of Xinghua Temple in Jishan, Shanxi, which is now in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. Address: Macun, Jishan County, Yuncheng City Self-driving: Go to Macun, Jifeng Town via Yunwan Secondary Road Ticket: 20

A temple located in Beijing Lu, amidst the bustling pedestrian street. The interior is quiet, and the lights are beautiful at night. The interior is even more beautiful, perfect for praying. #guangzhou

[WorldMap] Yuncheng, Shanxi Province is a perfect place to showcase the beauty of ancient buildings in Shanxi and even China. It has 102 nationally protected cultural relics! No. 1 in the country! [One] Yuncheng holiday 5-day travel route: D1 Yuncheng: Yuncheng Museum - Jiezhou Guandi Temple - Changping Guandi Temple - Chishen Temple D2 Ruicheng: Yongle Palace - Guangrenwang Temple - Ruicheng City God Temple D3 Wanrong: Feiyun Tower - Jiwang Temple - Houtu Temple - Li Family Courtyard D4 Xinxiang: Longxing Temple - Jiangzhou Office - Fusheng Temple - Jiyi Temple D5 Jishan: Macun Brick Carvings - Qinglong Temple [Two] 8 tips for traveling in Yuncheng: ❶ Go to Yuncheng Museum first to preview. There are 1:1 scale murals of Yongle Palace and Jiyi Temple. You can take pictures at will. ❷ In the Tang Dynasty, the salt pond god was named Lingqing Gong. The 100 square kilometers of salt pond were once enclosed by a wall, and only 30 kilometers of it remain today. ❸Jiezhou Guandi Temple is the earliest and largest Guandi temple complex in my country. It was built according to the imperial regulations. Don't miss the chrysanthemum caisson in Chunqiu Building. ❹The Yongle Palace was built over a century ago. It is a model of official construction in the Yuan Dynasty. The mural "Zhao Yuan Tu" is a rare treasure, and its technique can be traced back to Wu Daozi. ❺The Guangrenwang Temple, one of the three Tang Dynasty structures, is near the Yongle Palace, and its surrounding area is a popular site for ancient buildings. ❻The Hou Tu in Huang Tian Hou Tu is the goddess Hou Tu worshipped here. The emperors of Han, Tang and Song dynasties all came to worship in person. In the Yuan Dynasty, sacrifices were moved to the Temple of Earth in Beijing. ❼ Feiyun Tower has as many as 345 sets of brackets, like countless blooming flowers, and is an outstanding example of Chinese wooden pavilion architecture. ❽If you still have time: you can go north to Taiyuan and then to Datong [Three] Transportation: Self-driving is more suitable in Shanxi. But in recent years, public transportation has become increasingly powerful. Most of the scenic spots in Yuncheng can be reached by the "Yuncheng City View Pass", and the ticket is extremely cheap, only 3 yuan, but you must make an appointment in advance [Four] Food: Yuncheng big plate chicken is popular. There are several restaurants that serve Afanti Big Plate Chicken and Xiaoshulin Big Plate Chicken that you can try. Xiezhou Wangjian mutton soup is a must-try, and the mutton soup and pancake specialties are all delicious! [Five] Accommodation: You can visit all the scenic spots on the same day. It is better to stay in Yuncheng as the conditions there are the best and it is not expensive.

[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.

Jiwang Temple is located on West Street in Jishan County, Shanxi Province. Its founding date is unknown. It was destroyed by fire in the 16th year of Daoguang reign of Qing Dynasty (1836). It was rebuilt in the 23rd year (1843) under the leadership of Li Jingchun, the magistrate of Jishan County. The existing buildings are relics from the Yuan and Qing dynasties. The temple faces north and south. From front to back, there are the Xian Hall, Houji Hall, Bagua Pavilion, Jiang Yuan Hall, etc., with bell and drum towers on both sides. Colored glaze, wood carvings and stone carvings are the "three wonders" of Jiwang Temple. The capital beams at the front and back of the Offering Hall are carved with various figures and patterns of agricultural activities, such as oxen plowing the fields, fanning the cart to clean wheat, family members delivering meals, and celebrating a good harvest. The characters include officials, old farmers, strong men, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and children; the domestic animals include cows and goats; the farm tools include plows, hoes, and fan carts. Each group of scenes is separated by trees, flowers, plants or rocks. The images are vivid and lifelike, reflecting the busy scenes of ancient farming activities, and the carving skills are superb. There are 20 stone-carved columns around the Houji Hall. The two flat columns in the front eaves are stone columns with relief carvings of coiled dragons. They are well preserved, with long dragons baring their fangs and claws, looking mighty and strong, and the carving techniques are delicate and skillful. The rest are shallow flat carved columns with rich patterns and themes, various variations, and superb carving techniques. Although the two carving techniques are different, they each have their own merits and sharp contrast, and both are the work of skilled craftsmen. The glazed tile roof is magnificent, and the carvings on the main ridge are particularly gorgeous and beautiful. There are three triple-eaved pavilions in the middle of the ridge; the two sides are decorated with reliefs of peonies and peony flowers and leaves, and the top is decorated with running flying horses; the two ends are decorated with dragon kisses swallowing the ridge. The shape is vivid and lifelike, and the colors are bright and eye-catching. It is a superior masterpiece of Qing Dynasty glazed products.

First time in Yuncheng? Don't miss this carefully prepared 7-day itinerary to make your trip even more exciting! -------- Route Suggestions: Day 1: Chengdu—Yuncheng Depart from Chengdu and arrive in Yuncheng to start your Shanxi trip. Day 2: Yuncheng—Pingyao Head to Pingyao Ancient City to experience the charm of a thousand years of history. Stroll along the cobblestone streets and enjoy a leisurely time. Day 3: Pingyao—Xinzhou Leave Pingyao and head to Xinzhou to explore the new charm of this ancient land. Day 4: Xinzhou—Datong Continue north to Datong to visit the Yungang Grottoes and appreciate the splendor of Buddhist art. Day 5: Datong—Yuanping Depart from Datong and head to Yuanping to experience the tranquility and beauty of this small city. Day 6: Northeast Street Zhongxiao Cultural Square Visit Northeast Street Zhongxiao Cultural Square in Yuanping to savor traditional culture and experience local customs. Day 7: Pingyao—Yuncheng—Chengdu Return to Pingyao, then head to Yuncheng, and finally return to Chengdu to end your pleasant Shanxi trip. -------- Travel Tips: November is a good time to visit Yuncheng. The average daytime temperature is about 13°C, but it is cooler at night, so bring warm clothes. 🧣 Don't miss the local delicacies, such as pepper leaf pancakes and oil-splashed cold noodles. Delicious! 🍴 Yuncheng Guangong Airport has opened a new route to Hong Kong, making travel more convenient! ✈️ Recommended check-in spots: Colorful Salt Lake and Yongji Peacock Garden, perfect for photos! 📸 -------- If you like Yuncheng, don't forget to follow me for more personal travel tips to make your trip even more exciting! 🌈✨

Southern Shanxi has a tradition of worshiping Houji, and almost every county has a Jiwang Temple. The Jiwang Temple in Jishan was originally located on Jiwang Mountain, but was later moved to the county seat. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. The Jiwang Temple is famous for its "three wonders" of glazed tiles, wood carvings, and stone carvings. It is a national protected site, with an entrance fee of CNY 20. The Yuncheng Tourism Annual Pass is not accepted. Upon entering the mountain gate, the first thing you see is the Xian Hall and the Bell and Drum Towers (Figures 2–4). The glazed tiles on the roof ridge are very exquisite (Figures 5–6), but the most distinctive feature is the iron pieces in the center of the roof ridge, which are "Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun," "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl," and "Five Blessings Holding Longevity" (Figures 7–8). There is a stone carving on each of the east and west gable walls of the Xian Hall, depicting the "Eight Scenic Spots of Jishan" and a poem by Li Jingchun, the magistrate of Jishan, about the reconstruction of the Jiwang Temple. The wood carvings and dragon columns on the door frames in front of the main hall are exquisite (Figures 11–17). Only the two square stone pillars behind the hall are not (Figure 18). The final pavilion and Jiang Yuan Hall (Figure 19) are Yuan Dynasty buildings.

❤Recommended reason: At the Jishan Jujube Museum, I watched an immersive live-action drama, "Ji Song," performed by local jujube farmers. I didn't expect it to be so wonderful. The performance tells the history of Jishan and the farming culture of Hou Ji, showing the changes and development of Chinese farming culture. Hou Ji, commonly known as Ji Wang, was the ancestor of Chinese farming culture. He was named "Nongguan" by Yao and Shun for planting grains, teaching people to farm, and opening up the source of grain. Jishan County, as the hometown of Hou Ji, was called "Ji" in the Spring and Autumn Period and belonged to Jin. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. #The Long Journey

This is an ancient building that you can drive up to, park, and enter without a ticket. Next to it are tall and imposing residential buildings. On one side is modern life, and on the other is history. They coexist without disturbing each other. The temple should be guarded, as there is a barking yellow dog in a cage in the corner of the courtyard. At night, the guard and the dog are the protectors of this ancient building. Fawang Temple consists of a mountain gate, a dance building, a main hall, and other buildings. The mountain gate has two pillars and three glazed roofs. A plaque hangs on the lintel with the words "Xuantian Shangdi Fawang Temple." After entering the mountain gate, you will see the dance building, which has a double-eave roof and outer columns. There are many colorful murals on the walls. Walk around the dance hall to take photos, then enter and look up at the dougong, trusses, and columns. Although the paintings are mottled, they are still beautiful. Times have changed, and now this place is preserved as a cultural relic. However, it was not considered a treasure back then, and may have been used as a production room in the village. Therefore, there are three graffiti on the walls, including opera lists, slogans, and production records.

|Nanyang Dharma King Temple!! A low-key national security guard that is full of relaxation. Shanxi|Nanyang Fawang Temple!! The low-key national security that is full of relaxation In Nanyang Village, Jishan County, Yuncheng, there is such a low-key national security unit: Fawang Temple. How low-key is it? It is hidden among the surrounding houses. Villagers even often play cards and chat at the entrance of the temple. If you come to Jishan to see the Macun Brick Tomb and Qinglong Temple, you might as well come here to see them. The distance is less than 3 kilometers and it will definitely be a worthwhile trip. 【Opening status】 The Dharma King's Temple was not open to the public before, which resulted in many people being turned away. Now it is completely open, and there is no need to call the cultural protection staff to open the door. But because it is so low-key, I only see two or three people even on holidays. 【About Dharma King】 The Dharma King here refers to the Xuantian God in Taoism, also known as Emperor Zhenwu, the God of the North in Han myths and legends, and he is also enshrined in Wudang Mountain. 【Building layout】 The year when the Fawang Temple was first built is unknown, but according to the inscriptions on the beams and inscriptions in the temple, there were records of repairs or additions at least during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple is not big. It faces west and faces east, with a two-entry courtyard layout. On the central axis are the mountain gate, music tower, Fawang Hall and some auxiliary halls on both sides. The overall building is well preserved and has important reference value for the study of Taoist architectural forms in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. . Uncle Wenbao lives in one of the side halls, and he also has a big black dog next to him, so he feels very safe. 【Key points】 Mountain Gate: The plaque reads "Xuantian God, Temple of the Dharma King". On one side of the mountain gate is a white tiger painted in plain ink, and on the other side is a blue dragon? The cultural security man said that the other side has collapsed, so now there is only an empty wall. Lelou: After the mountain gate is the Lelou stage, which can be said to be the "treasure of the temple" of Fawang Temple. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, but it retains the ancient system of the Yuan Dynasty. The double-eaves cross-shaped mountain top is paved with yellow-green glazed tiles and ridge decorations, which is very beautiful. There are three Qing Dynasty murals on the back of the stage, the Blue Dragon Izumo and the Eight Immortals. There are no inner pillars in the stage, and the design is very exquisite. Looking up, there are exquisite brackets and caissons. On the walls are written the names of theater troupes, opera directories, and some graffiti that I don’t know when they were painted... Dharma King's Hall: There is a wooden shrine in the hall, dedicated to Emperor Xuanwu. There are carvings and paintings on the wooden boards of the shrine, which are very sophisticated. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures while admiring it. The two dragon pillars at the entrance of the Dharma King's Hall are very interesting. The dragon claws are actually the heads of monsters. Some sisters say that the nearest auxiliary hall on the north side of the King's Palace is a Yuan Dynasty building, but I haven't seen any relevant evidence. The faint writing on the beams seems to be records from the Ming Dynasty. Time: It’s hard to say the opening hours. Tickets: Free Parking: Parking is available on the roadside in the village.

The ancient buildings of Jishan are a series of history books written in brick, stone, wood and tile, and are the artistic treasures deposited in the long river of time. When we set foot on this land, it is like walking into the scroll of history. ❤Recommended attractions: ✅Jiwang Temple, the ancestral temple for worshiping Hou Ji. Jiwang Temple has three unique ancient buildings, exquisite stone carvings, magnificent glazed tiles, and wonderful wood carvings, which are exquisite to the "ceiling"! The wood carving of Hou Ji teaching the people to farm and the wood carving of the bell and drum tower are even more unique! 📝tips: Free before National Day ✅Macun Brick Carving Tomb, the "Underground Siheyuan" created by the medicinal diet family. Three highlights, women open the door, the tomb is arranged in the form of a Siheyuan, and the "banquet" scene in the tomb. 📝tips: Free before National Day ✅Qinglong Temple, amazing Yuan and Ming water and land murals. A palace of art, murals of water and land Taoist fields composed of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The characters in the picture are lifelike, as if they will walk down from the wall in the next moment, and there is also a huge monument of the Yuan Dynasty, "Yao Zhongsu Gong Shendao Monument". 📝tips: The murals are being repaired and are not open to the public ✅Dafo Temple, a thousand-year-old clay Buddha at a glance. The magnificent Buddha statue, evolved from the statue to the plastic statue. 📝tips: Free all year round ✅Yubi City Site, the birthplace of "Chile Song". Yubi City was the frontier town of the Western Wei Yuwen regime to resist the invasion of the Eastern Wei Gao regime. The well-known Northern Dynasty folk song "Chile Song" was written after Gao Huan's second attack on Yubi City was frustrated. 📝tips: Free all year round

📍 Location: Fawang Temple is located in Nanyang Village, 4 kilometers southwest of Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is an ancient site that combines the architectural features of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. 🏛️ Introduction to the Scenic Spot: Fawang Hall: Xieshan-style building, with a front eave gallery, five purlin brackets, and a diagonal arch in the middle, with a simple structure. Dance Court: Three square rooms, surrounded by corridors on three sides, covered with a cross-hipped roof, is a place for performing plays to worship gods. Houtu Hall: Confronting Fawang Hall, it is divided into Xieshan and Xieshan styles, with different positions and structures. 🚗 Transportation: Train: Yuncheng City has trains to Beijing, Xi'an, Tianjin, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Datong, Linfen, and other places. Car: National Highway 209 passes through Yuncheng City, which can reach Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, and Huayin City, Shaanxi Province. Airplane: There are direct flights to Taiyuan from major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an, and then you can take a bus to get there. 🎢 Must-play Projects: Ancient Architecture Appreciation: Feel the architectural beauty of Fawang Temple. Cultural Exploration: Learn about the history and cultural background of Fawang Temple. Photography: Record the classical beauty of Fawang Temple with a camera. 🕳️ Pit Avoidance Guide: Opening Hours: It is only open for worship on the first day of each month and is not open at other times. 📸 Photo Check-in Points: In front of Fawang Hall: You can take a photo of the grandeur of the entire building. Dance Court: You can take a photo of the unique roof structure. 🍲 Food Recommendations: Jishan Pancake with Meat: A local snack that you can't miss. 📌 Tips: Wear comfortable shoes because you need to walk around. Respect local culture and customs and keep quiet.

📸When it comes to murals in Shanxi, many people think of the Yuan Dynasty mural "Chao Yuan Tu" in Yongle Palace, Yuncheng. However, not far from Yongle Palace, there are murals of the same style in Jishan, Shanxi, which are located in Qinglong Temple, Ma Village, Jishan County. 📸Although Qinglong Temple is not well-known, it is actually not difficult to get there. You can take a taxi from Jishan City, and the city view pass opened in Yuncheng City also has a station at Qinglong Temple. It is also next to the famous Ma Village brick carving tomb, and the two ancient sites can be played together. ✅Qinglong Temple has a look at the Yuan Dynasty wooden buildings. The three wide halls in the front yard (now the mountain gate), the middle hall and the main hall in the back yard are all wooden buildings of the Yuan Dynasty. ✅Qinglong Temple has two views of the Yuan Dynasty inscriptions "Yao Zhongsu Gong Shendao Stele", written by the famous minister Yu Ji and Jishan County people Yao Tianfu in the early Yuan Dynasty. This monument is the most famous monument of the Yuan Dynasty in Shanxi. There is also a Tang Dynasty square secret eaves stone pagoda in the monument pavilion. ✅Qinglong Temple has three views of murals. The murals of Qinglong Temple are mainly distributed in the Daxiong Hall and the Waist Hall Buddha Hall. These murals are mainly relics of the Yuan Dynasty, with a total of more than 180 square meters of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian murals. It can be said that these murals have experienced a period of vicissitudes. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese cut the murals and took them to Japan. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, these murals were returned under various efforts and returned to their homeland. 📸In addition, on the side of the door lintel of the gate, you can also see the characteristic "Journey to the West". The 8-meter-long and 0.6-meter-wide mural depicts Xuanzang, Sha Monk, and Sun Wukong. The front side is Xuanzang, followed by Sha Monk, and Sun Wukong is leading the white horse carrying the scriptures. 📸From the murals, you can see that Wukong is a monkey-shaped human body, wearing short clothes, leggings, and a tight hoop, and the white horse behind him is carrying the scriptures. 📸Let's take a look at the murals in the Buddha Hall, which are a fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The theme is the six reincarnations, cause and effect, etc., which are also the essence of Qinglong Temple murals. 📸The upper part of the west wall is painted with three Buddhas, the middle one is Sakyamuni, and the two sides are Rendeng Buddha and Maitreya Buddha. Below the three Buddhas is a picture of worshiping the Buddha. There are many characters in the murals, including emperors, princes, kings, civil and military officials, queens, and female officials. 📸Below the Buddha's picture is a group of gods, left and right protectors, ghost mothers, five emperors, five gods, and five immortals. 📸There are ten great Ming kings on the south side of the Buddha Hall. Below the ten great Ming kings are the four envoys of the year, month, day, and time. There are many characters in the lower part of the four envoys, including Confucius of Confucianism, famous ministers of the Three Kingdoms Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, etc., and Tang Taizong Li Shimin, Tang Guifei, Yang Yuhuan, etc. 📸The north side of the Buddha Hall is the nine horizontal death beings in Buddhism, as well as Anan and Yan Kou. 📸It can be said that the murals of Qinglong Temple and Yongle Palace are of the same origin, all are heavy color outlines, and they are all dominated by green and blue. The style and image of the characters are also of the same origin, and they are also the best in Chinese Yuan Dynasty murals.

In Nanyang Village, not far from Jishan County in Yuncheng City, walking about 500 meters along the main alley, an ancient temple comes into view. The door of the ancient temple is an old wooden door. The plaque on the mountain gate reads 'Temple of the Law King of Xuantian Emperor,' and the inscription on the ridge reads 'Built in the ninth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, the year of Gengwu.' On both sides of the mountain gate, there are couplets on the pillars, 'With a sword leaning on the long sky, the universe is bright and clear; Xuan Ying blesses the earth, the country is prosperous,' which is very imposing. It is said that the earliest statues of war gods were enshrined between the left and right walls. There are murals on the walls, and now only the south side has a plain ink painting of a tiger descending the mountain, coming with a roaring majesty. Pushing open the mountain gate, an ancient stage with flying eaves and upturned corners comes into view, which is shocking. Compared with the ancient buildings seen before, Nanyang Fawang Temple has a kind of 'natural beauty without adornment.' The ancient stage here, as a carrier of traditional Chinese opera culture, has witnessed the vicissitudes of history. Every wear and tear, every crack seems to tell an ancient story. In the middle of the back wall of the stage, there is a painting of 'Azure Dragon Emerging from the Clouds,' with paintings of the Eight Immortals on the left and right. These paintings were originally colored, but after being covered in dust for a long time, the colors inevitably became slightly dim, but the postures of the characters are varied, their clothes fluttering, extremely lively. The stage of Nanyang Fawang Temple is also called Wuting or Lelou. The horizontal plaque in the middle reads 'Harmony in Spring,' and the couplet reads 'Praying for a bountiful year with sacrificial vessels; singing of peace with flutes and strings.' The construction date of this stage is unknown. According to the stone tablet in the temple, it was rebuilt in the seventh year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty and has undergone several repairs since then. However, from its form, it has obvious characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty, making it a precious Ming Dynasty building with Yuan Dynasty features. Walking onto the stage, there are no exposed pillars inside, and the load-bearing pillars at the four corners are all built into the walls, making the space more spacious. The upper part of the stage, with interconnected beams, corner beams, upward beams, and dougong structures layer by layer, forms a delicate eight-trigram caisson. The caisson structure is very spectacular and rare, looking complex and ingenious, yet retaining an ancient and exquisite beauty. The large scale of this caisson allows one to intuitively feel the beauty of the wooden structure. Nanyang Fawang Temple has important value for studying the situation of opera activities in the northern region during the early Ming Dynasty. Ancient stages like this, where pictures, texts, and objects coexist, are rare and can be considered treasures of opera relics. Nanyang Fawang Temple has a kind of restrained and grand beauty. It avoids the disturbances of the world, standing quietly in the countryside, telling thousand-year-old stories, showcasing its unique charm, making it unforgettable at first sight. Fawang Temple

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.